Homeowners flock to solar panels to escape energy chaos
Homeowners flock to solar panels to escape energy chaos
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Published on
18 March 2026
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Solar surges more than 27% due to US-Iran conflict
Households looking to protect their energy bills from geopolitical crises
The UK is seeing one of its best years for solar interest
Interest in solar panels has increased by 27% since the end of February
Homeowners in the UK are rushing to install solar panels as gas prices continue to increase due to the US-Iran conflict and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, so much so that the technology is having its best year to date.
That’s according to new data from Octopus Energy, which says that interest in solar panels has increased by 27% since the beginning of the US-Iran war as UK homeowners try to keep energy costs down. As well as interest in solar panels, battery installation has almost doubled year-on-year.
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, chief product offer, Octopus Energy, the UK’s biggest energy supplier, says the UK is seeing a “fundamental shift” in its energy habits and that homeowners are looking for security after the second energy crisis in five years, a reference to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
She said that the homeowners now “see their rooftops as a frontline of financial resilience” because they can “insulate their bank accounts against global energy crises.”
Why are homeowners so interested in solar panels?
The appeal of solar panels for homeowners is in the fact that they bring energy bills down and protect them from the price of gas.
The price of gas has increased by more than 60% since the end of February. In retaliation to US bombing, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel through which 20% of the world’s liquified natural gas is transported.
The chaos in the gas market hits the UK in two ways:
Firstly, the UK relies heavily on importing gas and oil
Secondly, the price of electricity is set by the price of gas because of the UK’s marginal pricing system
This has caused some analysts to predict that the energy price cap will increase by 10% or more when it changes in July.
A solar panel system can reduce energy bills by 70% in the long term and make money for their owners in the long term through initiatives such as the Smart Export Guarantee.
Written By
Maximilian SchwerdtfegerDeputy editor
Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024 and became deputy editor in 2025. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.
He has represented The Eco Experts on national television several times, including the BBC’s Sunday Morning Live and ITV Tonight .
In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.
He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.
Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.
As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.
His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.
Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.
Tamara BirchNewsletters and sponsored content editor
Tamara is a journalist with more than six years experience writing about environmental topics. This includes advising small businesses on cost-effective ways tom become more sustainable, from installing to solar panels and heat pumps and reducing waste. She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs. Now, she’s using this experience to advise homeowners on the benefits of installing low-carbon technologies. She is also qualified in offering innovative initiatives to improve sustainability practices in businesses, from advertising to marketing and publishing.
Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.
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