Solar power specialists GreenFox Energy, have teamed up with Scottish Building Society to unveil findings from its 2025 UK Solar Sentiment Survey, showing a dramatic shift in consumer attitudes. In just three years, UK homeowners have gone from sceptical to convinced about the financial benefits of solar energy but mounting distrust in installers and poor industry standards risk derailing the boom.
The survey, based on responses from over 2,000 UK adults, highlights how consumer priorities have evolved during the past three-year period. Cost savings trump environmental concern, as 66% of householders now see solar as a major cost-saving opportunity, up 16 points from last year and more than double the enthusiasm seen in 2023.
New-build homes in England must include solar from 2027
This rise in positive sentiment toward the economic benefits of solar power is three times greater than the increase in those citing environmental reasons – confirming that saving money, not saving the planet, is now the main driver of adoption.
More people in the North see solar energy as cost effective compared to those in the South. In Yorkshire and the Humber, four out of five users say their systems are saving them money. In Greater London, the figure drops to three out of five.
Plenty of room for improvement in installation quality
While solar panels continue to grow in popularity, concerns about installers remain. According to the latest figures, 15 percent of solar homeowners still wouldn’t feel confident recommending their installer, and half say they never received system registration details. As many as one in six installers may be operating without proper qualifications.
BNP-Segen deal brings instant finance to solar and battery buyers
Although 90 percent of homeowners say they’d pay for solar maintenance – with most willing to spend over £30 a month – fewer than 1 percent actually have a care plan in place, likely due to limited availability on the market. With poor after-sales support common, experts warn that unqualified operators are moving in on the UK’s booming solar sector.
Signs of a maturing market
Yet there are reasons for optimism. GreenFox Energy points to signs of a maturing market, as consumers increasingly expect the same level of professionalism from solar providers as they do from heating engineers or electricians.
GreenFox Energy Co-founder Eddie Curran: “The results of this year’s Solar Sentiment Survey mirror what our engineers and customer service teams are hearing from customers every day.”
New distribution partnership for storage solutions in UK and Ireland
“Solar energy has gone mainstream and is now widely accepted to be the smart choice for homeowners looking to cut energy bills and future-proof their homes as the UK faces into a lower-carbon future. As the market continues to mature, we'd expect to see a continuation of this year's key trends: increasing positivity about the benefits of solar, but also an increasing gap being called out by customers between the best solar companies and the under qualified opportunists.”
Improving transparency and support within the industry
“As the market grows customers are becoming more aware of what good looks like and - quite reasonably - have higher expectations around what is a major investment decision. This will translate to a greater focus on skill, quality and provision of lifetime care services as customers more critically assess the market for solar engineers.”
Pol Spronck named Managing Director Europe at myenergi
Paul Denton, Chief Executive of Scottish Building Society who are sponsors of the Solar Sentiment survey, added: “It’s encouraging to see increasing confidence in solar energy as a cost-saving solution for households. However, the findings also underline the importance of addressing gaps in trust and information when it comes to installations.”
“As a mortgage provider, we’re willing and ready to lend on all types of home improvements and by improving transparency and support within the industry, we can help homeowners feel more confident in adopting energy-saving technologies and enjoying their long-term benefits.” (hcn)
