If you’re thinking about installing solar panels, you’ve probably heard that they can improve your EPC rating – but by how much, and is it always worth it from an EPC perspective?
This guide explains:
- How EPC assessors treat solar PV
- How much solar can move your EPC score in practice
- Where solar fits in a broader EPC and home‑energy strategy
For a full look at other improvements, start with 27 Ways to Improve Your EPC Rating. For heat pumps and costs, see Air Source Heat Pump Costs UK (2025 Guide).
1. How EPCs treat solar PV
When you install solar PV panels, assessors record:
- The system size (kWp).
- The orientation and tilt of the panels.
- Whether the system is on‑site and connected to the property.
The EPC calculation then estimates:
- How much electricity your system generates per year.
- How much of that is used on site vs exported.
- How this generation offsets electricity that would otherwise be imported from the grid.
Because solar PV reduces the amount of bought‑in electricity, it can raise your EPC score, especially in properties that use a lot of electricity for heating or hot water.
2. How much can solar improve your EPC rating?
The exact impact depends on:
- System size (e.g. 2 kWp vs 4 kWp+).
- Your home’s overall energy use and fuel mix.
- How much other work you’ve already done (insulation, heating).
In general:
- Solar PV tends to have a moderate but positive effect on EPC scores.
- It’s rarely the single biggest factor, but it can help push borderline properties over a band threshold when combined with other measures.
For maximum EPC benefit, solar works best alongside:
- Good insulation (loft, walls, floors).
- Efficient heating systems (modern boiler or heat pump).
- Smart controls that help you use more solar energy on site.
3. Solar PV vs other EPC improvements
From a pure EPC standpoint, some upgrades often give more EPC points per pound than solar, particularly:
- Loft insulation top‑ups.
- Cavity wall insulation where suitable.
- Heating and control upgrades.
However, solar shines in areas where these are already done or limited:
- Properties that are already well insulated and have efficient heating.
- Homes looking to reduce electricity bills and carbon emissions on top of EPC gains.
If your EPC still shows obvious cheap wins, focus there first – see Cheapest Ways to Improve Your EPC Rating and How to Improve EPC from D to C.
4. When does solar make the most sense?
Solar tends to be strongest when:
- You use a fair amount of electricity during the day (home working, EV charging, electric heating or hot water).
- You’re planning to stay in the property long enough to benefit from reduced bills.
- You’re pairing it with heat pumps, electric hot water or battery storage.
It may be less of a priority when:
- Your main issues are poor insulation or an extremely inefficient boiler.
- Your EPC is well below where it needs to be and there are cheaper, higher‑impact measures available.
5. EPC, mortgages and property value
Solar can play a role in how buyers and lenders perceive your home:
- A better EPC – supported by solar – can make the property more attractive to cost‑conscious buyers.
- Some lenders are increasingly considering energy performance in green mortgage products.
For a closer look at how EPCs and upgrades interact with house prices, see Does Your EPC Rating Affect House Prices? (2025 Data) (/insights/epc-property-value).
6. Grants and funding for solar PV
Funding options for solar PV change over time. While the old Feed‑in Tariff has ended, you may still benefit from:
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments for exported electricity.
- Local or regional renewables schemes.
We cover the wider grants landscape – including insulation, heat pumps and heating upgrades – in Home Energy Grants UK 2025: Complete Guide to Funding (/insights/home-energy-grants-uk).
7. How solar interacts with your EPC improvement plan
Think of solar as one component in a layered approach:
- Fix fabric first (loft, walls, draughts).
- Upgrade heating and controls as needed (see New Boiler Cost UK (2025): Complete Price Guide and Does a New Boiler Improve Your EPC Rating?).
- For well‑insulated homes, consider low‑carbon heating like heat pumps.
- Add solar PV to cut electricity bills and enhance EPC and carbon performance.
Using our EPC checker and property report, you can see where solar sits among your recommended measures and what impact it’s likely to have.
8. FAQs
Will solar panels on their own move me up an EPC band?
Sometimes – particularly if you’re already close to the next band and have a reasonably efficient home. In many cases, you’ll need solar plus other improvements (insulation, heating) to secure a full band jump.
Do I need a new EPC after installing solar?
Yes. The EPC is a snapshot at the time of assessment. After fitting solar PV, you’ll need a new assessment to capture the improvement in your rating.
Are solar thermal panels treated the same way as PV in EPCs?
No. Solar thermal (for hot water) and solar PV (for electricity) are treated differently in the calculation. Both can help, but PV tends to have a more visible impact on the EPC rating because electricity is a relatively expensive and carbon‑intensive form of energy.
What should I do next?
- Use the EPC checker to confirm your current rating and recommendations.
- Address cheap, high‑impact upgrades first (insulation, controls, boilers or heat pumps).
- When your home is in good shape, explore solar PV quotes and use this guide plus Home Energy Grants UK 2025 to understand the financial side.