The solar PV installation industry has not seen high levels of solar panel installations like we are currently seeing since the final months before the generous subsidies were cut on the Feed-in-Tariff scheme in early 2016.
The first three months of 2025 have seen an increase in solar PV installations with 58,432 certified installations of solar panels on homes and small businesses in the UK. This represents a 37% increase for the first three months this year compared to the same months last year, and March 2025 is the highest month install figure for almost a decade.
According to the MCS Foundation which registers all certified solar PV installations in the UK, there were over 1.7 million solar PV installations in total in the UK by the end of March 2025. Their figures show a continued growth in the number of installations of solar panels for the last three years, which has largely been attributed to the rising costs of energy and households seeking ways to save money on energy bills and become more energy efficient.
In January 2022, there were just over 6,000 solar PV installations for the month, this has risen during 2023 to March 2025 to a minimum of 10,000 a month in December 2023 to highs of 22,623 installed in March 2025. There was a 40% increase in solar panel installations from 2022 to 2023, which was maintained in 2024. Given the great start to the year with increased installs in January to March, it is looking likely that this could be exceeded this year.
Why are so many people investing in solar panels?
With years of rising energy prices and increasing instability in the energy markets and the world, more homeowners and small businesses are looking for ways to reduce their energy bills, and not just looking for a quick fix but a long-term solution. Solar panels offer that long-term solution as they will last for 30 years producing electricity. And even if you decide to move home, it can make your property more desirable to buy and can increase its value.
Most homes with solar panels on their roofs will be producing enough electricity to reduce their electricity bills by 56%, which means they will only be paying for 44% of the electricity they use, and only that proportion will be impacted by any price rises. And even better, the 56% they generate costs them nothing at all!
There is an upfront cost of installing solar PV on your home, but the payback period is not as long as you may think, as the savings enable you to recoup the costs fairly quickly. You can also access loans to help you install solar panels, so that you can use your energy bill savings to help pay your loan for the cost of the solar panels.
As a local trust installer of solar panels, we can offer advice on loans, provide a free no no-obligation quote and advise you on the best solution for your home. Contact one of our friendly team members to find out more.
