Like many others in the UK and around the world, you might be looking into renewable energy. While solar panels might be the first thing that springs to mind, you could also consider heat pumps. Both are types of renewable energy and can greatly reduce your carbon footprint as well as your overall bills.
We’ve previously looked at the pros and cons of air source heat pumps. Let’s delve into heat pumps vs solar panels and see how their performance stacks up when we compare the two as they both have their own advantages and disadvantages. And hopefully it will help you decide if you’re looking to invest in either one of the two.
What’s the Difference?
While both are sources of renewable energy, heat pumps and solar panels work very differently.
Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the air or ground and use a small amount of electricity to feed that heat back into your home. This can be used to heat your water and to keep your home warm. There are air source heat pumps as well as ground source heat pumps.
Solar panels work by generating electricity from the heat of the sun. The electricity gained from this can be used to power your house in many different ways. Coupled with a battery, the energy could be stored to be used at a later date.
Solar panels vs heat pumps: let’s see how they stack up!
Efficiency
Heat pumps can achieve very high efficiency in providing your home with heat sources. They get an estimated 200-400% efficiency rate, meaning that for every 1kWh electricity input, you get 2-4kWh of heat output for your home.
Solar panels efficiency ranges from 15% to 20% of converting sunlight into usable energy.
Installation & Cost
While air source heat pumps are cheaper to install than ground source heat pumps, there can still be a significant upfront cost. Even with grants available, the average price can range from £6,500 to £11,500. The exact cost will depend on your home and requirements. Air source heat pumps will require adequate outdoor space for installation. So, you will need to sacrifice some of your outdoor space to accommodate an ASHP.
Solar panels can cost anywhere from £3,600 and £18,000 to install. Again, it is going to depend on your home and requirements. A smaller two-bedroom house will cost less than a four-bedroom home. You can couple your solar panels with a battery for additional energy-saving measures. As solar panels are installed on your roof, your roof will need to be in good condition. If your roof is north facing for example or is obstructed by other buildings, you might need additional solar panels to make up for the reduction in sunlight exposure.
On average, the solar panel installation process is considered to be a little less complicated compared to heat pumps.
Durability
Both systems have an estimated durability of about 20 years. After this point, solar panels might still generate electricity, but it might not be enough to power your home anymore. After an average of 20 years, heat pumps will need to be replaced.
Maintenance
Maintenance-wise, they are both relatively low maintenance. Solar panels will need to be kept clean of any sort of debris and other particles.
Heat pumps will need to be kept clean and ensured airflow isn’t obstructed. Filters might need to be replaced. You can get it serviced every few years to ensure optimal performance.
How To Choose Between Solar Panels and a Heat Pump
Whether you are better off going for solar panels or a heat pump is going to be dependent on your own personal circumstances. If you need help deciding, Smartly Energy is happy to help.
There are some questions you can ask yourself to help with the decision:
- What uses are you looking for? Additional ways to heat your home or do you plan on using electricity for various purposes?
- What is your upfront budget? Are you eligible for any grants or government help?
- What features are most important to you?
- What type of system do you have space for?
Can you combine a heat pump with solar panels?
Yes, absolutely! Do you have the budget for both? You can easily combine a heat pump with solar panels, or tiles, for an ever greener home system. It creates a sustainable and cost-effective system for your home. For added energy independence and greater savings, you could also add a solar energy battery which allows you to use the electricity generated by your solar panels at a later date. You could even opt for a solar integrated standing seam roof if you prefer this over panels.
We hope our article helped you decide between a heat pump or solar panels. If you need help deciding, or you’d like to enquire about the costs to install either or both at your property, please reach out to the Smartly team. We’re happy to help.
