The UK installed more solar panels in the first half of 2024 than in any previous year, over 120,000 new systems on homes and businesses. That is not a blip. It is a structural shift driven by one number: the average household electricity bill now sits at £1,928 a year under the October price cap, up 54% from 2021.
As reported by BBC News, installers are reporting waiting lists stretching into 2025. The question for the average UK homeowner is no longer “should I get solar?” but “how do I get it before the queue doubles?”
Who is buying, and why now
The surge is not limited to early adopters or eco-enthusiasts. Ofgem data shows the biggest growth is among households with annual incomes between £30,000 and £60,000, families who have never considered solar before. The trigger is simple arithmetic: a typical 3.5 kWp system costs £5,500–£7,500 fully installed and can cut annual bills by £500–£800, depending on how much daytime usage the home has.
The catch: not every home is a good candidate. South-facing roofs with less than 30% shading and at least 15 m² of clear space are ideal. East-west arrays work too, but yield about 15% less. Renters and flats are largely locked out unless their landlord agrees, and few have.
What the surge means for your EPC rating
Solar PV is one of the cheapest ways to add two EPC bands. A home currently rated D (55–68) can jump to B (81–91) with a 4 kWp system plus battery storage. That matters because from 2025, landlords cannot let properties below EPC C. For owner-occupiers, a higher EPC can add 3–5% to the sale price, according to Energy Saving Trust estimates.
But installation quality varies. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is the gold standard, without it, you cannot access the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments of 5–15p per kWh exported. Uncertified installers are cheaper but risk voiding your home insurance.
Grants and financing, the 2024 landscape
The government’s ECO+ scheme, which launched in early 2024, offers grants of up to £1,500 for low-income households. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme does not cover solar, it is for heat pumps only. But the 0% VAT on solar panels, introduced in 2022 and extended to 2027, remains in place, saving about £1,000 on a typical install.
What this misses: battery storage. Adding a 5 kWh battery (£2,000–£3,000) doubles self-consumption from 30% to 60% and cuts payback time by two to three years. Yet only one in four new solar installations includes a battery. That is a missed opportunity, especially as time-of-use tariffs like Octopus Flux now pay 30p/kWh for evening exports.
What to do now
Check your roof orientation on Google Maps. If it faces south or east-west with minimal shade, get three MCS-certified quotes from the MCS website. Expect installation in 8–16 weeks. Ask each installer for a generation estimate using the SAP 10.2 methodology, that is the industry standard. Compare SEG rates from Octopus, EDF, and OVO before signing. And if you can stretch to a battery, do. The payback gap between solar-only and solar-plus-battery is narrowing every quarter.
Households on standard variable tariffs should act before January 2025, when Ofgem’s next price cap review may push bills higher still. The sun is not going anywhere, but the installer queues are.
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical 3.5 kWp system costs £5,500–£7,500 fully installed, including 0% VAT. Prices vary by roof complexity and region. Adding a 5 kWh battery adds £2,000–£3,000.
Yes. A 4 kWp system with battery can raise a D-rated home to B, adding up to 20 points. This can increase property value by 3–5% according to the Energy Saving Trust.
