A record number of solar panels, batteries and heat pumps have been installed in UK homes and buildings in the first six months of 2025, new figures reveal. The surge represents a dramatic shift towards renewable energy as households seek to slash their energy bills.
Data from MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), the quality mark for small-scale renewables, found there were more than 172,000 certified installations between January and June this year. This marks a 37% increase from the same period in 2024 and stands a third above the previous record high start to the year, set in 2023.
Solar panels lead the charge
The MCS said the jump in installations was being driven by three key technologies: solar panels, electric heat pumps and battery storage. Solar panels dominated the market with 123,000 certified installations in the first six months of 2025, breaking the previous January-to-June record set in 2012.
Battery installations have more than doubled, with over 18,000 systems fitted compared to nearly 8,000 in the same period last year. These devices allow households to capture excess power from solar panels or charge up from the grid when electricity is cheap, then use it during expensive peak times to cut bills.
Heat pumps gain momentum
Certified installations of highly efficient heat pumps reached 30,000 in the first half of the year, up 12% on the first half of 2024. These electricity-powered systems draw heat from the air or ground to warm homes and heat water, offering a low-carbon alternative to traditional gas boilers.
The figures also show that almost 50,000 renewable installations were fitted on newbuild properties, accounting for 28% of the total for the year so far. This represents a significant increase from the first half of 2024, when newbuilds made up 21% of the 125,000 installations overall.
Government support drives growth
The MCS highlighted that government financial support was one of the key drivers behind the increasing number of renewable installations. This includes schemes such as the £7,500 grant for new heat pumps to replace boilers in homes.
The latest available figures from January to March show that about three quarters of heat pump installations were wholly or partially supported with government funding. With the Future Homes Standard set to mandate solar panels and low carbon heating in newbuild homes from 2027, there is massive potential for growth in the low carbon tech industry.
Industry capacity expanding
Ian Rippin, chief executive at MCS, said: "Across all renewable technologies, we are seeing a dramatic rise in the number of installations being delivered into homes, helping to reduce energy bills for consumers and drive down emissions. Crucially, there are also more MCS certified installers than ever before, which means a growing capacity to deliver high-quality installations at volume into people's homes."
Miatta Fahnbulleh, minister for energy consumers, said: "People can save hundreds of pounds off their energy bills when installing renewable and low-carbon technologies like solar panels, heat pumps and batteries. So, it is no wonder that installations in the first six months of 2025 have broken records, as households recognise it just makes financial sense."
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
