Solar and heat pump sales surge as Brits ditch fossil fuels

• Brits power up on low carbon tech amid global energy crisis
• Solar and heat pump sales both up by more than half, with homeowners rushing to ditch volatile fossil fuel prices
• Octopus carries out first 10-day heat pump switch from quote to completion for oil boiler owners running low

London, 26th March 2026 – With energy markets rattled by the conflict in the Middle East, British households are staging a quiet stand on energy independence, ditching fossil fuels to shield themselves from runaway energy costs.

New data from Octopus Energy shows record‑breaking demand for clean tech, with the company logging its biggest‑ever month for enquiries and sales.*

Soaring gas prices and petrol hitting 12‑month highs have sent homeowners scrambling for more predictable energy – and they’re not just browsing, they’re buying.

• Solar sales up 54%, as homeowners “supersize” systems with 12 panels instead of the usual 10.
• Heat pump sales climbed 51%, with oil and gas users switching off fossil fuels for good.
• EV charger sales up 20%, as drivers look to escape unpredictable costs at the pumps.

What began as a spike in interest has turned into a full‑blown installation boom, with energy independence now the top reason cited for homeowners making the switch.

East Anglia has emerged as the UK’s low-carbon capital, topping national charts for both heat pump and solar installations.

To keep up the momentum, Octopus has begun operating a fast-track for oil-reliant households – replacing expensive oil boilers with clean heat pumps in just 10 days from the initial quote to the final installation.

Allan, from Great Yarmouth, got a quote for his Octopus Cosy heat pump on Tuesday 10th March and had his installation finished by the 19th March. When asked about the install, Allan said “thank you for arranging everything so quickly, the team that installed the system were excellent and a credit to the company.”

Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Product Officer at Octopus Energy, commented: “We are seeing a massive shift as people stop just asking and start acting. British families are tired of being held hostage by global fossil fuel prices.

“By switching to solar and heat pumps, they are becoming their own power stations – locking in low costs and protecting their wallets for the long term.“

Public appetite for these technologies is also at an all-time high. Google Trends shows searches for solar are up 20%, and heat pumps are up 30%, with users trying to understand how heat pumps work.

For those wanting real-life examples, Octopus has recently launched a live data dashboard tracking the performance of its heat pump fleet. It reveals Octopus Cosy heat pumps are over four times more efficient than gas boilers, with 80% of owners already paying less for their heating than they did with fossil fuels.

The increase in sales comes as Octopus Electric Vehicles (OEV) announces a 36% increase in EV enquiries since the conflict began, showing all aspects of electro-tech are seeing increased interest in response to higher gas and oil prices.

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* All sales figures are taken from internal Octopus data comparing sales from 1-22 March 2026 to the same period the month before.

Notes to editors:

Press Contacts

Octopus Energy Group

press@octoenergy.com

+44 (0)20 4530 8369

About Octopus Energy

Octopus Energy is a global clean energy and technology business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Under its own retail brand, Octopus delivers world-class customer service and cutting-edge energy products to 11 million households globally.

The company is driving the electrification of heat and transport through smart tariffs and innovative clean tech, with operations spanning 27 countries and the entire energy value chain. It operates a £7 billion renewables portfolio as well as thriving EV leasing, heat pump, and solar businesses.

Backed by pension funds, investors and energy giants, Octopus Energy Group businesses deliver cheaper, greener energy and cutting-edge tech to countries and customers worldwide.

For more information, check out our website.