Wales leads the way for renewable energy installations in the UK

Wales has surpassed Scotland in the UK’s league tables for renewable energy and heating installations, with a higher proportion of homes equipped with small-scale renewables.

The latest data from MCS shows this growth was driven by Welsh homeowners’ increased investment in greener energy amid the cost-of-living crisis and a growing demand for solar PV and heat pump technologies.

Scotland has roughly double the number of households as Wales, so although Wales has a smaller total installation count, there are more houses with installations according to MCS and housing data.

By the end of April 2023, all-time installation volumes reached 178,758 for Scotland and 97,537 for Wales. Using housing data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to compare uptake volumes, Wales has 7.24% of homes with installations against Scotland’s 7.23%. England is third with 1,261,503 (5.52%) and Northern Ireland is fourth with 31,421 (4.19%).

Total installation volume and uptake is viewable in near-real-time by each home nation and also by local authority on the MCS Data Dashboard. Every certified installation is recorded in the MCS Installations Database, the most comprehensive for small-scale renewable technology in the UK. The MCS Data Dashboard uses this data, updated every 24 hours, to paint a dynamic picture of the uptake of renewables across the country.

Ian Rippin, CEO at MCS, explains: “It’s promising to see Wales perform so well in our latest data release as it highlights that more Welsh homeowners are not only looking to decarbonise their homes, but also that they are conscious about the installation quality they receive to maximise efficiency. For consumers like Sian, solar panels will lead to long-term cost savings.

“Solar PV continues to be the most popular technology type in Wales and across the UK, but heat pump installers are also seeing further uptake each month, and demand is gaining momentum for low-carbon heating, especially since the Boiler Upgrade Scheme was extended to 2028.

“With the energy crisis still very prevalent, consumers face hard decisions, so we hope these latest statistics give businesses and consumers in Wales the confidence to invest in home-grown energy to prepare their homes for a low-carbon future.”