Renewable energy

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is energy produced from natural sources that won’t run out or is self-replenishing such as solar, wind and hydropower.

With energy costs rising and climate change impacting us all, renewable energy has an important role to play, offering an alternative to fossil fuels (the primary cause of climate change), reducing your carbon emissions, and saving you money on your energy bills. 

You can generate your own renewable energy at home by investing in technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps.

Our webpages provide more detail on retrofitting your home, and the energy efficiency grants which could provide financial support.

What type of renewable energy is available to me?

The Energy Saving Trust’s online assessment tool could help you identify which renewable technologies are suitable for your home.

Find out what options could be available to you below.

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) or Solar Thermal panels

Solar panels are the most common domestic renewable energy source in the UK, which capture energy from the sun and convert it into electricity (photovoltaic) or heat (thermal). You could install ground-mounted or building-mounted solar panels.

Although savings will vary depending on how often you are at home, at what times of the day you use energy, how much you use, and if you have a battery installed with the system, the long-term savings will help to recoup the cost of installation.

An assessment is required by an installer to find out if your home is viable for solar. To get an idea, find out if your home could benefit from solar PV panels by using the Energy Saving Trust’s solar calculator.

You could be eligible for a grant to pay for solar panels through the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2), with details on our energy efficiency grants webpage.

Our website provides information on planning permission to install solar panels.

Visit the Energy Saving Trust’s website for further information on solar PV panels or further information on solar thermal panels.

Solihull Council has partnered with iChoosr Ltd, who are independent experts in group-buying, to bring Solar Together to Solihull’s homeowners. Solar Together West Midlands is an innovative group buying scheme offering high-quality solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery storage at a competitive price.

Registrations close on 6 June 2025. To register click here Solar Together.  

Air source heat pump

Air source heat pumps are an energy-efficient and cost-effective solution to heat and cool homes and provide hot water.

They extract heat from outside air to pump into your central heating system and can even generate heat when outside temperatures are as low as -15°C, meaning they work all-year round. 

You could be eligible for a grant to pay for a heat pump through the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2), ECO Scheme (ECO4 and Eco Flex) and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with details on our energy efficiency grants webpage.

Our website provides information on planning permission to install heat pumps.

Visit the Energy Saving Trust’s website for further information on heat pumps.

Ground source heat pump

As the name suggests, a ground-source heat pump draws energy from the ground.

They can be up to 50% more efficient than air source pumps as the ground maintains a relatively constant temperature all-year round.

You could be eligible for a grant to pay for a heat pump through the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2), ECO Scheme (ECO4 and Eco Flex) and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with details on our energy efficiency grants webpage.

Our website provides information on planning permission to install heat pumps.

Visit the Energy Saving Trust’s website for further information on heat pumps.

Micro wind turbine

When wind spins the wind turbine's blades, a rotor captures the wind’s kinetic energy and converts it into energy to use in your home.

Some micro wind turbines can be fitted onto buildings, although not all locations are suitable for installation.

Our website provides information on planning permission to install micro wind turbines.

Visit the Energy Saving Trust’s website for further information on wind turbines.

Energy storage

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) allow you to capture heat or electricity from renewable sources to be used at a later point, saving you money on your bills and reducing emissions.

Visit the Energy Saving Trust’s website for further information on energy storage.

Further support

One of the easiest ways to embrace renewable energy is by switching your electricity tariff to one which comes from renewable sources. Solihull Council is supporting the Big Community Switch, which helps residents move to a renewable electricity tariff.

If you have solar PV panels or other eligible renewable electricity generation, you may be able to earn money through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). In addition to SEG, energy suppliers are offering similar deals by paying customers set tariffs for electricity they export to the grid.

For more information on using TrustMark to retrofit your home with solar panels, retrofit co-ordinators, financing the process, and how to access free advice from Act on Energy, visit our webpage on retrofitting your home.