Choosing between solar panels and heat pumps can be a tough decision for homeowners in Northern Ireland. Both technologies reduce your carbon footprint, cut down on energy bills, and can boost your home’s energy efficiency. But which one offers the best return on investment? Here’s the First Class Solar perspective. Disclaimer: As solar experts, we may be a little biased – but after lots of research and hundreds of installations across Northern Ireland, we’re here to offer an honest comparison to help you make the right choice for your home.
The two share some similarities: both technologies reduce your reliance on fossil fuels like oil or gas, they lower your carbon emissions and can improve your home’s Energy Performance Certificate (and resale value!).
How Solar Panels Work in Northern Ireland
Solar panels use daylight to produce electricity which is used in your home to power appliances like your washing machine, lights, plug points etc. When used in conjunction with a battery or “Eddi” hot water diverter, your solar panels can be used to heat your water tank for hot showers, and to fill up your battery for use in the evenings or on the darker days with lower solar production. With the use of the day/night tariffs that many suppliers offer, you can ensure that your solar battery is charged up overnight at a cheaper rate, even on the darkest of winter days. This means that you’re still able to benefit from using your cheaper stored electricity in your battery or your hot tank!
How Heat Pumps Work
Heat pumps on the other hand, use electricity to move warmth from the air or ground into your home. This means that you no longer need to rely on oil or gas for heating, which is typically more expensive and fossil-fuel intensive.
Installation Requirements for Each System
Solar panels in Northern Ireland can be fitted on new-build homes as part of the build process, or retro-fitted on existing roof-faces. You will need enough roof space to fit the panels, and ideally a roof that faces South; however, Easterly and Westerly roofs can be utilised too. The roof needs to be structurally strong and not too steep. To fit a hot water diverter, you need to have an immersion and hot tank, and for a battery, you need to have enough space in a room, garage or outside wall for this to be fitted safely, with ventilation regulations adhered to.
Heat pumps are ideal for new-build homes, as many of the requirements can be completed as part of the build process. It can be a little more disruptive to existing homes – larger radiators or underfloor heating is often required, as well as good insulation to ensure that the system can work efficiently. You may also need to install a hot water cylinder to store your hot water.
Heat Pumps vs Solar: Cost, Savings & Grants
| Feature | Solar PV System | Heat Pump System |
| Primary benefit | Reduces electricity costs (run your appliances, immersion, battery charging) | Replaces expensive fossil fuel (oil/gas) heating |
| Works well in winter? | Yes – especially with a diverter or battery. Output lower but still useful. | Yes – designed for winter; performance depends on insulation & radiator sizing. |
| Installation time | 1 day for typical domestic installation | 2–6 weeks depending on radiators/pipework |
| Disturbance to house | Very low | Medium – radiators, insulation, controls, commissioning. Depends on whether the property is a new-build or existing! |
| Grants available in NI? | VAT relief (0% until 2027) | VAT relief (0% until 2027). Unfortunately the Renewable Heat Incentive for domestic customers is closed. |
| Best scenario | Retrofit on existing homes with high electric bills, wanting a fast payback | New builds or renovated homes with good insulation |
| Biggest long-term savings | Seen in electric bills, when paired with a battery/diverter and utilising day/night rate tariffs | Heating bills, as heat pumps replace oil or gas heating |
So to work out which suits you best between solar panels and a heat pump, you need to consider your property and what is most important – heating, electricity or both!
Which Should You Choose?
There’s no one-size-fits-all, but after installing hundreds of solar PV systems and speaking with homeowners across Belfast, Lisburn, Bangor, Antrim and beyond, First Class Solar have identified a pattern:
- Solar panels in Northern Ireland (especially with an immersion diverter like Eddi, or a battery being charged on the cheaper nighttime rate) reduce bills faster and more immediately.
- Heat pumps deliver the biggest long-term heating savings, particularly in new builds.
We always recommend doing your own research before you make a decision, and have a chat with multiple providers to work out the best solution for you and your home. And as always, feel free to reach out to First Class Solar for any advice on your potential solar system in Northern Ireland!
