Cornwall is emerging as a UK ‘hotspot’ for renewable energy installations

Cornish homes have so far installed nearly 38,000 renewable energy systems such as solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage units, making the county the UK’s leading ‘hotspot’ for small-scale clean energy deployment, according to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

New figures released yesterday by the certification body show that more than 15% of homes in Cornwall have now installed some form of renewable energy system, more than any other local authority region in the UK.

Solar panels appear to be the most popular green energy system among households in the county, with over 27,300 MCS-certified PV installations registered since 2008, representing 72% of all MCS-certified installations in the region.

So far this year, 65% of all MCS-certified renewable installations in Cornwall have been solar panels, which the certification body said reflects the strength of the domestic solar PV market, driven by growing demand from homeowners to and generate your own electricity at home. reduce their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

The number of heat pumps has also grown rapidly in Cornwall, with 2023 marking the strongest year on record for the installation of green heaters in the region. MCS certified heat pump installations topped 1,500 in Cornwall last year.

In the first four months of 2024, households in Cornwall installed 663 certified heat pumps – more than 150 on average each month – which the MCS said put the region on track for another “record year”.

“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 MCS chief executive , Ian Rippin.

“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 the heat. pump installations continue to grow in both Cornwall and the UK”.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers homeowners and small business owners in England and Wales up to £7,500 to install a low-carbon heating system, such as a heat pump, where the installation needs to be MCS certificate to qualify for the grant.

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