The number of solar panels installed in homes across England dropped to 63,000 in the first half of 2024, compared to more than 83,000 in the same period last year, according to a new analysis by sustainable energy experts Solar Together.
Nonetheless, Solar Together expects an increase in the adoption rate throughout the remainder of the year, driven by economic optimism and a more stable political environment. The new government has already announced plans to ‘unleash a solar rooftop revolution’ and make the installation process for solar panels on new and existing homes easier.
Solar Together is a group-buying initiative that allows households to purchase solar panels and battery storage systems at more competitive prices, addressing the common concern of high initial costs. In 2023, Solar Together was responsible for 10% of MCS-certified solar panel installations in England.
The analysis highlights that Maldon in Essex has the highest proportion of solar panel adopters in the first half of 2024, with over 1% of households installing solar panels during this time. Through its scheme in Essex, in partnership with Essex County Council, Solar Together has assisted nearly 2,500 households in installing solar panels affordably and with less stress, including almost 300 installations in 2024 to date.
Other areas with notable 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 regions have installed solar panels in the past six months.
Winchester has the highest proportion of residents installing solar panels this year among cities. This follows a Solar Together study last year that identified Winchester as the English city with the highest proportion of ‘green energy champions’ – households that have adopted renewable energy sources or electric vehicles. Cornwall was named the county with the highest share of green energy champions.
Recent findings from Solar Together also show that 35% of energy-conscious consumers in the UK are likely to transition to renewable energy within the next five years. However, there is a strong sentiment among UK households that there should be more government incentives to encourage investment 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 partnered with UK councils on its Solar Together schemes to promote the renewable energy transition across the country. To date, Solar Together has delivered more than 33,991 installations, which are expected to reduce over 690,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next 25 years.
*analysis collated from MCS data
