Solar power on the rise
We're seeing solar installations rocket this year, with E.ON Next reporting a 151% increase in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year. That lines up with fresh government stats showing 142,536 new installs in the first six months, pushing the UK total past two million.
For households with solar and battery storage, E.ON Next's Next Optimise tool automatically charges when prices are low and exports when they're high, helping customers save more than £600 a year.
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. The real opportunity now is making sure every household gets full value from what their panels produce, not just using it, but storing and selling it too. That's exactly what Next Optimise is built for, and it's already saving customers hundreds of pounds a year."
The data comes from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. If you're looking to compare energy tariffs or explore solar options, check our energy comparison tools.
