New data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) shows that the adoption of solar panels, battery storage systems, and home heat pumps are on the rise in the UK.
MCS’ latest data shows that 2024 has been a record-breaking year for solar and storage installations in the UK, noting that more domestic energy storage systems were installed January – June 2024 than throughout the whole of any other year.
Totalling almost 8,000 installations, MCS explains that this is evidence of solar and storage’s “remarkable rise” in the wake of 2021’s new installation standards and an increased appetite from consumers for price-stable energy.
The findings additionally show that over 80,000 homes were fitted with solar panels from January – July 2024, and that number is still rising rapidly. The UK solar industry’s milestone of 1.5m MCS-scale solar installations was surpassed in spring.
Chris Hewett, CEO of Solar Energy UK, hails the discovery as proof of a “golden era for smaller-scale sustainable energy,” adding:
“I am glad that consumer demand for solar energy has remained both substantial and stable over the first half of the year, buoyed both by high energy bills and undoubtedly by environmental concerns too
“This should provide installers with the confidence to invest in their staff, particularly in recruiting the new people we need to grow the sector.”
Demonstrating the rise of renewable energy in the UK, MCS notes that installations of domestic heat pumps are also likely to break records in 2024, with January – June seeing 27,000 installations. This was an increase of 43% of the same period in 2023.
To this end, Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS, links government support for heat pump installations to the increase in customer appetite – highlighting that government support is crucial to decarbonising homes:
“It is no coincidence that the record number of certified heat pump installations has coincided with a record number of BUS applications in 2024, which is ensuring more homeowners have access to low-carbon technology.
“It’s something that we hope the government will continue to support as home-grown energy becomes more mainstream in UK homes.”
