2024 was easily the hardest year of my life. Oh my days, it drained me. I may have been depleted and lost a little zeal for life. At the same time, 2024 marked a significant milestone in the UK’s journey towards sustainable energy.
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Small-scale renewables reached unprecedented levels of adoption. According to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), over 260,000 certified installations were completed in homes and small businesses across the country, representing a 7% increase from the previous year. That’s amazing news!
This jump in renewable energy adoption shows a growing awareness among consumers about the benefits of home-grown energy solutions. Solar PV continues to lead the charge, with more than 180,000 certified installations in 2024 alone. At UNDERTWOK, we operate in portable power but we are happy to endorse our roof cousins. The roofing industry has played a crucial role in this solar revolution, as rooftop solar panels become an increasingly common sight across the UK landscape.
How come?
The solar power industry’s success is chalked up to several factors, including improved technology, decreasing costs, and increased public awareness of climate change. Roofing professionals have adapted to this trend, upskilling to handle solar installations and integrating renewable energy solutions into their service offerings.
Heat pumps have also seen a remarkable uptick, with nearly 60,000 certified installations in 2024 – a 43% increase from 2023. This growth has been bolstered by government initiatives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan (which we spoke about here). They have made these technologies more accessible to homeowners.
The milestone of surpassing 2 million total certified installations underscores the UK’s commitment to renewable technologies.
So what??
As the industry continues to evolve, maintaining high standards will be super important. The MCS plays a key role in ensuring quality and building consumer confidence through its certification process for both products and installations.
The record-breaking year of 2024 sets a promising precedent for the future of small-scale renewables in the UK. With continued government support and industry innovation, we can expect this upward trend to continue, bringing the nation closer to its net-zero ambitions.
References
Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (2024) Energy Trends December 2024. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/677bbe318ef66f3f5ea396d7/Energy_Trends_December_2024. pdf (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
Google. (2025). Gemini (Imagen 3) [AI image generator]. https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/imagen
GreenMatch (2024) The UK’s Solar Capacity Explained (January 2025). Available at: https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2019/09/uk-solar-capacity (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
PHAM News (2025) ‘2024 was a record year for small-scale renewables’, PHAM News, 17 January. Available at: https://www.phamnews.co.uk/2024-was-a-record-year-for-small-scale-renewables/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
Roofing Today (2025) ‘2024 was a record year for small-scale renewables’, Roofing Today, 22 January. Available at: https://roofingtoday.co.uk/2024-was-a-record-year-for-small-scale-renewables/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
Solar Power Portal (2024) ‘UK solar capacity hits 16.9GW’, Solar Power Portal. Available at: https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/uk-solar-capacity-16-9gw/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
Solar Power Portal (2024) ‘Renewables accounted for 50.5% electricity generation in Q3 2024’, Solar Power Portal, 24 December. Available at: https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/renewables-accounted-for-50-5-of-gb-electricity-generation-in-q3-2024/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
Solar&StorageXtra (2024) The UK Solar Market Report. Available at: https://solarstoragextra.com/the-uk-solar-market-report/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
Sunsave (2025) Top 19 solar energy statistics [UK & worldwide, 2025]. Available at: https://www.sunsave.energy/solar-panels-advice/solar-energy/statistics (Accessed: 22 January 2025).