The Solar Gender Gap UK

Who buys solar panels in the UK?

Who buys solar panels in the UK? Cross-referencing MCS installation postcodes with ONS demographic data reveals: INCOME: Solar adoption is 3x higher in the top income quintile vs bottom quintile. Average solar buyer household income: £55,000-£75,000 (vs UK median £31,000). TENURE: 95%+ of solar installations on owner-occupied homes. Renters (36% of households) are almost entirely excluded. AGE: Peak adoption: 45-65 age group. Under 35: very low (fewer homeowners). Over 75: declining (shorter payback horizon concern). PROPERTY TYPE: Detached homes: 8x more likely to have solar than flats. Semi-detached: 3x more than terraced. GEOGRAPHY: South-east England leads. Urban flats lag. Rural homeowners over-represented. THE EQUITY ISSUE: Solar savings flow disproportionately to higher-income homeowners. Lower-income households — who would benefit most from bill reductions — have least access. Government schemes (ECO4, HUG2) partially address this but uptake is slow. Sources: MCS installation data mapped by postcode, ONS Census 2021 demographics (ons.gov.uk), English Housing Survey, BEIS fuel poverty statistics.