A rooftop revolution

People in the countryside are leading the way on solar power generation, according to new research from CPRE, the countryside charity.

48 of the 50 English parliamentary constituencies with the highest domestic solar generation capacity are in rural areas, reflecting the far higher number of homes with solar panels.

On average, each rural constituency has domestic solar panels with a total generating capacity of 12.5 MW, compared with just 4.5 MW in urban constituencies.

But both figures are still far too low to meet the government’s net zero targets.

They show how opportunities to generate huge amounts of cheap, low-carbon electricity are being missed, something people’s purses – let alone the planet – can ill afford.

Cutting costs of solar

Cost is often a hugely significant barrier, with the average domestic installation bill coming in at more than £6,000.

Published today, a new report from CPRE demonstrates that, with the right financial initiatives and practical support in place, the rooftops of homes, warehouses and car parks across the nation could act like clean power stations, cutting carbon emissions, slashing energy bills and protecting our countryside. 

The report argues that lessons should be learnt from countries including Germany, where cash incentives for installing solar panels are as much as double those offered in the UK, and Japan, where homeowners can have solar panels installed for free in exchange for the electricity they generate.