As energy bills continue to rise and UK households look for more cost effective ways to heat their homes, smart heating paired with solar power has quickly become one of the most powerful combinations available. By using solar energy to produce free electricity and smart heating technology to optimise how you use it, homeowners can reduce energy waste, cut heating costs and take control of their comfort like never before.
This article will break down what smart heating with solar means, how it works and why it’s becoming the go to heating upgrade for savvy homeowners across the UK.
What is Smart Heating with Solar?
Smart heating refers to a heating system that uses connected devices like smart thermostats, thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), sensors and intelligent controllers to manage your home’s temperature automatically, remotely and efficiently.
When paired with solar PV, your smart heating system can:
- Use free electricity produced by your solar panels to power heating devices
- Learn your household routines and heat only when needed
- Reduce boiler usage
- Maximise self-consumption of your solar energy
- Provide remote control via a smartphone or tablet
The result? Lower bills, better comfort and more control.
How Smart Heating Works with Solar PV
Here’s how the two systems work together:
- Solar panels generate electricity – your rooftop solar PV system converts sunlight into clean, free electricity for your home.
- A smart controller monitors energy flow – the controller identifies when your home is producing excess solar energy.
- Surplus energy is diverted to your heating system – instead of exporting the surplus energy, it’s automatically sent to your immersion heater, heat pump, electric boiler or your smart hot water cylinder.
- Smart thermostats optimise timing and comfort – with devices like Hive, Nest or Tado, your system can create heating schedules and adjust temperatures room by room. The smart thermostat learns your habits and uses weather predictions to optimise energy use, reducing heating when you’re away and turning it up when it’s colder.
Top Benefits of Smart Heating with Solar
Major Reduction in Heating Bills
By using free electricity generated by your solar panels to power heating elements, homeowners can significantly reduce reliance on gas and grid electricity.
Lower Carbon Footprint
Smart systems minimise wasted energy, helping you heat your home cleanly and efficiently.
Total Control from Anywhere
Adjust your heating from your smartphone, even if you’re miles away. Most smart thermostats allow you to remotely control your heating from a connected device such as a smartphone or tablet.
Better Comfort, Less Waste
Zoned heating lets you heat only the rooms you need.
Future Proof Your Home
Smart heating systems integrate seamlessly with other smart technology like battery storage, EV chargers, heat pumps and smart tariffs.
Best Smart Heating Technology to Pair with Solar
Smart Thermostats
- Hive Active Heating
- Google Nest
- Tado Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats allow remote control, scheduling, geolocation and energy saving automations. Most pair with your smart phone or tablet, giving you easy control over when your heating is working and when it is switched off.
Solar PV Diverters
- MyEnergi Eddi
- Solar iBoost
A solar diverter automatically diverts surplus solar energy to your immersion heating to heat your hot water, allowing you to optimise self-consumption of your free electricity.
Smart Hot Water Cylinders
These use immersion heaters controlled via apps, allowing you to store hot water using free solar energy.
Heat Pumps and Solar
Pairing a heat pump with solar PV dramatically increases home efficiency and lowers running costs. A solar PV system reduces the amount of grid electricity needed to run your heat pump, increasing your savings and reducing your payback period.
Is Smart Heating with Solar Worth It in the UK?
Absolutely, especially with the unpredictable nature of the UK energy prices currently being experienced. Smart heating helps homeowners get the most out of every kilowatt of solar energy, while keeping your home comfortable in every season.
The combination:
- Cuts wasted solar export
- Reduces heating bills
- Offers year round efficiency
- Future proofs your home heating system
For many homes it can reduce bills by 30-60%, depending on system size and usage.
Thinking About Smart Heating with Solar?
If you’re exploring the idea of upgrading to solar PV, adding a solar diverter or integrating a full smart heating system, SolarTherm UK can help. We design, install and maintain solar PV systems that seamlessly integrate with your smart heating systems, maximising savings and making your home more energy efficient.
Contact SolarTherm UK today for a free, no obligation quote and design, tailored to your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
