MCS Updates to Record Solar Storage Installations Data

DATA ON battery installations to store the energy generated by solar panels is now being recorded by MCS – the organisation that regulates solar installers.

MCS’s Data Dashboard was launched in November 2022. It holds the details of every MCS certified, small-scale renewable energy installation in the UK since 2008, making it the most comprehensive reference in the UK.

The latest version of the Data Dashboard now includes the figures for certified battery storage installations. The move means it is now possible to track the growth of technology that is seeing a record number of certified installations. 2024 has already seen more installations than any previous year, crossing the 10,000 mark (compared with just over 15,000 all-time installations).

Adam Padilla, Scheme Insights Manager at MCS, said: “The Data Dashboard has played a vital role in helping to communicate the growth of renewable energy technologies in homes across the UK since its launch and I’m thrilled that we can now add battery storage data amongst other exciting changes.

“Battery storage in particular is enjoying a surge in popularity, so it’s a perfect time to be able to start sharing the statistics with a wider audience so that this growth can be tracked and measured by both people working on renewable installations and those who influence the policies for our low carbon future.”

MCS Updates

There are several other updates in the new version of the Data Dashboard, including the addition of installation and contractor data from the Isle of Man, which appears for the first time. Another major change is the ability to break down the data by months as well as years, providing the opportunity for new, more in-depth insights into the growth of renewable technologies.

Contractor data has also been tweaked, with a new chart available showing the total count of certified contractors on a monthly basis, as well as data showing the number of contractors performing installations in each area for selected filters.

Since its launch, the Data Dashboard, which takes information from the MCS Installations Database (MID), has been used by companies, researchers, policymakers and journalists across the low carbon sector to highlight successes and opportunities in the UK’s journey to net zero.

It provides near-real-time updates on MID data, tracking the adoption of small-scale renewable installations across the UK. The Data Dashboard is divided into two sections:

• Installation Insights

The Installation Insights section showcases the uptake and geographical distribution of renewables. It shows where they’re used successfully and where opportunities for growth are.

• Scheme Insights

Scheme Insights enables users to compare the growth of different technology types and shines a light on the contractor base installing them. Both can be filtered by year, location, technology and installation type, with image and data exports available to download.

You can access the MCS Data Dashboard here.

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