In the first half of 2024, the number of solar panels installed in homes across England dropped to 63,000, down from more than 83,000 in the same period last year, according to new analysis by sustainable energy experts Solar Together.
Despite this decline, Solar Together anticipates an increase in the adoption rate for the remainder of the year, driven by economic optimism and a more stable political environment. The newly elected government has already signalled its intention to ‘unleash a solar rooftop revolution’ and simplify the installation process for solar panels on both new and existing homes.
Solar Together is a group-buying initiative that enables households to purchase solar panels and battery storage systems at more competitive prices, helping to overcome the often-perceived barrier of high initial upfront costs. In 2023, Solar Together accounted for 10% of MCS-certified solar panel installations in England.
The analysis reveals that Maldon in Essex has the highest proportion of solar panel adopters in the first half of 2024, with over 1% of households in the area installing solar panels during this period. Through its scheme across Essex, in partnership with Essex County Council, Solar Together has assisted nearly 2,500 households in installing solar panels affordably and stress-free, including almost 300 installations in 2024 so far.
Other areas with high solar panel adoption rates in 2024 include The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, The Isles of Scilly off Cornwall, Boston in Lincolnshire, and Westmorland and Furness in Cumbria. Nearly 1% of households in these areas have installed solar panels in the last six months.
Winchester leads among cities with the highest proportion of residents installing solar panels this year. This analysis follows a Solar Together study from last year, which identified Winchester as the English city with the highest proportion of ‘green energy champions’ – households that have either adopted renewable energy sources or electric vehicles. Cornwall was noted as the county with the highest share of green energy champions.
Recent findings from Solar Together also indicate that 35% of energy-conscious consumers in the UK are likely to switch to renewable energy within the next five years. However, a widespread sentiment exists among UK households that there should be more government incentives for investing in renewable energy at home, with 90% of energy consumers expressing this view.
George Frost, UK Country Manager at iChoosr, which delivers the Solar Together group buying initiatives, commented: “While 2024 has so far seen a small drop in the number of households across England installing solar panels, we expect to see a sharp rise in activity across the rest of the year. With the cost-of-living crisis subsiding, economic growth prospects improving, and the incoming government putting a green energy revolution at the heart of its plans, the ingredients are there for a real uptick in solar panel installations across the rest of the year and beyond.”
He continued, “With energy prices now more stable – and inflation having fallen significantly from where it was just 18 months ago – coinciding with improved political stability brought about by the election, the number of households installing solar panels is likely to rise in the coming months. The new government has not only brought in new measures to support the renewable energy industry as a whole, but also changed the overall mood regarding solar power – and this optimism is likely to bring about a greater urgency amongst both businesses and households to make the switch. Historically, many individuals interested in pursuing renewable energy sources have cited costs and a difficulty in knowing where to start as barriers to kicking off the process. But with the support that’s now available to households around the country, including schemes like Solar Together, many more households are now able to go about the process in a much more simplified and stress-free manner.”
Since 2015, iChoosr has been collaborating with UK councils on its Solar Together schemes to accelerate the renewable energy transition nationwide. To date, Solar Together has facilitated more than 33,991 installations, expected to eliminate over 690,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next 25 years.
*analysis collated from MCS data
