UK Government Requires Solar Panels on Vast Majority of New Homes

The UK government, led by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, announced plans to require solar panels on the vast majority of new homes under the upcoming Future Homes Standard, set to be published this autumn. The policy aims for an almost universal rollout of solar panels, with only rare exceptions for practical issues such as shading from trees or unsuitable roof pitches. Miliband emphasized that solar panels can save homeowners hundreds of pounds annually on energy bills and criticized previous regulations that allowed developers to avoid installing panels if certain coverage percentages were not met. The new rules will also support low carbon heating technologies like heat pumps, with relaxed installation restrictions to facilitate adoption. While the requirement may raise construction costs by an estimated £3,000 to £4,000, it is expected to deliver significant long-term savings and contribute to the UK's legally binding net zero emissions target by 2050. Industry leaders have noted growing familiarity with solar integration but cautioned against overly burdensome exemptions that could slow homebuilding.