New Energy Saving Trust poll highlights opportunity and confusion over solar installations in Wales

AS the summer solstice nears, bringing the longest day of the year, a new survey by the Energy Saving Trust reveals that more than half of adults in Wales would consider installing solar panels—if cost weren’t a barrier.

In 2024 alone, over 15,000 new solar systems were installed across Wales. Yet despite rising interest, many still hesitate, with confusion over costs and effectiveness shading potential savings.

A poll conducted by YouGov for the Trust found that 60% of Welsh adults would consider solar panels if money were no object. However, 56% said they were put off by installation costs, and a quarter were unsure if panels would reduce their energy bills.

To tackle this uncertainty, the Energy Saving Trust has released updated guidance, including a revamped solar calculator to help households estimate installation costs, savings, and potential income from selling unused electricity back to the grid.

Joanna O’Loan, Knowledge Manager at the Energy Saving Trust, said: “Installing solar panels is a smart long-term investment. They work effectively across the UK—even in Wales—and combining them with battery storage and heat pumps can maximise benefits. The net zero home of the future will be powered by a mix of low-carbon technologies.”

Bright returns and real savings

The average installation cost for a domestic 3.5kWp solar system is now around £6,100, and depending on usage and location, homes in Aberystwyth could save £150–£370 annually on electricity bills.

Excess energy can be sold back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme, providing homeowners with an additional revenue stream. Adding battery storage—which allows energy to be saved for cloudy days or night-time use—can enhance these benefits. Around 48% of survey respondents said they would consider installing solar battery systems if money were no object.

Battery systems typically cost £5,000–£8,000, but can significantly reduce reliance on the grid, especially when paired with smart energy tariffs.

Environmental boost

While savings are a big driver, environmental concerns are not far behind. Over a third (37%) of respondents said they’d install panels to lower their carbon footprint. Solar can reduce emissions by 700–850kg of CO₂ per year, the equivalent of driving from London to Bristol 26 times.

Despite this, only 14% of Welsh respondents believed solar panels are very effective across the UK. The Trust aims to bust this myth, highlighting that modern panels generate electricity even on cloudy days.

Real-world success

Tim, who installed solar panels and battery storage at his Grade II-listed home in Somerset, reported £1,200 in savings in 2024 alone, by using a flexible tariff and charging batteries overnight.

In Malvern, Beth and Martin use their solar setup to power their home and electric vehicle: “It did take a few small changes—like doing the laundry overnight—but now it’s second nature. Solar has saved us money and made our home more sustainable.”

Try the solar calculator

Householders can now explore how much they could save using the Trust’s updated solar panel calculator, available on their website. By answering a few simple questions, users can receive estimates on installation costs, energy bill savings, and SEG earnings.

Visit: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk for more information and to use the calculator.

CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is celebrating Clean Air Day, June 19, by highlighting substantial improvements in air quality across the region since 2009.

Enhanced transport habits, cleaner technology advances, and targeted Council initiatives have collectively driven air quality improvements, benefiting both residents and millions of annual visitors.

The Council’s Environmental Health team has installed five real-time air quality monitors to track levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter within designated Air Quality Management Areas. Data from these monitors, supplemented by a network of nitrogen dioxide diffusion tubes, show continued improvements, ensuring compliance with National Air Quality Objectives.

Supported by the Welsh Government’s Local Air Quality Management grant, the Council has also engaged local school pupils in various projects emphasizing the health benefits of clean air. Exposure to air pollution is known to exacerbate serious health conditions, particularly impacting children, older adults, and those with existing heart and lung problems.

Recent initiatives include the “Travel Tracker,” used by 2,500 primary school pupils to promote non-motorised commuting to school, resulting in 130,692 active journeys logged during the current academic year. Additionally, interactive pantomimes have visited 20 schools, educating students on practical steps everyone can take to maintain cleaner air and a healthier environment.

The County Council also continues to promote enjoyment of Carmarthenshire’s natural landscape through enhanced walking trails, cycling routes, and ambitious new projects like the Tywi Valley Path—a picturesque, multi-use route linking Carmarthen and Llandeilo.

Councillor Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, said:

“We are incredibly fortunate to live in a uniquely beautiful county, and each of us plays a crucial role in safeguarding our environment for our families and future generations. I am grateful to Council officers, schools, and our partners for their dedicated and effective efforts in improving Carmarthenshire’s air quality.”

SENEDD Members debated calls for a temporary ban on “monstrous” solar developments, warning the countryside, food security and Welsh farmers could all be compromised.

Janet Finch-Saunders said hundreds of acres of agricultural land across Wales will otherwise be switched from a focus on food production to electricity generation.

The shadow climate secretary accused UK and Welsh ministers of turning the countryside into “meadows of metal and glass” by approving “huge, controversial” developments

Leading a Conservative debate on June 11, Ms Finch-Saunders called for a moratorium on all applications to place solar panels on agricultural land.

She said: “Such a pause will enable this parliament to develop a solar strategy for Wales, looking at where we want those panels to be placed and where they are made.”

Criticising plans for solar on Anglesey, she told the Senedd: “I think we’re quite united on these monstrosities; these huge schemes are not what are in the interests of Wales.”

Plaid Cymru’s Luke Fletcher supported the principle but called for a nuanced approach, describing the Conservative motion as “too blunt” and warning of unfair consequences.

He said: “If an individual farmer wanted to install a modest number of solar panels on their own land, perhaps to power their farm, cut emissions or generate a little extra income, they’d be prevented from doing so. Now, that simply doesn’t make sense.”

Peter Fox, the Tory council leader-turned-Senedd Member, warned of a lack of a national solar strategy to guide investment, regulation and grid integration.

He urged the Welsh Government to look at more innovative options, such as the rooftops of public buildings, rather than “needlessly building over good farmland throughout Wales”.

Mr Fox, a farmer, said: “We cannot simply sell parts of Wales’s natural beauty off to the highest bidder, for it to be used simply as an investment.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth also called for a strategy, describing solar as “another example of that extraction that has been characteristic of Wales’ industrial history”.

He said: “In that vacuum without a strategy, these major corporations step in and see how they can make their millions from our landscape, agricultural land and our communities.”

Conservative Gareth Davies warned replacing farmers with an array of solar panels built from polluting factories, largely in China, risks undermining the principle of sustainability.

Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths and Labour’s John Griffiths raised concerns about plans for solar farms on the Gwent levels, potentially the size of a thousand rugby pitches.

Mr Griffiths welcomed recent changes to Planning Policy Wales which “offer much greater protection through the planning system against some of these large-scale solar farms”.

Rebecca Evans, responding for the Welsh Government, said solar plays an important part in an ambition to host enough green energy to meet electricity consumption by 2035.

The economy secretary explained that there are more than 86,000 solar projects across Wales, making up about 15% of total renewable energy generation.

Ms Evans argued national planning policy already includes a “clear commitment” to protecting agricultural land when considering applications.

Senedd Members voted 23-13 against the Tory motion, with ten abstaining. The Welsh Government’s “delete-all” amendment was also defeated, 24-23.