Latest version of photovoltaic panel installation regulations

What does the new solar PV standard mean for solar PV installers?

The timely new Standard comes as strong signs of recovery can be seen after a turbulent 18-months for Solar PV installers. The publication coincides with MCS reporting encouraging volumes of Solar PV installations despite the government closing the Feed in Tariff (FiT) incentive in March 2019.

When will solar panels be mandatory?

In March 2024, the European Parliament approved a law requiring solar panels on all new residential buildings by 2030. The EU Solar Standard makes it mandatory for member states to gradually include solar installations in new public, commercial, and residential buildings.

Are there building regulations for solar panels?

There are building regulations for solar panels, as there are for most home improvements. These government regulations are frequently updated to ensure that any alterations made to properties don’t threaten the safety or health of people who live or work in them.

When did solar panels become a building regulation?

In 2005, household electrical work was absorbed into the UK government’s official Building Regulations. A year later, the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006 brought microgeneration systems like solar panels under the umbrella of the Building Regulations. Should you receive a building regulations certificate for your solar panels?

Do you need planning permission to install solar panels?

Current rules that require businesses to apply for planning permission if solar panels will generate more than one megawatt of electricity will also be scrapped, meaning organisations will be able to install more solar panels on rooftops without the delay and cost of applying for planning permission.

Are solar panels a legal requirement for new homes?

Even though installing solar panels on new builds is a great way to set new homes up with renewable energy from day one, it’s not yet a legal requirement. One common problem is that developers don't use all the available roof space, resulting in a less effective solar panel system.