Homeowners turn to solar panels as oil prices rise

Renewable energy firms in Yorkshire have reported a spike of interest in solar panels prompted by the US-Israel war with Iran.

As fuel prices have risen, households have been turning away from oil and gas, with energy supplier Octopus seeing a 50% rise in solar panel sales — a picture replicated in local companies.

Mark Houldsworth, managing director of Boroughbridge-based Solar Plus Yorkshire Ltd, said: “We normally get 15 inquiries a month, but we’ve had around 150 so far in April.”

He said customers told him they were pleased to be going green, but saving money and wanting a feeling of “control” is what spurred on the change.

The price of crude oil, which is used to produce diesel and petrol, has risen as the key Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed.

About 20% of the global supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes through the route.

Houldsworth said the company, which has been installing solar panels for 16 years, had seen similar surges in interest in the past.