Cornwall leads the UK in small scale renewable installations

Analysis by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) found that Cornwall leads all other local authorities in MCS small-scale renewable energy installations, with solar the favourite.

The South West County installed over 1,800 renewable energy installations in 2024, totaling 38,000. Over 15% of Cornish households have an MCS certified renewable installation, including solar panels, heat pumps and storage batteries.

MCS data shows that solar PV is the most popular renewable energy technology in Cornwall. Over 27,300 MCS certified solar PV installations have been registered since 2008, representing 72% of all MCS certified renewable installations in Cornwall.

It is worth noting that this trend has continued into 2024, with 65% of all MCS certified renewable installations in Cornwall by this year being solar PV systems.

Heat pumps are growing in popularity

In addition to solar, heat pumps have also seen an increase in 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 this year, over 600 are air source heat pumps.

According to Ian Rippin, CEO of MCS, the Boiler Modernization Scheme (BUS) has played a key role in enabling Cornish homeowners to afford low carbon heating solutions, especially given that Cornwall it is considered one of the poorest regions in the UK.

Rippin said: “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.

“But it’s also great to see how the grants and incentives available in Cornwall, such as BUS, continue to play a key role in helping homeowners make the switch to low-carbon heating more accessible and affordable . I look forward to seeing heat pump installations continue to grow both in Cornwall and across the UK.”