A new study examining government data shows a 40% increase in the installation of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels in UK properties over the past five years, with a 15% rise in the last year.
The study looked at data from the Office of National Statistics about the number of Solar PV installations in the UK and their contribution to the country's energy capacity.
This research revealed that renewable energy sources now make up 47.7% of all electricity produced in the UK, marking a new high and a yearly increase of 2.4%.Solar PVhas become the second-largest source of renewable energy in the UK, right behind wind power, that doesn't release carbon directly into the atmosphere.
Solar PV panel installations surge by 40%
The number of homeowners and homebuildersinstalling solar panelshas gone up 40% in the last five years, with a 15% increase in the past year alone, according to a study analysing government data byLogic4training.
The analysis also looked at Google search data, showing a 22% year-on-year increase in online searches for information about buying or installingsolar panels.
This rise is expected to continue as annual inquiries for solar PV were shown to have risen by 1,800% in the study, defying a previous prediction by industry experts thatMCS accreditation could slow down installation figures.
Mark Krull at Logic4training said: "As the UK continues on its path to Net Zero, the rising popularity of solar PV provides an increasingly cost-effective option for homeowners and businesses looking to reduce their energy bills and cut carbon footprints."
Solar PV's growing impact on UK energy
In the UK, solar PV is one of the fastest-growing renewable technologies, contributing 4.1% of the total electricity generated, a significant increase from 0.4% a decade ago.
Government data shows that since 2019, solar PV has added 20% of new energy capacity (0.9 GWH), making it the second-largestrenewable energycontributor after Wind power.
Government data for September还透露,在2023年第二季度,solar power, due to minimal wind speeds, gained its largest share of the renewables market with 8.6%, showing its growing importance to the UK energy market.
Why is solar power on the rise?
There are a number of reasons why solar PV is proving more popular with homeowners and no longer an afterthought to those looking to build a house.
Solar PV panel's main attraction is they help homeowners save on energy costs by utilising unused roof space, which provides a practical and convenient solution to avoid potentialenergy price rises.
Additionally, they boost a building's compliance withEPCratings, whilst requiring minimal maintenance.
UK developers are also increasingly adopting solar PV installation to reduce carbon emissions in newly constructed buildings as many are preparing for the impendingFuture Homes Standard, which will require new homes to produce 75-80% less carbon emissions in 2025.
Mark Krull also noted the declining costs of installing solar PV panels are also encouraging installations as he stated: "The price of solar photovoltaic hardware has come down considerably over the last ten years, which, combined with souring electricity prices, has created the perfect storm for market growth."
What support is there for those looking for grants?
To support the UK government's goal of achieving 70GW of solar capacity by 2035, several significant measures have been introduced.
The government has allocated £4 billion to the Energy Company Obligation Scheme, which aims to boost renewable energy installations, including solar panels.
Rishi Sunak also in early 2022 announced a substantial reduction in VAT for solar panels, down to 0% for a five-year period. This tax incentive is designed to encourage more people to adopt solar panels and streamline the process of obtainingplanning permission for solar panels.
Additional solar panel grants are expected in the coming year as part of theEnergy Security Bill, which will help offset installation costs.
