Despite the fact the Feed in Tariff was reduced last month, the number of homes installing solar panels has in fact leapt by 40 per cent.
The figures on weekly installation numbers released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) highlight the fact that the last week in November saw 1,137 solar installations around the UK. There was a 40 per cent rise in the week following (the week ending December 2nd) as 1,615 homes had a photovoltaic (PV) system installed.
Solar panel installation has fluctuated greatly this year due to reductions in the Feed in Tariff. At its peak, the UK saw 27,604 panels installed in the week beginning March 4th.
This is good news for the solar industry, as there were concerns that the reduction in the Feed in Tariff would dissuade homeowners from installing solar panels. There is further good news for those considering installing a PV system as Ofgem has announced that there will not be another cut to the Tariff until May of next year.
Solar panels installations generally follow a seasonal curve – with more installations taking place in the summer months.
A spokesperson for the Eco Experts commented: "The fact that there was a 40% increase in solar panels installed last week is great news for the renewable energy industry. It also means that people can power their home throughout the winter without using quite so much fossil fuels. Everyone can enjoy a lovely sustainable Christmas.
"It is a shame people worry about the feed-in-tariff dropping, as actually the return on investment is the same now as it was earlier in the year, thanks to the price of panels themselves and installation costs dropping."
Households that have installed solar panels have actually seen an increase in the amount of money saved (due to the Feed in Tariff and money off their electricity bills) according to figures released by the Energy Saving Trust. The average home with a domestic solar array has seen savings and income increase from £540 to £635 per year.