Households across Great Britain, even in the cloudiest areas, could see annual energy bill savings of over £400 by installing rooftop solar panels, according to new research. An analysis conducted for the Guardian found that in regions with the fewest sunny days, annual savings could be around £450 on an average household electricity bill, potentially rising to over £600 in sunnier areas.
The potential for savings has grown in recent years, driven by increasing wholesale energy prices and a continued decline in the cost of solar panel installation. For example, homes in southern Scotland could save an average of £440 annually, while those in the north-west of England might save £463. In southern England, brighter weather could lead to savings between £571 and £618 a year for households in Brighton and Southampton, respectively.
This increase in potential savings has contributed to a boom in rooftop solar installations. Official figures show more new solar power installations in the first half of this year than in any six-month period since 2011. Most of these new installations are on household rooftops, making up just under a third of the country's total solar power capacity.
In July, solar power supplied 14.4% of Great Britain's electricity, marking a new monthly high. This was partly attributed to summer heatwaves, which led to almost double the average sunshine hours in some parts of the UK.
Recharge Renewable, a UK solar firm, highlighted that the actual savings depend on the rooftop system's set-up and regional potential. A typical 4kW system on a south-facing roof could be worth around £450 a year in electricity used at home under the current price cap. However, a typical 4kW solar system costs about £7,000 after VAT removal, making the upfront cost a barrier for many families.