Simon Peat, CEO of Project Solar, looks at how consumers want to reduce their carbon footprint.
With the UK Government aiming to reach net zero by 2050, we know that “establishing a fully decarbonised, reliable and low-cost power system by 2035” will be fundamental to reaching these objectives. So, the swift and rapid adoption of sustainable energy solutions has never been more important.
Here at Project Solar, we've spent over a decade collaborating with residents, businesses and housebuilders to encourage greater solar panel adoption and the continued development of eco-friendly solutions as part of the rise in smart buildings.
As part of this work, we conduct regular studies to give our team greater insight into UK public’s sentiment around solar and renewable energy. For example, our most recent survey from March 2024 highlighted that seven in 10 of the UK public believe that it should be mandatory to install solar panels on new build properties.
Also, the 300% increase in Google searches originating from the UK for the question "are solar panels worth it" between March 2020 and February 2024 demonstrates the growing interest in solar energy among consumers.
2025 will also see adherence to the Future Homes Standard (FSH) become compulsory. The FSH aims to guarantee that new homes constructed from that year onward emit 75-80% less carbon than those built under current regulations. Recent research from Lloyds Bank underlines the importance of FSH’s introduction, pointing out that "16% of the UK's total carbon emissions arise from our homes, which is largely because the UK has the oldest homes in the world, and the worst insulated in Europe”.
So, it’s abundantly clear that FSH is vitally important in the UK’s shift towards net zero, but it’s also a golden opportunity that our sector has to get right at the first time of asking.
And yet, despite consumer sentiment and political will nudging the UK in the right direction with its green ambition, there remains hesitancy from pockets of the market.
Our recent surveys have detailed some fundamental misunderstandings of what solar power is and how it can be harnessed. A survey of ours from 2021 highlighted that 21% of respondents agreed with that statement that “you can only store solar energy if you live in the desert”. Surprisingly, this sentiment has actually grown in popularity throughout the years, with our most recent survey data, from 2024, indicating that 37% of respondents actually agree with this statement.
Further to this, Ian Rippin, CEO of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, the standards organisation for small-scale renewable energy and heat in the UK, recently talked of the hurdles often faced by the renewables sector in educating consumers about the expenses associated with solar panel installation and other relevant concerns.
It's evident that there remains significant work to overcome the misinformation and misconceptions that exist regarding the advantages of renewable energy. The unpredictability and apprehension revealed shouldn’t deter from the work that our sector has managed to date, it should serve to provide the industry with the continued impetus to address misconceptions and to cultivate a more informed consumer base.
Over the coming years, housebuilders will continue to play a crucial role in informing consumer choices by shaping the built environment. By integrating solar and other renewable energy solutions into their projects, housebuilders can not only meet FSH policy standards, but also empower their customers on the journey towards energy independence.
Commercially, embracing renewables as a key part of their proposition also provides a competitive edge in an increasingly eco-conscious market – just take a look at the growth in popularity of green mortgages or electric cars as an example of this.
Ultimately, the transition towards adopting renewable energy in all its forms requires a continued collective effort from all stakeholders, whether this is consumers seeking information from their suppliers right through to industry leaders championing change. We’re not resting on our laurels in this business - we’re keen to help our industry lead the UK towards a brighter and more sustainable future.