UK surpasses 1.8 million certified small-scale renewable energy installations

New data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) shows that the UK has now surpassed 1.8 million certified small-scale renewable energy installations. May 2024 was the best month so far this year, with over 19,000 new certified installations.

This continues a trend seen throughout 2024, where each month has seen more certified installations than the previous one. The growth in small-scale renewables comes at a time when the UK’s transition to net-zero emissions is a key issue ahead of the country’s General Election in July.

The MCS data also highlights strong growth in certified heat pump installations, with almost 5,000 in May – the second-best month on record for the technology. The average monthly heat pump installations in 2024 so far is 4,400, a 36% increase compared to the record-breaking 2023 average.

Government incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which provides £7,500 grants for MCS-certified heat pump installations, are credited with driving this growth. Applications for the scheme have also increased, with April 2024 seeing a 93% rise compared to the same month in 2023.

Certified solar PV and battery storage installations are also on the rise, with over 14,300 solar PV installations in May and more than 6,000 battery storage units installed so far in 2024 – surpassing the entire 2023 total.

Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, says: 

“As the decarbonisation of UK homes gathers pace, it’s crucial that industry and homeowners are supported in delivering this transition. Government incentives and a commitment to developing the skills required to meet increasing demand will be critical in ensuring homeowner confidence in renewable technology continues to grow.”

For near-real-time dynamic visualisations of the uptake of small-scale renewable technologies across the UK, view the MCS Data Dashboard here.