Millions of new homes in England to require solar panels under Future Homes Standard

Millions of new homes in England will be pre-installed with solar panels, according to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. The new requirement is part of the changes to the Future Homes Standard.

The policy will mandate rooftop solar panels except in cases where it is not practical to do so. It will help homeowners save on energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The previous Conservative government flirted with requiring 40 percent of the roof to be covered in PV panels. However, Miliband’s approach is to enforce some solar panel fittings, even if the developers cannot meet the 40 percent target. He said, “The problem about the previous system was that it said you would had to have a certain percentage of coverage of solar panels, but if you couldn’t achieve that percentage, you didn’t have to do anything at all. Under our plans, we are not going to say that. We are going to say even if you can’t hit 40%, you will still have to have some solar panels, except in rare, exceptional cases.”

Estimates show the solar panel requirements will add up to £4,000 to the cost of a new build. However, the installation could help occupants shave up to £1,000 off their annual energy bills.

Other changes to the new Future Homes Standard, coming into effect in autumn 2025, include higher energy efficiency requirements and the introduction of low-carbon heating options, such as heat pumps and heat networks. They will promote energy independence and reduce strain on the grid.