Savings grow as energy prices in Great Britain rise and cost of panel installation falls, analysis finds
Households in Great Britain’s cloudiest regions could still save more than £400 a year on their energy bills by installing rooftop solar panels, research has found.
Rising wholesale energy prices mean the potential savings from a home solar panel system have climbed in recent years, as the cost of installation has continued to fall, leading to increased demand.
An analysis carried out for the Guardian has found that in areas with the fewest sunny days, solar panels could bring annual savings of about £450 a year on the average household electricity bill. In areas with the brightest skies, this figure could climb to more than £600.
The findings, provided by the UK solar firm Recharge Renewable, show that households in southern Scotland could save on average £440 a year, based on the estimated solar generation in Glasgow over a year, while homes in the north-west of England could save £463, based on the generation likely in Manchester.
In southern England, where brighter weather means more solar generation, savings on bills could climb to between £571 and £618 a year for households in Brighton and Southampton, respectively, according to the figures.
The potential savings have increased in recent years as conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East have compounded Britain’s rising electricity prices, leading to a boom in rooftop solar installations. Large-scale installations have also climbed under the Labour government, which has set a target to triple the UK’s solar farms by 2030.
Read more: The Guardian
