In a significant move to tackle the ongoing energy crisis, the UK government has announced a £15bn Warm Homes Plan to provide households across the country with financial support for installing solar panels, heat pumps, and batteries. The scheme, which will be rolled out over the next five years, aims to create a “rooftop revolution,” tripling the number of homes with solar power and lifting one million people out of fuel poverty.
The plan, which was first proposed in 2024, has been welcomed by the energy and finance industries as a crucial step in driving private investment into green technologies. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that “a warm home shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a basic guarantee for every family in Britain.”
The measures included in the plan are wide-ranging, including extending the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, providing an additional £600m for low-income households to receive funding for the full cost of solar panels and batteries, and introducing low- and zero-interest loans for households regardless of income.
However, the plan has not been without its critics. Richard Tice, the Reform deputy leader, has described it as a “scandalous waste of up to £15bn of taxpayers’ cash,” primarily going towards Chinese-made solar panels, batteries, and heat pumps, which he claims is “bad for British industry.”
The government has stated that the scheme will contribute to 180,000 new jobs in the clean heating sector, although some of these may come from retraining existing engineers. The plan also includes reforms to renters’ rights, with landlords required to ensure rental properties meet a minimum energy efficiency score of EPC C by 2030.
The decision to downgrade the focus on insulation funding has been a point of contention, with some experts arguing that it is a more cost-effective way to reduce heat loss from the UK’s leaky housing stock. However, the government has defended the reorientation towards green technologies, stating that they are a better value for money and in need of more support to catalyse the industry.
As the UK continues its transition towards a more sustainable energy future, the Warm Homes Plan represents a significant step forward. However, the success of the scheme will ultimately depend on its effective implementation and the government’s ability to address the concerns of both supporters and critics.
