FAQs

Yes. For most UK homeowners with a south, east or west facing roof, solar pays back in 8 to 11 years and saves £600 to £1,100 per year on a 4 kW system at 2026 electricity prices. Over a 25 year panel lifespan, the typical household saves £15,000 to £28,000 after the system pays for itself.

Solar makes the strongest financial case for households that are home during the day, EV owners who can charge from generation, and homes with battery storage that captures unused daytime output. With 0 percent VAT until March 2027 and the Smart Export Guarantee paying 15p or more per kWh from the best suppliers, the maths in 2026 is stronger than at any point since 2015.

Most UK homes need between 8 and 16 solar panels, which equates to a 3 kW to 6 kW system. The right size depends on three things: your annual electricity use, your available roof space, and your roof orientation. As a rough guide, every 1 kW of installed solar generates around 900 kWh per year in the UK and needs roughly 2 panels and 5 m² of roof.

Start with your annual electricity use from your last 12 months of bills. A system sized to match around 70 to 80 percent of that usage typically delivers the best payback. South facing roofs deliver maximum output; east, west, and north facing roofs need more panels to hit the same generation. Battery storage lets you size larger and use more of what you generate rather than exporting it at lower rates. Our MCS certified installer models your exact roof from satellite data before quoting, so the final system is sized to your home rather than a rule of thumb.

Yes. North facing solar panels in the UK generate around 65 to 70 percent of the output of a south facing system. A north facing 4 kW system produces roughly 2,400 kWh per year versus 3,400 kWh for south facing. Payback extends to 12 to 15 years instead of 8 to 11, but the system still saves money over its lifetime.

East facing and west facing roofs perform much better, typically 85 to 90 percent of south facing output, and are often the best choice for households that use most electricity in the morning (east) or evening (west). If you have a mixed roof, east plus west split arrays often outperform a single south array because generation is spread across the day, reducing how much you export at low SEG rates.

A fully installed 4 kW solar system costs £6,500 to £8,500 in 2026, and a 6 kW system costs £9,000 to £11,500. Prices include MCS certified installation, scaffolding, inverter, and DNO notification. Adding a 5 kWh battery adds £3,500 to £5,000. There is no Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for solar, but 0 percent VAT applies until March 2027.

Costs have dropped around 8 percent year on year since 2023 as panel efficiency has risen and supply chains stabilised. The biggest variable is roof complexity. A simple two pitch roof is significantly cheaper than a tiled hip roof requiring extra scaffolding. Payback in the UK is now 8 to 11 years depending on usage patterns and export tariff.

For most UK homes with south or west facing roofs, payback is 8 to 11 years on a 4kW system at current electricity prices. With a battery, payback extends slightly but total savings over 25 years are higher. OVO’s estimate tool calculates a payback period tailored to your roof and usage.

Yes, to secure your installation dates and order your heat pump unit, a deposit is required. The deposit is flexible - up to 25% of the total system value or a percentage of the total cost if you choose to pay in full. This ensures your commitment and covers initial pre-installation costs.

Absolutely. You can always choose to pay for your heat pump installation in full. In this case, we will deduct the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (if you are eligible) directly from your invoice, and you simply pay the remaining balance. Note: If you initially choose finance and have already drawn down your loan, paying it off immediately may be subject to the lender's specific terms, so please check with them first.

How much you earn from exporting your energy depends on:

• How much energy you generate
• How much energy you generate
• Which SEG tariff you sign up to and the rate offered per kWh

Different suppliers set their own SEG rates, so payments can vary.

The Smart Export Guarantee pays you per kWh of electricity you export to the grid. In 2026, top SEG tariffs pay 15p to 24p per kWh. Octopus Outgoing Fixed pays 15p, EDF Export Plus pays 16p, and time of use tariffs like Octopus Agile Outgoing can pay over 24p at peak times. Payments arrive monthly or quarterly by bank transfer.

You need a smart meter that reads export every 30 minutes (SMETS2) and a registered MCS certified solar install. You can mix and match: buy your import electricity from one supplier and sell your export to another. Switching SEG tariff is free and takes 4 to 6 weeks. The average 4 kW system exports around 1,600 kWh per year, worth £240 to £385 at current rates.

The readings we use for payments will be sent automatically from your smart meter 4 times a year – in March, June, September, and December. But, if for some reason they're not sent automatically, we'll ask you to send them to us.

It depends on your home and how you use energy. Homes with high daytime electricity use often benefit most from solar first; homes still on gas or oil heating often see the biggest impact from a heat pump. A free OVO survey will help you work out the right order for your home.

They do. A heat pump runs on electricity, so the cheaper that electricity is, the lower your running costs. Solar panels give you a source of free electricity during the day, which your heat pump can use directly. Homes with both systems typically see much lower energy bills than those with either one alone. OVO designs both systems to work together from the start.

Yes, and they work really well together. Your solar panels generate electricity during the day. Your heat pump uses that electricity to heat your home and hot water. The more solar electricity you use to run your heat pump, the less you pay for grid electricity. OVO installs both, so you can get a combined survey and quote in one go.

Yes. A battery stores the solar electricity your home doesn't use during the day. Your heat pump can then draw on that stored power in the evening and overnight, instead of buying it from the grid. It's one of the most effective ways to reduce heat pump running costs. OVO can show you exactly how much a combined system would save for your home.

Solar panels for a typical UK home start from around £5,000 and go up to £10,000 or more depending on system size. A battery adds roughly £2,500 to £6,000. A heat pump typically costs £10,000 to £15,000 installed, though the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant brings that down significantly. OVO offers finance on all of these, so you don't have to pay everything upfront. The best way to get an accurate figure is a free survey for your specific home.

Most UK homes can have a heat pump installed. The main things that affect suitability are insulation levels, outdoor space for the unit, your existing radiators, and whether you have or can fit a hot water cylinder. OVO's free survey assesses all of these and gives you an honest answer.

The short answer is yes. Although if you have an older, draughty home you might want to put in a little extra effort to make it more energy-efficient first. Otherwise it won’t be as cost-effective. Heat pumps work like a dream in well-sealed, ultra-energy-efficient homes that retain their heat for a long time. 

We’d always recommend insulating your home properly before considering a heat pump. Think about things like walls, your loft, and windows and doors. That way, when you make the switch to a heat pump you know your home will be keeping all that lovely heat inside.

Not necessarily. OVO's survey includes a heat loss calculation for every room, which tells us whether your existing radiators are large enough to work with a heat pump. In many homes only a few radiators need upgrading rather than all of them.

With all this talk of “absorbing heat from the ground or air” you might be wondering how heat pumps cope in cold weather. The good news is that heat pumps can still work in very cold conditions – it’s just important to do your research and buy the right one. Heat pumps are used all over the world in much colder climates than the UK (think the USA and Canada). And some models operate in temperatures as low as -20℃ (like one from Mitsubishi).

Heat pumps are around 4 times more efficient than gas boilers.4 Heat pump efficiency is measured using Coefficient of Performance (CoP). This is calculated by comparing the amount of input to the amount of output. For example, if an air source heat pump uses one kW of electricity to produce 3 kW of heat, the CoP is 3. The higher the CoP, the better, as it shows your heat pump is more efficient.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme gives homeowners in England and Wales a grant towards the cost of an air to water heat pump. The amount depends on how your home is currently heated.

If you have a gas boiler or electric heating, the grant is £7,500. If your home runs on heating oil or LPG, the grant increases to £9,000 from 21 July 2026 until 31 March 2027. Air to air heat pump systems, which heat and cool your home, qualify for £2,500.

There are no income requirements. Since April 2026, you no longer need to have no outstanding insulation recommendations on your EPC before applying. OVO applies for the grant on your behalf as part of your installation.

A typical air source heat pump installation costs £10,000 to £15,000 before the grant. After the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, most homeowners pay between £1,000 and £7,500 depending on which grant they qualify for. The exact cost depends on your home size, your existing heating system, and whether any radiator or cylinder upgrades are needed. OVO's free survey gives you a fixed quote.

Running costs depend on your home size, insulation, and electricity tariff. A typical three bedroom home switching from a gas boiler to a heat pump can save £200 to £500 per year at current energy prices. Heat pumps produce around three units of heat for every one unit of electricity, making them significantly more efficient than a gas boiler.

To secure your solar panel installation, a deposit is required. The amount is flexible: up to 25% of the total system cost if you're financing, or 20% if paying in full.

This deposit helps cover pre-installation costs and confirms your commitment to the project.

Absolutely. You can always choose to pay for your heat pump installation in full. In this case, we will deduct the £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (if you are eligible) directly from your invoice, and you simply pay the remaining balance. Note: If you initially choose finance and have already drawn down your loan, paying it off immediately may be subject to the lender's specific terms, so please check with them first.

Most heat pump installations take two to three days. This includes removing your existing boiler, installing the outdoor unit, connecting the pipework and hot water cylinder, and commissioning the system. OVO will confirm the exact timeline during your survey.

Once a year you need to give certain parts of your heat pump a quick check over yourself – but the engineer who installs it will show you what to do. You’ll also find the info you need in the booklet you get with it.

It can also be a good idea to get an expert to check it once a year – some manufacturers will require a yearly full service to comply with manufacturers’ warranties. This service could cost between £170 to £200 a visit.

Yes. OVO’s air conditioning installers work across houses, flats, and commercial properties. System design is tailored to your specific property during the free survey.

A single-room installation uses one indoor unit connected to one outdoor unit, ideal for a home office, bedroom, or living room. A multi-room installation connects multiple indoor units to a single outdoor unit, giving you room-by-room climate control throughout the home.

In most cases, no. Domestic air conditioning units are usually covered under permitted development. OVO will confirm whether any permissions are required for your specific property during the survey.

Air conditioning installation cost in the UK typically ranges from £1,500 for a single room up to £5,000 or more for a whole-home system. OVO provides a fixed quote after a free survey with no hidden costs.

Yes. OVO provides a single fixed price covering survey, supply, installation, commissioning and aftercare. There are no day-rate labour charges or surprise add-ons after the survey.

Most single-room air con installations take one day. Multi-room systems typically take two to three days depending on the property. OVO will confirm the timeline during your survey.

Yes, and it works really well. Your solar panels generate electricity during the day and your air conditioning unit can use that electricity directly, reducing what you draw from the grid. The more solar electricity you use to run your air con, the lower your running costs. OVO installs both systems, so you can get a combined survey and quote in one go.