New research has looked at where the British are most enthusiastically putting solar panels on their roofs and which areas are lagging behind.
1.4 million homes in the UK have installed solar panels but geographically, they are not distributed evenly.
Eco-home technology brand Hive Home have examined the uptake of domestic solar panel installations around the country to identify any untapped potential in areas that are particularly suitable.
By crunching data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Hive assessed every local authority in the UK based on three key factors: annual sunshine hours, the percentage of homeowners, and how many homes are physically suitable for solar panels.
While sunshine might seem the most obvious indicator, the results show that solar success relies just as much on housing stock and homeownership rates as it does on weather, and of the four home nations, England dominates the solar potential rankings, claiming 16 of the top 20 spots.
At the top of the table is Castle Point in Essex, earning the title of the UK’s most solar-suitable area. The district combines an abundance of sunshine, a high number of homeowners, and a large share of panel-ready properties. Just a few miles away, Rochford ranks fourth.
In Lincolnshire there are three districts: North Kesteven, West Lindsey, and South Holland in the top 20, thanks largely to a housing landscape dominated by detached and semi-detached properties. In some areas, as many as 95% of homes are panel-ready.
Even Wales, with fewer sunshine hours, punches above its weight in solar suitability. Carmarthenshire, Isle of Anglesey, Flintshire, and Bridgend all feature in the top 20. Here, it’s the high percentage of suitable housing that gives them the edge.
But no region is off-limits for solar. Even with fewer daylight hours, the far north of Scotland can still benefit substantially from solar due technology that works in diffused light and increasingly efficient solar panel designs.
9.2% of houses in the South West have installed solar panels, putting it top of the regional table. London, at the bottom, has just a 3% uptake.
Within London, Hive found that Havering is the borough best suited for solar adaptation, followed by Bexley and Richmond upon Thames.
Boroughs to the south, such as Lambeth, Lewisham, and Greenwich rank the lowest.
Susan Wells, Director of Solar and EV at Hive Home, said: ‘Hive is committed to providing simple and affordable net zero solutions for every home. There is a clear desire amongst homeowners to cut energy bills and act more sustainably, and solar panels and batteries are a great way to do this. Not only can they help customers save on their electricity bills, but they can also get paid for any excess energy they sell back to the grid.’
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