Within its first few weeks in power, the new Labour government has promised to “unleash a solar rooftop revolution”. Image: SolarEdge.

While the new Labour government has promised to “unleash a solar rooftop revolution”, Solar Together analysis shows a drop in solar panel uptake across England in 2024 so far.

According to the figures, England has installed 63,000 solar panels in the first half of 2024, compared to over 83,000 installations in the first half of 2023.

Solar Together is a group-buying initiative that was responsible for 10% of MCS-certified solar panel installations across England in 2023. The scheme, delivered with local authority input, leverages the collective buying power of residents to bring the upfront cost of installation down.

Analysis from the group showed that in the first half of 2024, Maldon in Essex was the area with the highest proportion of solar panel uptake. Also seeing high levels of adoption were 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 each area have installed solar panels in the last six months.

However, the combination of the pro-solar government and easing economic strain will lead to a rapid increase over the rest of the year, according to the group.

George Frost, UK ry manager at iChoosr, which delivers the Solar Together group buying initiatives, said: “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 pointed out that energy prices have stabilised just as 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”.

“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,” he added.

“Many more households are now able to go about the process in a much more simplified and stress-free manner.”

Within its first few weeks in power, the new Labour government has made solar power a priority. Ministers are looking to bring in solar-related standards for new-build properties from as soon as next year. To ease the retrofitting process, there are plans to re-examine rules around where and how high on buildings solar panels can be placed and restrictions for listed buildings.

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