Some 21% said they would like to get panels, some 6.4% already have them and a further 3.6% and planning to get them, according to a new poll conducted on behalf of Ocean Finance.
Across the UK, home owners in London are twice as likely to have solar panels installed on their property than residents elsewhere in the country. Some 15% of property owners in the capital revealed they have the panels, which is almost double that of the area where the products are the next most popular in East Anglia where just 8% of home owners have them.
Meanwhile, 13% said that although they own a property, they do not think their roof would be suitable for hosting solar panels. This might be because the roof is not strong enough to support the panels, is north-facing or because the owners live in a flat.
A further 6% of home owners revealed they have been unable to secure planning permission for the work, while half admitted they are simply not interested in investing in the technology.
When asked why they are not considering solar panels, the main reason given by these respondents was the up-front cost involved, cited by 35%. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the average cost of a solar panel system for a domestic property in the UK comes to between £6,000 and £7,400.
However, it points out that the technology falls within the improvements eligible for the government’s Green Deal, which allows people to pay for the energy efficient work they have had done through the money they save on their utility bills.
Other reasons given by home owners who are not interested in solar panels include a belief that there is not enough sun where they live, with 20% saying this, although usually it is only north-facing roofs that some installers claim may not get enough light.
Some 19% said that uncertainty as to whether they would get a financial return on their investment put them off while 14% revealed they did not like the way the panels look and 8.2% simply don’t see the point in solar power.
‘Solar panels remain a dividing subject among home owners in the UK, but one in five appear to be interested in installing the technology and generating some of their own power,’ said Ian Williams, spokesman for Ocean Finance.
‘While the up-front cost is off-putting to many, the government’s Green Deal finance plan allows eligible home owners to repay the balance through the savings they make on their electricity,’ he pointed out.
‘There are other options available people could use to fund the work, such as home improvement loans, although home owners should be aware that securing finance against their property could mean their house is at risk if they do not keep up with the repayments,’ he explained.
‘Once the installation is complete, not only will properties be able to generate some of their own power, but homeowners could also see a reduction in their energy bills,’ he added.
