The standard was initially expected to take effect in 2027, but the new Housing Regulations will now apply to homes built from March 2028 onward.
The UK government has introduced new rules to implement the Future Homes Standard (FHS), requiring all new-build domestic properties to include onsite renewable generation. The government expects this will primarily be rooftop solar PV. The updated Building Regulations also mandate improved insulation and heat pump installations.
As confirmed last summer, the FHS will require developers to install rooftop solar PV covering at least 40% of a building’s floor area. If this is not possible, a “reasonable amount” of coverage is still required.
The government also announced it will confirm the technical details of the Home Energy Model (HEM), a new, quality-assured methodology to demonstrate compliance with the FHS. The HEM will support innovation in new-build products, best-practice heat pump installation, and recognize smart, zero-bills technologies, allowing for clean energy installations beyond solar PV.
There are some exemptions to the FHS, including high-rise buildings. To address this, the government has announced progress on its commitment to “plug-in” solar PV, which will be available in shops within months. The government is working with retailers like Lidl and manufacturers such as EcoFlow to bring this technology, already common in countries like Germany, to the UK market.
This will require amendments to the BS 7671 wiring rules and the G98 code, which governs the smallest-scale grid connections. Systems up to 800W will be available for use in this way. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) stated that “tailored safety standards” will be introduced within months, allowing those without access to standard rooftop installations to plug solar panels into their mains electricity using a standard electric plug.
Chris Hewett, chief executive of Solar Energy UK, said plug-in solar is not expected to compete with conventional rooftop systems but will make solar more popular and accessible, especially for flats.
The plug-in solar announcement follows a statement from energy secretary Ed Miliband last week in response to rising energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. Miliband said: “The Iran War has once again shown our drive for clean power is essential for our energy security, so we can escape the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control. Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase plug-in solar in shops, we are determined to roll out clean power so we can give our country energy sovereignty.”
Despite the government’s claim that energy bills will drop by £117 in April, projections indicate that in the next period, bills could rise to £1,972.53 from £1,641 (April-June). According to the government, FHS measures could save households up to £830 annually on energy bills compared to a standard home with an EPC rating of C, though these savings will only be realized after the FHS is in force.
Another measure announced is a ‘Discounted Energy’ scheme aimed at reducing curtailment and further lowering household energy bills. The government will trial enabling suppliers and flexibility service providers to offer discounted power to households and businesses in areas with constrained renewable generation during these periods. This will mainly apply to areas in Scotland and the East of England and is similar to an initiative launched by Octopus Energy.
Greg Jackson, head of Octopus Energy, commented: “It’s great that the government want to give homes and businesses cheap electricity on windy days instead of paying wind farms to switch off. Once this is permanent, companies and families will be able to invest confidently in electric vehicles, batteries and heat pumps - knowing they’ll be cheap to run.”
Dhara Vyas, chief executive of Energy UK, called the FHS publication “a landmark moment for clean energy in Britain.” Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), responded: “Finally some good news for new build owners!”
The FHS was a core manifesto promise of the current government, elected in 2024, and was previously proposed by the Conservative government. However, nearly a year after the government’s commitment to the rooftop revolution, the policy remained a distant promise, likely delayed by the manifesto pledge to build 1.5 million new homes in England before 2030.
Housing secretary Steve Reed said: “Building 1.5 million new homes also means building high-quality homes that are cheaper to run and warmer to live in.”
Ralston noted that “housebuilders have spent years pushing back against standards to stop homes wasting so much energy and at a time of another gas price crisis this takes on a whole new perspective. The delay in standards is an energy security and, therefore, a national security issue.”
Some, such as Mohamed Gafaar, CEO and co-founder of Gryd Energy, have pointed out the absence of battery storage in the regulation. Gafaar called it a “missed opportunity,” stating that costs have fallen dramatically and the technology is now affordable, proven, and essential to unlocking the full value of rooftop solar.
Earlier this year, some media reports suggested the government was backtracking on the FHS by not including energy storage systems (ESS). However, as SEUK’s Hewett noted, the standard has been under development since 2019, when the battery market was very different in terms of availability, cost, and capacity.
The government has also launched a call for evidence on the next steps for the £5 billion Warm Homes Fund, part of the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan published earlier this year. Financing is available for retrofitting and upgrades, with options that could include ESS to be discussed with industry.
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