New Record In Solar PV Installations

Published by GRE Energy Training at April 23, 2024

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Introduction:

In today’s blog, we analyse the Solar PV market, and the implications of a significant uptake in installations in the UK. Moreover, we will examine the effect this will have on the governments net zero plan, and how you can take advantage of their ambitious targets as an electrician.

The Numbers:

As of January 2024, the UK’s solar capacity stands at 15.7 GW (out of a staggering 500 GW worldwide) (Howell, 2024) and this number is set to continue to increase as we approach net zero. The increase is demonstrated by the capacity that is attributed to January alone, which was an impressive 58 MW (Howell, 2024.) Domestic installation is leading the race, making up 77% of the capacity added in January (Howell, 2024.) The increase in Solar PV installations will contribute massively to the governments targets, and with plummeting prices of Solar panels, and consumer familiarity with the benefits increasing, we strongly urge electricians to get involved with the industry and take advantage of the current landscape. In the next section of this blog, we will examine the market both in the UK and globally.

The Market:

The above demonstrates the acceptance of renewable technologies such as Solar PV by consumers, but how does Solar stand in relation to other renewable energies? The figure is actually quite low in the UK, accounting for 6.8% of other renewable energy (IEA, n.d.) However, this isn’t a bad thing, as it means there is still a huge untapped market for new installers to enter, which as we have concluded above will continue to grow. Globally, Solar PV makes up a significant share of 5.4%, (IEA, n.d.) and is expected to lead the way in renewable energy as more and more consumers look for alternative energy sources.

The Consumer:

As we have previously touched upon, consumer attitudes to the technology (and renewable energy in general) has shifted dramatically recently. In this section, we delve into this further with the most recent data. According to Jackman (2023), 85% of those asked knew what PV was and is used for, and 69% would buy or rent a property with the technology. The consensus on the technology does vary depending on age, and you will find that some age groups are more accepting than other, as is the case for any innovative technology. The key is to target the correct demographic, and be confident in selling the benefits of the technology.

Relevant Courses:

At GRE, we provide a variety of Solar PV related courses that can help you not only install the technology, but also sell and maintain it. View our full range of courses by clicking here.

We are always happy to help, so if you have any specific question please contact us directly for 1:1 guidance by clicking here.

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