Solar surges: E.ON Next solar installs up 151% as UK hits record start to the year
- E.ON Next has seen solar installations rise 151% in the first half of 2026
- E.ON Next customers with solar and battery storage can save more than £600 a year with Next Optimise, which automatically charges and exports at the best times
- It comes as government figures confirm UK is on track for record year of solar installations
E.ON Next has seen solar installations surge 151% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year, as more households look to take greater control of their energy usage to help lower their bills.
For solar and battery households, E.ON Next customers can save even more with Next Optimise, which charges batteries automatically when wholesale prices are low and exports stored energy when they rise - saving customers more than £600 a year*.
The growth comes as government figures show 142,536 solar installations were added during the first six months of the year, bringing the total number of UK solar installations to 2,075,804 - putting 2026 on track to beat 2025's record annual total.
Households across the UK are installing solar in growing numbers to make savings on their energy bills and rely less on the grid. Every unit their panels generate has a use - power the home there and then, sell it back through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) or store it for later in a home battery.
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."
Households interested in maximising their solar savings can find out more at eonnext.com/solar-panels.
Notes to editors
- 151% installation growth is based on E.ON Next internal installation data, H1 2026 vs H1 2025
- Solar deployment data sourced from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Solar PV deployment: June 2026, published 30 July 2026. www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/solar-pv-deployment-june-2026
- * Projected saving claim based on linking Next Optimise to your solar and battery system. Includes 3p early bird booster. These are example figures only, based on simulations for a property in the East Midlands with electricity consumption of 4,000 kWh per year (with the customer home all day), fitted with an 8-panel solar array generating 3,400 kWh pa, plus a Tesla Powerwall battery with 13.5 kWh capacity, and using the Next Optimise optimisation functionality at all times.
About E.ON Next
E.ON Next is committed to providing innovative energy solutions that empower customers while contributing to a sustainable future. With a focus on affordability and customer satisfaction, E.ON Next offers a range of products and services designed to meet the evolving needs of households across the UK. www.eonnext.com
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