- New homes in England have experienced a huge surge in solar panel installations
- Up to 45,070 newbuild homes were completed in England in Q4 in 2024
- The recent increase results from ‘Part L’ rules on residential energy efficiency
New homes in England have experienced a huge surge in solar panel installations following the introduction of more stringent rules on energy efficiency.
The proportion of new homes and buildings that come with solar panels, according to Solar Energy UK, has risen by more than three times in the past 12 months.
Solar Energy UK estimated that 45,070 newbuild homes were completed in England over the fourth quarter in 2024. The latest figures from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) say that 18,954 installations were made on newbuild properties over the same period.
Chris Hewett, chief executive, Solar Energy UK, said that assuming all these were on homes indicates that 42% of these new homes are solar-powered.
He added that this is a “dramatic jump” compared to only 5,731 of 44,310 newbuilds sporting solar panels in the last quarter of 2023 – only 13%.
“It’s a reasonable assumption that at least 40% of new English homes now have solar power, given the clear trend in the data,” Hewett explained before predicting that the proportion of newbuild homes with solar power will increase again by the end of the year thanks to the roll out of the Future Homes Standard, and hinting it could rise to 80%.
“There has been much attention lately on the next iteration of the Building Regulations, the Future Homes Standard, which we expect will all but mandate substantial solar installations on new homes.
“But it is important to recognise how the existing rules are driving growth in the industry, while cutting emissions and bills for homeowners. The numbers demolish any suggestion the solar industry would be unable to scale up to meet even greater demand under the forthcoming standard.”
Install solar panels
Solar panels can help save you money on your energy bills, use the button below to get free quotes from our trusted suppliers.
The recent increase, according to Solar Energy UK, results from ‘Part L’ rules on residential energy efficiency, which have applied in full since June 2023. Hewett reported that although welcome, a consequent fall in the average size of systems is rather less so.
Stuart Elmes, chief executive, Virdian Solar, said that before the new rules, fitting solar power to new homes in England was driven by either local planning requirements or the preference of self-builders.
“Planning conditions were applied on a site-wide basis and tended to mean that solar installations were concentrated on a few homes, to comply in the most convenient and cost-effective way,”Elmes explained.
“In contrast, self-builders would ensure their installation was of the right size to make a cost-effective contribution towards meeting their own energy requirements.”
It was also reported that as the proportion of new homes with solar panels built by private developers has risen, average capacity for newbuilds has declined, going from approximately 4kW at the end of 2023 to only 2.4kW in Q4 this year.
James Bull, founder and sales director, UPOWA, a newbuild PV specialist, said it should be no surprise that we’re seeing more solar panels on newbuild homes as they are “one of the most reliable and cost-effective” types of technology.
Bull claimed that UPOWA has seen a bump from housebuilder customers who offer battery storage and PV array upgrades.
“Integrating battery storage at the point of the construction is not only easier to install and more economical, but it also helps housebuilders go one step further to creating zero-carbon-ready homes that are fit for the future.”
Elsewhere, the number of solar retrofits to existing homes have stayed around 8,000-10,000 each month in England for more than a year, which is likely driven by high energy prices, low installation costs and environmental concerns. The number, however, remained far greater than before the energy price crisis.
