and solar panels could be an option that many are considering. In fact, a survey published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero found that 75 per cent of the UK population would either be happy or wouldn’t mind if a solar plant was built in their area.
The research also found that a reduction in energy bills was the main reason why people would support renewable energy projects in their area, with nearly two-thirds of those questioned stating that this would sway their opinion to support such a development.
Of course, solar panels don’t only have to be constructed in large solar farms. They can also be installed on individual properties.
The UK government is also working to encourage more homeowners to install solar panels at their properties in a move that they claim could help households save approximately £500 per year on their energy bills.
Across the country, 1.5 million homes already have solar panels installed, but this figure is likely to significantly increase with the raft of government incentives, including the Future Homes Standard that will boost the inclusion of solar panels on new-build properties.
What else could boost solar panel takeup in the UK?
One area that is currently being explored is plug-in solar panels, which would make it much easier for people living in rented accommodation or flats to install solar panels on their balconies or roofs.
This could be vital for boosting the UK’s takeup of solar panels, as research by the Energy Saving Trust found that the areas in the UK that have the lowest use of solar panels are typically those where there are apartment buildings rather than individual houses.
Under current rules, plug-in solar panels aren’t permitted in the UK due to safety concerns, despite the fact that they are widely used in other parts of Europe. One of the measures announced by the government over the summer was a review of this guidance to understand how to enable the adoption of plug-in solar panels.
Are there still grants for solar panel installation?
Often, the biggest barrier to individual households installing solar panels is the upfront cost of doing so. However, there are still a range of grants available to provide financial assistance to households that want to install solar panels.
Some of these grants are only available to those on low incomes or who are in receipt of specific benefits, while others are open to all demographics or are restricted to certain geographic regions.
However, this highlights there is still strong support for greater solar uptake in the UK and that more homeowners could be encouraged to add solar panels to their properties with the right support.
What does this mean for the chemicals industry?
An increase in the takeup of solar PV panels will also positively affect the UK’s chemical industry, which produces chemicals that are essential to creating high-efficiency solar PV panels.
For instance, strontium titanate is an important chemical in perovskite solar cells, which are being developed as an alternative to conventional solar panels. The biggest benefit of perovskite solar cells is their increased efficiency.
However, perovskite solar cells are not as durable as silicon-based solar cells, which is the main reason why this technology has yet to take off.
Either way, however, chemicals are an essential component in the manufacture of any solar panels, which means the uptick in solar panel use in the UK could bring a welcome boost to the chemicals sector too.
In October, the UK government gave the green light to the Tillbridge Solar Farm development in Lincolnshire, which will produce enough energy to power 7.5 million homes once it’s up and running.
The project is also expected to support 1,250 jobs and is part of the government’s mission to transform the UK into a clean energy superpower. For those in the chemicals industry, this means it is worth exploring how your company can serve this growing renewable energy sector.
In addition to the chemical needs for solar panels, battery technology will also be crucial to help store the clean energy and, of course, to use in electric vehicles (EVs). In fact, finding a way to reliably store renewable energy, particularly solar, so that it can be used when it’s most needed is vital.
This will mean that the energy produced by solar panels can be used at night, or on low-light days when, of course, solar panels are not at their most effective. Another reason this is crucial is so that the renewable energy generated doesn’t go to waste.
If there’s no reliable way to store the energy at scale and homes and businesses aren’t using it, then it has nowhere to go.