E.ON Next has reported a 151% increase in solar installations during the first half of 2026, as new official figures show the UK recorded its highest number of solar panel installations in any six-month period since 2011. Customers with solar panels and battery storage can save more than £600 a year using the company's Next Optimise system, which automatically manages charging and exporting at optimal times.
Record solar growth in the UK
An analysis of government figures shows that Great Britain added 142,536 solar installations in the first six months of the year. This surge reflects a growing trend among households to install solar panels to reduce energy bills and decrease reliance on the national grid.
Every unit generated by solar panels can be used in three ways: powering the home immediately, selling back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), or storing in a home battery for later use. This flexibility is key to maximising the financial benefits of solar energy.
E.ON Next's Next Optimise delivers savings
E.ON Next's Next Optimise service automatically charges home batteries and exports excess energy at the most advantageous times, enabling customers to save more than £600 annually. The service is designed to ensure that households get full value from their solar generation, whether by using it, storing it, or selling it.
Phil Gilbert, Director of Net Zero Delivery at E.ON Next, said: "More and more households are realising just how much they can save by generating and storing their own energy. Today's figures show that shift happening at a national level, and we're seeing exactly the same pattern among our own customers. People want to engage with their energy use, take control of their bills and rely less on the grid — and solar gives them a practical way to do that."
Broader market trends
Octopus Energy, currently Great Britain's biggest energy supplier, has also noted a sharp increase in solar panel sales in the weeks following the Middle East conflict that caused oil and gas prices to soar. This indicates that geopolitical events and energy price volatility are driving consumer interest in renewable energy solutions.
The combination of government incentives, technological advancements, and rising energy costs appears to be accelerating the adoption of solar power across the UK, with significant implications for household energy management and the broader transition to cleaner energy sources.
