Where the most solar panels in Britain are located may surprise you

The new data release, which was almost entirely captured by AI and machine learning, shows the full extent of the country’s solar power boom for the first time. Solar panels sit on the roofs of nearly 1.3 million buildings across the nation, of which 1.2 million are domestic properties.

Their popularity is being led by Scotland. It has the greatest proportion of homes and non-domestic buildings with solar panels – around one in every 16 (6.3%). For the record, Wales has 5.7% and England has 5%.

Stirling is the top district in Britain with over one-in-seven residential properties (15%) containing panels, followed by South Cambridgeshire (14%) and Peterborough (13%) in England.

So what’s the story behind Scotland’s solar panel figures?

We do know that Scotland has set an ambitious target of reducing carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2050, which has driven the adoption of renewable energy sources – including solar. The Scottish Government has proactively promoted renewable energy through various incentives and grants which offer substantial financial support for installing solar panels. And there are numerous community-led renewable energy projects in Scotland which have helped raise awareness and increase the adoption of solar panels.

Elsewhere, the East of England has seen the highest percentage of non-domestic rooftops with solar panels in Britain – 6.39% – while the South West has England’s highest proportion of homes supplementing their energy from the sun hitting their roofs (7%).

The South West is hands down the thatched roof capital of Britain with a huge 43% of all those in the country. The 12,344 thatched properties in the region dwarfs any other region of Britain.

The village of Briantspuddle in central Dorset has the highest concentration of these charming traditional roofs, while Sidmouth in Devon has the greatest number. Not surprisingly, the districts they lie in – Dorset and East Devon – plus mid-Devon – have the greatest proportion of thatched roofs in the land.

The prevalence of thatched roofs in Dorset and Devon is likely to be due to tradition. Thatching has been a roofing method there for centuries, with the technique passed down through generations. Many of the buildings are listed for their historical and architectural significance.

Both counties have also had an abundance of the natural materials needed for thatching including reed, straw and sedge. Historically, this made thatching a practical and economical choice. Plus, the relatively mild climate is suitable for thatched roofs which keep houses cool in summer and warm in winter.

More information is available about the latest data release for the OS National Geographic Database.