Solar panel maker targets new homes as building rules tighten

Solar panels on new homes will soon be the rule, not the add-on. The Future Homes Standard, due in 2025, is expected to mandate rooftop solar on all newbuilds in England. That is the regulatory backdrop for Solfit, a UK manufacturer, launching a dedicated newbuild product this month, as reported by Solar Power Portal. For UK homeowners who already have a roof, the news is less about newbuild specs and more about what it signals for costs, grants, and the resale value of their property.

What the Future Homes Standard means for your EPC

The Future Homes Standard will set a maximum carbon intensity for new homes, effectively requiring solar panels, heat pumps, and high-performance glazing as standard. The target is an EPC rating of B or higher. For a typical 3-bed semi, that could mean annual energy savings of £300–£500 compared to a gas-heated home built to 2013 regs, according to government modelling. But the policy only applies to new builds. If you live in a house built before 2025, you are on your own.

The catch is that retrofitting solar on an existing home costs between £5,000 and £8,000 for a 4kW system, depending on roof orientation and installer. The Smart Export Guarantee pays you for excess power sold back to the grid, typically 5–15p per kWh, but that does not cover the upfront cost. Grants like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme cover heat pumps, not solar panels. Homeowners eyeing solar now face a choice: wait for potential future subsidies or pay now and recoup over 10–15 years through lower bills.

Why Solfit’s move matters for retrofit buyers

Solfit’s product is designed for newbuild roofs: integrated, flush-mounted panels that sit flush with the tiles. That makes them cheaper to install during construction than retrofitting later. But the same panel technology, once mass-produced for new homes, could trickle down to the retrofit market. Economies of scale could reduce panel prices by 10–20% over the next two years, according to Solar Energy UK estimates. That would shorten the payback period for households installing solar after 2026.

Yet the UK still lags behind Germany and the Netherlands on solar adoption per capita. Ofgem data shows only 1.5 million homes have solar panels as of 2024, out of 28 million households. The bottleneck is not technology but installation cost and planning red tape. Permitted development rights allow panels on most homes without planning permission, but listed buildings and conservation areas remain excluded. The government has promised to review the rules, but no date is set.

What you can do now

If you are building a new home, specify solar from the start. The cost is roughly half of a retrofit install, and the Future Homes Standard will require it anyway. If you are retrofitting, check your roof orientation and shading using the Energy Saving Trust’s solar calculator. Apply for a quote from at least three MCS-certified installers. The payback period is typically 12–15 years for a 4kW system on a south-facing roof in southern England, longer in the north. If you plan to move within 10 years, solar may not make financial sense unless the buyer values the EPC uplift.

The key date is 2025. Once the Future Homes Standard becomes law, every new home will come with solar. That will normalise the technology, drive down costs, and put pressure on the government to extend support to retrofit households. For now, the best move is to get a free survey and compare quotes. The sun is free. The panels are not, but they are getting cheaper.