A recent consumer survey conducted by Marley demonstrates a tangible business opportunity for roofing contractors as the boom in solar PV installations continues Stuart Nicholson, Roof Systems Director at Marley.

Government statistics from 2023 show that solar installations stand at over 1.35 million, with the period between 2022 and 2023 witnessing the largest annual panel installation increase for seven years.

Local authorities, housebuilders and homeowners are recognising the many benefits solar PV as a renewable technology on roofscapes is delivering. Solar is helping the construction sector meet legislative demands for low carbon emission new homes, and it is also supporting local authorities as they use government funding to improve the energy efficiency of legacy housing stock.

And homeowners are also increasingly looking to solar as an accessible solution to help them tackle the cost-of-living crisis, lower their energy bills and create a sustainable future for their properties.

Marley recently undertook a survey of 2,000 homeowners to ask them about solar as part of a wider energy efficiency debate. The results offer excellent news for roofing contractors who may be considering adding solar installation to their service offering.

The survey shows that 49% of homeowners are considering investing in solar panels on their roof, with the primary motivation for 90% cited as a desire to reduce the cost of their energy bills. Other reasons were a wish to generate their own power (63%) and to reduce their carbon emissions (46%).

With clear demand in the marketplace, it is vital that installation requirements can be satisfied – particularly with some respondents in the survey pointing out that, while they want to install solar on their roof, they simply cannot find a qualified contractor to carry out the work.

Consumers also pointed out some of the barriers that are causing reservations to invest. The number one obstacle (61%) is the perceived cost of solar panels in the mind of the consumer.  Additionally, nearly a third of people (28%) pointed to their ‘lack of knowledge’ around solar panels, 27% cited the appearance of the panels as a barrier, and a quarter believed that their property was ‘unsuitable’ for solar installation. These are areas where a well-informed conversation can help to turn potential customer reluctance into a project win.

Roofing contactors who invest the time and resources into becoming an accredited MCS solar installer, or team up with an MCS accredited electrician, can play a significant role in helping to better educate the market, so misunderstandings and unfounded myths associated with solar can be refuted.

A few keys areas that contractors can help clarify include:

Panel cost: Solar PV systems have reduced in cost by 90% over the past two decades, making it, today, a cost effective and affordable renewable technology solution. SolarEnergy UK suggests the average solar system pays for itself within ten years. However, when installed under optimal conditions, such as on a south facing roof, the payback period could be as short as four years.

Aesthetics: Modern, fully integrated solar PV systems blend in seamlessly with roofscapes and are designed to sit into the roof surface, effectively replacing a section of tiles to become part of the overall roof design. Marley’s integrated SolarTile® can be installed with any existing roof tiles, including concrete, clay, slate, interlocking or plain, to produce an attractive roof finish.

Suitability: While the property and roof suitability are crucial aspects that need to be considered before installing solar panels, a lot of the potential barriers will be addressed through onsite surveys before installation, alongside an in-depth analysis of where the property is located. Ideally a south or west facing roof will ensure the maximum solar returns, but this does not mean roofs facing in other directions cannot also benefit from solar.  Pitches of roofs are also important when thinking about a solar installation, with panels often performing best between 30-40°, due to the sun’s location.

Finally, with money saving seen as the main motivating factor in the eye of the consumer as they contemplate a solar install, contractors can further assist by outlining the additional benefit of a holistic renewable technology package.

By including battery storage and inverter solutions at the same time as the solar installation on the roof, consumers can take control of their energy needs, cost-effectively store clean energy and move to slash the impact of energy bills.

And this can be offered from a single source, with Marley positioned to support contractors with guaranteed system supply that includes integrated SolarTile®, battery storage and inverter solutions.

Figures from MCS show that in May 2024, there were just over 3,500 MCS accredited solar PV installers across the UK. If consumer and construction sector demand for solar PV installation is to be met, additional numbers of accredited installers are required.

Existing roofing contractors could make the difference if they take advantage of the support, guidance and training that is available from Marley to help them add solar PV install skills sets to their traditional expertise.

To find out more, visit Marley’s website here.