Comment: MCS data shows UK on track for best year ever for renewable energy and heat installations

Commenting on data from MCS showing that more households are installing heat pumps and solar panels in the UK than ever before [1] Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: “The gas crisis jeopardising the UK’s security of supply and causing bills to rocket over the last year has clearly left its mark on the British public, who are quickly turning to net zero technologies like solar and heat pumps to gain energy independence.

“As these technologies get more commonplace and likely cheaper, this trend is only going to grow, despite some unclear messaging and a lack of long term policy certainty around the Boiler Upgrade Scheme for heat pumps, for example. Delivering a stable plan for 2030 and beyond plus incentives for household technologies can help get the UK to be less reliant on gas, meaning that we have to import less from abroad as the North Sea continues to decline, and shielding ourselves from any future gas crises.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The data from MCS (the Microgeneration Certification Scheme Service Company), published on Monday 14 August, shows that in the first six months of 2023, more than 120,000 certified solar panels, heat pumps and other renewable technologies were installed in UK homes, the highest number ever by this point in the year.

For more information or for interview requests:

George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net