Grey skies Scotland solar panels storming ahead of UK with 100,000 installations this year

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Grey skies Scotland is storming ahead of the UK on adopting solar panels with nearly 100,000 installed on our roofs this year. Sky-high energy bills have led tens of thousands of Scots homes and businesses to take up the renewable tech with the highest adoption rate in Britain, a new survey shows.

Latest data from industry standards authority MCS reveals some 21,500 installations comprising about 95,000 panels on buildings across the country so far in 2024, including on 13,500 domestic properties. And the new 2024 National Home Energy Survey found solar panels the most popular choice among Scots who purchased low-carbon technology for their homes, with 29 per cent opting to install solar.

That was the highest adoption rate of any UK nation or region, with North West England second on 24 per cent, London on 20 per cent, Northern Ireland on 14 per cent and Wales 13 per cent. The study, commissioned by The Eco Experts, also found an 87 per cent satisfaction rate across the UK for people who purchased panels - most commonly because of their energy bill savings.

The Eco Experts said homeowners in an average three-bedroom house could immediately start saving up to 50 per cent on their energy bills by fitting a solar array. Solar panels offer savings between £270 and £640 for most homes each year, its analysis found.

Solar power has been steadily growing in popularity in Scotland for years, despite misconceptions that our dreary weather makes installing panels less worthwhile. But advocates insist solar could supply all of Scotland’s energy needs from sunlight to an area as small as the Isle of Hoy in Orkney.

Maximilian Schwerdtfeger of The Eco Experts said: “Customers often see the benefits of using solar panels very quickly, which is why satisfaction levels among those who purchase them are so high. The significant uptake of solar panels in Scotland is an extremely encouraging sign for the future of solar energy, particularly as the government sets out trying to turn the UK into a clean energy superpower.

“It also shows that the upfront cost of solar panels, which can be a barrier to some people, is not holding Scottish customers back as much as it is elsewhere.” He added: “The industry should step up its efforts to show customers how solar panels can help them to cut their energy bills.”

Tom Armstrong, managing director of Project Solar UK, said: “It’s incredibly heartening to see that the vast majority of those who invest in low-carbon technologies are extremely satisfied with their choice. Over the last 13 years, we’ve consistently received the same positive feedback from our customers, who report significant savings on energy costs and a notable boost in efficiency thanks to their solar panels.”

We revealed last month how one firm is now offering Scots access to pay-as-you-go solar panels for as little as £61 a month - rather than having to stump up to £7000 upfront to install the kit, a common barrier. It comes amid a solar boom worldwide, with record capacity installed last year in the UK, the EU and the US - while China built more panels than the rest of the world combined.

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