As of 2023 nearly one in ten (8.23%) of Scottish households have MCS-certified renewable energy technologies in their home. Image: Kindel Media (Pexels).

Small-scale solar installations in Scotland increased by 174% in 2023 compared to 2020, revealed the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) today (25 January).

In total, nearly 26,000 solar panels were installed in Scotland in 2023, which is the most ever recorded by the certification scheme and a 174% increase from just over 9,000 installed in 2020.

The announcement follows the MCS confirming in December that 2023 had been the UK’s “best ever” year for renewable energy and heating installations with a total of 220,500 MCS-certified installations having been registered across 2023.

With over 200,000 installations the MCS revealed that as of 2023 nearly one in ten (8.23%) of Scottish households have MCS-certified renewable energy technologies in their home.

According to the MCS Scottish Government Grants for homeowners and social landlords (funding for energy efficiency improvements is up to 75%) such as, as well as advice provided by Home Energy Scotland will have played a key role in driving this growth.

However, Scotland’s interest-free domestic solar loan scheme ended without warning last summer.

“Scottish households are leading the UK in renewable energy installations, and the record figures from 2023 show a very positive trajectory for solar panels and heat pumps,” said David Cowdrey, director of external affairs at the MCS Foundation.

“Scottish Government grants of up to £9,000 have helped to boost installations and get more households off polluting fossil fuels and onto cheaper and more efficient renewables.

“To reduce energy bills and tackle the climate crisis the rate of installations must continue to increase.”