Concerns about climate change, soaring energy prices and now the threat of winter blackouts mean there has never been a better time to go solar. Photovoltaic (PV) panels have been around for decades and generate power reliably all year round with virtually no need for maintenance.

The price of panels has come down by 60% since 2010 and made economic sense even without subsidy prior to the recent energy price rises. Solar deployment has been steadily increasing year on year, with 2021 being the best year since 2015, when the sector was being fuelled by generous government subsidies which are now no longer available.

Solar power contributes 4% to the UK’s power needs and, according to trade body Solar Energy UK, could nearly triple to 15% by 2030, with a peak output of 40GW. That increase in potential output is equivalent to more than 10 Sizewell C nuclear power stations. And that capacity does not have to be built exclusively on green fields – a recent report from the UK Warehousing Association says there is enough space on shed roofs for 15GW of PV capacity alone.

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