Cornwall is the UK’s hotspot for renewable energy installations, MCS finds

This means that more than 15% of Cornish households have an MCS certified renewable energy installation, including solar panels, heat pumps and storage batteries.

Solar panels are the most popular renewable technology in Cornwall, with over 27,300 MCS certified solar PV installations registered since 2008. In fact, solar panels make up 72% of all MCS certified renewable installations in Cornwall, showing that residents in Cornwall take advantage of the sun’s energy to power their homes.

This trend has continued into 2024, with 65% of all MCS certified renewable energy installations in Cornwall so far this year being solar panels. This reflects the strength of the domestic solar PV market, driven by growing demand from homeowners to generate their own electricity at home, reduce their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

Heat pumps are also growing in popularity in Cornwall, with 2023 being the best year on record for heat pumps in Cornwall, as well as the first year to exceed 1,500 MCS certified heat pump installations. In the first four months of 2024, Cornwall installed a monthly average of almost 150 certified heat pumps, putting the local authority on track for another record year for the technology. Of the 663 MCS certified heat pumps installed in Cornwall so far this year, more than 600 are air source heat pumps, showing the widespread adoption of this technology among Cornish homeowners.

“With Cornwall being one of the sunniest places in the UK, it’s no surprise that more Cornish homeowners are investing in solar panels to power their homes with free energy from the sun,” said Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS. “But it’s also great to see how the grants and incentives available in Cornwall, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, continue to play a key role in helping homeowners make the switch to low carbon heating more affordable and accessible. I look forward to seeing heat pump installations continue to grow both in Cornwall and across the UK.”

BUS offers homeowners and small businesses in England and Wales up to £7,500 to install a low-carbon heating system such as a heat pump. The facility must be MCS certified to qualify for the grant.

MCS has the most comprehensive repository of data on the adoption of small scale renewable technologies in the UK in the MCS Data Dashboard.

For additional information:

MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)