Officials in the UK have published a planning document that calls for housing developers to install solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England starting in 2028. The government on March 24 also said plug-in solar panels that homeowners can self-install on balconies would be widely available in the coming months.
The so-called “DIY” solar kits are in use in many parts of the world, including the U.S. and Europe—more than 1.5-million homes in Germany have them—but have not been sold in the UK due to safety regulations.
Energy companies welcomed the move by the government, though housing developers have said they are concerned about how the requirements will impact their business. Several UK officials have for the past decade tried to develop a Future Homes Standard, supporting design changes to make homes more energy efficient.
The guidance published Tuesday means that beginning in 2028, no new-built homes will be hooked up to a natural gas network, but instead must use electric heat or install a heat pump. New construction also will require rooftop solar that covers an area equivalent to 40% of the ground floor space of the home.
