The answer
Is the full heat-pump, solar and battery package always best?
Not always. First find out what your building needs for heat and electricity. Add solar if the roof and daytime use make sense, and a battery only if it would store power you can use later.
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Find out what heating the building needs
A heat pump can change electricity use and may need radiator, hot-water and electrical work. Check those needs before deciding how many solar panels or how large a battery to add.
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Solar makes less power in winter
Solar can cut electricity bought over the year, but it usually makes less when heating demand is highest. Do not assume summer output can directly cover winter heating.
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What would the battery actually do?
A battery might store spare solar power for later, help avoid expensive hours or limit peaks. Ask which of these jobs matters to your building and size it for that job.
Will the systems work well together through the year?
A heat pump uses most electricity in colder months, when solar panels usually produce less. A battery can move solar electricity from daytime to evening, but it cannot save summer power for winter. Compare monthly heating use with monthly solar production before expecting the panels to run the heating.
Treat the heat pump, panels and battery as separate choices as well as one project. Ask what each part costs, what it saves and whether CARES could fund it. Give your committee a main plan with optional extras, so you can adjust it if the funding offer differs from what you hoped for.
What to check next
Your next steps
Where we checked the facts
Check the original information.
These official pages back up the rules and technical details above. They can change, so check them again before spending money or starting work.
Apply this to your own property
Could your community building be suitable?
Tell FLO about your building and the work your group is considering. A free survey checks what may fit; Local Energy Scotland decides CARES eligibility and funding.