Fact Check: the UK government recorded a roughly 20% drop in the median cost of installations against the previous fiscal year for installations with up to 10 kW capacity

Fact Check: "The UK government recorded a roughly 20% drop in the median cost of installations against the previous fiscal year for installations with up to 10 kW capacity"

What We Know

The claim regarding a 20% drop in the median cost of installations for systems with up to 10 kW capacity in the UK is currently unverified. According to the Electricity statistics - GOV.UK, the government provides a variety of data on the electricity sector, including trends in installation costs. However, there is no specific mention of a 20% drop in costs for installations of this size in the latest reports.

A recent article from pv magazine discusses the falling costs of small-scale solar installations in the UK, indicating that competition among installers has led to reduced prices. However, it does not provide specific figures or confirm the exact percentage of cost reduction stated in the claim.

Additionally, a document detailing solar costs for 2024-25 suggests that while there have been reductions, the specifics regarding the 20% figure are absent, and the median costs for installations in the 0-4 kW range are noted to be at their highest point in recent years (source-3). This indicates that while there may be fluctuations in costs, the claim lacks direct support from the available data.

Analysis

The sources consulted provide a mixed picture regarding the claim. The Electricity statistics - GOV.UK is a reliable government source that typically presents accurate data, but it does not specifically validate the 20% drop mentioned in the claim. The lack of specific data on this percentage suggests that the claim may be exaggerated or misinterpreted.

The article from pv magazine provides context about the competitive landscape of solar installations, which could imply cost reductions, but it does not substantiate the exact figure of 20%. Furthermore, the document on solar costs (source-3) indicates that while costs have fluctuated, the highest median costs were recorded recently, which contradicts the notion of a significant drop.

Overall, the sources used are credible, but they do not provide definitive evidence to support the claim of a 20% drop in costs. The absence of specific data on this percentage raises questions about the accuracy of the claim.

Conclusion

Needs Research. The claim that the UK government recorded a roughly 20% drop in the median cost of installations for systems with up to 10 kW capacity lacks sufficient supporting evidence from reliable sources. While there are indications of cost reductions in the solar installation market, the specific figure mentioned is not corroborated by the latest data available. Further investigation and more precise statistics would be necessary to validate or refute this claim.

Sources

1. United Kingdom Travel Advisory
2. Electricity statistics - GOV.UK
3. Solar Costs 2024-25
4. United Kingdom - Wikipedia
5. Countries of the United Kingdom - Wikipedia
6. UK | Latest News & Updates - BBC
7. UK small-scale solar costs tumble as competition heats up for installers
8. Constituent Countries Of The United Kingdom - WorldAtlas