Generating your own low-carbon energy can cut bills and carbon, and there’s grant support and payment for what you export. As with any big home improvement, the key is using certified installers and knowing your consumer protections.

Solar panels and heat pumps

Rooftop solar panels generate electricity you can use or store, and a heat pump is an efficient, low-carbon way to heat your home. For heat pumps, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a £7,500 grant in England and Wales (see our renewable-energy grants page). For any of these, get several quotes and a clear estimate of the running costs and savings — not just the headline price.

Interested in storing electricity? Battery storage works with or without solar panels — see our guide to how home batteries work and the Free Home Battery Scheme, which installs a smart battery at no cost for eligible homeowners and private tenants.

Getting paid for what you export

Under the Smart Export Guarantee, larger energy suppliers must pay small-scale generators for the electricity they send back to the grid. To qualify you generally need a certified installation and a meter that can measure your export. Tariffs vary between suppliers, so it’s worth comparing what they’ll pay.

Protect yourself when you buy

Renewable technology is a magnet for pushy sales tactics, so take care. Use an installer certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) — it’s usually required for grants and the Smart Export Guarantee — and one that belongs to a consumer code such as RECC or HIES, which gives you extra protection. Never sign up under pressure, and be sceptical of guaranteed “free” panels or returns that sound too good.

What to do next

Get MCS-certified quotes, compare Smart Export Guarantee tariffs, and check the consumer code cover. If a renewable installation has been mis-sold or done poorly, see our Legal claims pages and the Complaints Directory.

Sources

Ofgem (Smart Export Guarantee); GOV.UK (Boiler Upgrade Scheme); MCS; RECC.
Reviewed: 3 September 2026.