UK Hits Record 172,000 Solar, Heat Pump, Battery Installations

The UK has experienced a record surge in small-scale renewable energy installations in the first half of 2025, with over 172,000 certified installations marking a 37% increase from the same period in 2024 and a 33% rise over the previous record in 2023. This growth is primarily driven by solar panels, electric heat pumps, and battery storage systems, with solar panels hitting a new high of approximately 120,000 to 123,000 installations. Battery storage installations more than doubled to around 18,000-20,000 units, enabling homeowners to store surplus energy and reduce electricity costs, while heat pump installations grew by about 12% to 30,000. Nearly 50,000 of these installations were in newbuild homes, representing 28% of the total and reflecting the impact of upcoming mandates from the Future Homes Standard requiring solar and low-carbon heating by 2027. Government incentives, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Social Housing Net Zero Fund, have significantly supported this uptake, especially for heat pumps, with around three-quarters of installations partially or fully government-funded. Industry leaders highlight that the rise in certified installers and installations not only lowers household energy bills but also strengthens energy security, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and boosts local economies.