Can solar panels power a heat pump in winter?

Not directly in mid-winter, because solar output is low. With net metering, summer surplus credits can offset a heat pump's winter use over the year.

Should I install solar or a heat pump first?

Usually improve insulation and air sealing first, then the heat pump, then size solar to your new usage. If timing forces solar first, use a heat pump estimate to size it.

How much will a heat pump increase my electricity use?

Switching from gas or oil often adds thousands of kWh a year, mostly in winter. Replacing electric baseboards usually lowers electricity use instead.

Does the Ontario HRSP solar rebate work well with a heat pump?

Less well than net metering, because rebate systems can't bank summer surplus for winter heating. Compare both options before choosing.

Solar and heat pumps: making them work together

Heat pumps raise winter electricity use just when solar makes the least. How net metering bridges the gap, what to do first, and how to size both.

5 min read · Updated 2026-10-30

Heat pumps and solar panels are often sold as a natural pair. They can work well together, but there is a timing problem to understand first. A heat pump uses most of its electricity in winter. Solar makes most of its electricity in summer. Whether the pairing pays off depends largely on how your exported solar is credited and on getting the order of upgrades right.

What a heat pump does to your electricity use

A heat pump moves heat instead of making it, which makes it far more efficient than electric baseboards or an electric furnace. Natural Resources Canada says air-source heat pumps can be up to three times more efficient than a gas furnace averaged over a winter, and cold-climate models can keep heating down to about -30°C.

Even so, switching from gas, oil or propane heat to a heat pump moves your heating onto your electricity bill. For many homes that adds thousands of kWh a year, concentrated between November and March. The exact amount depends on your home's size, insulation, climate and whether you keep a backup furnace.

If you already heat with electric baseboards or an electric furnace, a heat pump usually lowers your electricity use, sometimes a lot.

The seasonal mismatch

Here is our Toronto sample system's output by season:

Months	Share of yearly solar output
November to February	about 10%
March, April, September, October	about 32%
May to August	about 57%

A heat pump's heating load is close to the reverse. Most of it falls in the months when solar contributes about a tenth of its yearly output.

Heat pumps also cool. In summer, a heat pump replacing an old central air conditioner may use less electricity, and its cooling load does line up nicely with peak solar.

How net metering banking helps

Net metering is what makes solar and heat pumps a good match on paper. Summer surplus goes to the grid and becomes credits. In Ontario, credits are 1:1 kWh and carry forward for up to 12 months. The credits you build in June and July then offset the heat pump's use in December and January.

A few things to keep in mind:

Credits only help if the system is big enough to build a real summer surplus. A system sized only for your current use won't cover new heating load.
Credits generally expire after 12 months. A very oversized system can bank credits you never use. See what happens to net metering credits.
Without net metering, the pairing is much weaker. Ontario's HRSP solar rebate requires the system to be sized for on-site use and not join net metering, so summer surplus can't be saved for winter heating. If a heat pump is part of your plan, compare both routes in net metering vs the rebate.
Net metering rules differ by province. Check yours on our provinces pages.

Which to do first

For most homes, the order that makes sense is:

Reduce heat loss first. Air sealing and insulation shrink the heating load, which means a smaller, cheaper heat pump and less extra electricity. Green Communities Canada sums it up as "envelope first, and mechanicals second."
Then the heat pump. Once it has run through a winter, you know your real new electricity use.
Then solar, sized for the new usage. This avoids guessing and gives installers real numbers to work with.

The catch is timing. If your roof is ready now and the heat pump is a year away, waiting has a cost too. A reasonable middle ground is to get a heat pump estimate from an HVAC contractor, use it to size solar now, and confirm with your utility how much you can install for expected use. Our guide on electrifying your home in order covers the full sequence.

Sizing considerations

Get a heat loss calculation. A proper load calculation by the HVAC contractor gives the heat pump's expected yearly electricity use. Rules of thumb are often wrong.
Size solar to annual totals. Add the heat pump's expected yearly kWh to your current use, subtract anything it replaces (such as an old AC or baseboards), and size from the result. Our system size tool can help.
Don't expect solar to cover January. Even a large system makes little in mid-winter. With net metering, that's fine as long as the annual numbers balance.
Backup heat. Many homes keep a gas furnace as backup (a dual-fuel or hybrid setup) or use electric resistance backup for the coldest days. Electric backup can use a lot of electricity on very cold days, which affects both sizing and your winter bill.
Electrical capacity. A heat pump, an EV charger and solar on a 100-amp service may need a load calculation or an upgrade. Plan the electrical work once.
Rate plan. Heat pumps run around the clock in winter. Check whether Time-of-Use, Ultra-Low Overnight or tiered pricing suits your new pattern with our rate plan tool.

Is the combination worth it

It can be. A heat pump that replaces electric baseboards often saves more than solar does. A heat pump replacing natural gas saves less, and in some cases may not save money at all depending on gas and electricity prices. Adding solar with net metering can improve the overall math by covering much of the new electricity use with summer credits.

Look at each upgrade's payback separately, then together. If one doesn't make sense on its own, don't let the other carry it.

Next step

See how much solar your home would need with a heat pump added: check your roof.

Common questions

Can solar panels power a heat pump in winter?: Not directly in mid-winter, because solar output is low. With net metering, summer surplus credits can offset a heat pump's winter use over the year.
Should I install solar or a heat pump first?: Usually improve insulation and air sealing first, then the heat pump, then size solar to your new usage. If timing forces solar first, use a heat pump estimate to size it.
How much will a heat pump increase my electricity use?: Switching from gas or oil often adds thousands of kWh a year, mostly in winter. Replacing electric baseboards usually lowers electricity use instead.
Does the Ontario HRSP solar rebate work well with a heat pump?: Less well than net metering, because rebate systems can't bank summer surplus for winter heating. Compare both options before choosing.

Sources

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