The first half of 2023 has seen a boom in renewable energy installations, with more heat pump and solar panels being fitted than any six-month period in previous years
Data from industry standards MCS indicates that there has been a record number of renewable energy installations in the first six months of 2023.
MCS found that over 20,000 households installed solar panels every month of this year, whereas heat pumps reached a peak number of 3,000 household installations a month for the first time.
June 2023 alone had more renewable energy installations than in any six-month period in recent history. Battery technologies in particular, exceeded previous numbers on a monthly basis.
Wales has taken the lead on home renewable energy systems
Scotland has traditionally led on the highest proportion of green energy installations per household, but for the first time since 2021, Welsh homes have taken the lead.
Although Scotland has around twice the number of households as Wales (and England ten times as many), MCS and housing data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that a higher proportion of Welsh homes are reaping the benefits of renewable technologies.
As of April 2023, the proportion of renewable energy installations across the UK was:
- 7.24% in Wales
- 7.23% in Scotland
- 5.52% in England
- 4.19% in Northern Ireland
More must be done to reach current net zero targets
Ian Rippin, the chief executive of MCS, commented: “As the cost of energy continues to grow, we are seeing more people turn to renewable technology to generate their own energy and heat at home. We need to continue to push this expansion to meet our shared national ambitions to reach net zero by 2050.
“More consumers have the confidence to invest in small-scale renewables now than ever, but we have to make that transition even easier.”
You can view the latest MCS figures in full here.
