UK households with rooftop solar panels avoided an estimated £86.7mn in electricity costs during 26 days of summer heatwaves, according to analysis by Utility Bidder.
The calculation was based on the estimated share of solar generation from domestic rooftop systems, the number of UK homes with solar panels and a typical household self-consumption rate of 40 per cent.
A total of 2.86TWh of solar electricity was generated during the 26 heatwave days analysed, enough to supply the equivalent of 1mn UK homes for more than a month.
A terawatt-hour (TWh) is a large-scale measure of electricity consumption and generation, with 1TWh equivalent to 1bn kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Of the total generation, an estimated 829.98GWh came from household rooftop solar systems, equivalent to about 415kWh of generation per solar-equipped household.
That amount represents roughly 10 weeks of average household electricity consumption.
The analysis estimates that each solar household saved £43.33 in electricity costs across the summer heatwaves.
Across the approximately 2mn UK households with solar panels, the combined saving was estimated at £86.7mn.
The figures highlight the growing contribution of domestic solar generation to household energy costs during periods of unusually strong sunshine and high electricity demand, while underscoring the financial value of generating and consuming power closer to the point of use.
The savings estimate is based on a 40 per cent self-consumption assumption, meaning that a significant proportion of the electricity generated by rooftop systems was used directly by households rather than exported to the grid.
Madeleine Porter, Head of Marketing at Utility Bidder, said: ‘With household energy bills set to rise by 4% in October after Ofgem’s latest price cap announcement, installing solar panels ahead of another summer of potentially high temperatures could give UK households an opportunity to generate more of their own electricity and reduce their reliance on the grid during periods.”
“Heatwaves place additional strain on the electricity system because they drive higher demand for cooling at the same time as reducing wind output in some regions. However, they also significantly increase solar generation during daylight hours.
During this period, we’re seeing solar contribute a much larger share of Britain’s electricity mix than usual, at times exceeding a third of total demand. That level of output helps reduce reliance on gas-fired generation, taking pressure off during peak periods.
“Additionally, it highlights how closely the UK’s electricity system is linked to short-term weather patterns, particularly in the summer months. A sustained period of clear skies and sunny conditions can quickly increase solar output across the country, meaning the contribution from renewables can shift quite significantly from one day to the next.”
Leave a Comment