For all the latest news stories visit www.eibi.co.uk RENEWABLE ENERGY


Solar installations reach record levels across the UK


Nearly 172,000 solar installations have been completed across the UK since the start of 2026, according to new government figures, with every UK nation and English region recording growth over the past year. Almost 28,000 installations were completed in July, making it the third-highest month on record after March and June. Rooftop solar accounted for more than 19,800 of July’s installations, representing more than seven in 10. The government said this equated to roughly one rooftop installation every two minutes. The figures include installations across homes, businesses and larger-scale projects. The South East recorded the highest number of installations so far this year, with 22,628, followed by the East of England with 18,109 and the South West with 17,539. The government has published a regional breakdown


of solar installations for the first time. The East Midlands recorded the largest increase among the English regions, rising by 17% compared with July 2025, while the North West increased by 16%.


New Reports


● The Heat Pump Association UK has published Accelerating the deployment of heat pump driven low carbon heat networks and drilling, calling for greater regulatory clarity, targeted funding and stronger policy recognition. The report covers shared ground loops, ambient heat networks, heat pump-driven traditional networks and the drilling infrastructure supporting these systems.


Across the UK, Wales recorded an 18% rise in installations over the past year, while Scotland saw an increase of 14%. The North East recorded an 11% increase. The figures come after changes allowing plug-in solar


panels to be used across Great Britain. Retailers including Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon are preparing to sell plug-in solar products following work with the government. The government said the changes would make it easier


for households to generate their own electricity, although the latest figures cover all solar installations rather than plug-in systems specifically.


Crown Estates breaking rules on energy upgrades


The Royal family is breaking the law by letting out homes on their Crown Estates which have extremely low energy efficiency standards. Analysis of a large sample of residential lettings into homes royally owned reveals that around 20% still have an F or G energy performance certificate rating. Letting out homes with such a poor energy efficiency rating has been illegal since 2018. Last year the government announced that the minimum ratings permissible for any new leasing arrangement will be a C rating. Nationally, that will require energy upgrading of over half of current lettings. But for the King and the


Prince of Wales, this will require considerable expenditure on energy improvements in most of


● A new report from Baxi, Decarbonising the education estate – policy and regulatory landscape, examines the regulations, funding opportunities and practical considerations shaping the move to low-carbon heating across UK schools. Commissioned by Baxi and prepared by Talan UK and Ireland, it comes as ageing estates face growing pressure to decarbonise.


● Ask the HEXperts from Alfa Laval examines how proactive heat exchanger maintenance affects energy efficiency, operating costs, and carbon emissions. It outlines the impact of fouling, compares reactive and proactive servicing approaches, and walks through the maintenance process step by step.


the properties they own as landlords. Surveys suggest this will apply to 99% of homes within the Sandringham estate, 90% of those owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, and 80% of those run by the Duchy of Cornwall.


Investment in efficiency


delivering added value Every £1 invested by the Scottish Government in home energy efficiency upgrades has delivered a return of £2.31 in wider societal benefits, according to an independent analysis by Social Value Lab which examined the effectiveness of the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme. The study, ‘Creating Value and Warming Homes’ included


a survey of almost 1,000 households, which found that three quarters of those quizzed felt that upgrades improved their health and wellbeing through a reduction in stress and mental health pressures, as well as better sleep. Additionally, 56% said the amount they spend on heating


their homes had decreased, whilst around a third of EIBI | SEPTEMBER 2026


In contrast, residents living in the King’s development in Dorset, called Poundbury (pictured), all enjoy far lower fuel bills than their opposite numbers elsewhere, with A or B-rated EPCs.


respondents identified improved social activity and having more confidence to invite friends and family to their home. Similar programmes have long existed both in Wales and in Northern Ireland. However, since the abandonment of the Warm Front scheme, described as “an exemplar” by the National Audit Office, there has been no equivalent programme helping those in fuel poverty in England. The Scottish Government continues to measure fuel poverty in the way adopted throughout Europe – apart from in England. It includes every home needing to pay 10% or more of their household income for fuel.


A concurrent survey of businesses in the supply chain for the programme found 86% reported increased staff recruitment opportunities off the back of home energy efficiency upgrades, while 87% reported improved financial security as a result.


● The latest report from ADE: Demand says uncertainty over electricity grid connection costs and timescales is deterring industrial companies from electrifying sites. Connection costs: What businesses are afraid of found some projects are abandoned before formal applications, leaving gaps in official data. The trade body is calling for indicative connection costs and better measurement of lost projects.


● With the UK experiencing multiple heatwaves this year, Vent-Axia has sponsored a new white paper examining the growing challenge of overheating in UK buildings. Published by Architects Datafile (ADF), Solutions for mitigating overheating in residential and commercial buildings explores how architects are responding to the need to mitigate overheating in new-build properties.


● The Energy Transitions Commission’s (ETC) new report, Beneath the surface: Geothermal’s role in delivering clean heating, cooling and power, looks at how geothermal could play a much larger role in the energy transition, highlighting three technology types that face financial and policy barriers which need to be overcome.


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NEWS UPDATE


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