How War in the Middle East is Causing a Solar Boom in the UK

The ripple effects of war are felt far beyond the borders of any battleground.

In 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused huge disruptions to global energy supply chains, plunging the world into a cost of living crisis – the effects of which can still be felt today.

Now, just over four years later, the same is happening again. 

Since the US and Israel launched joint airstrikes on Iran at the end of February, around one-fifth of the world’s gas and oil has been effectively removed from circulation.

Markets and stock exchanges have already reacted, with the price of fuel skyrocketing. 

Meanwhile, the effects are already beginning to be felt in at home, with people around the world bracing for heating, electricity and petrol prices to boom.

For British households still grappling with the afterglow of the 2022 price shocks, the timing could hardly be worse.

The world is turning to renewables

And yet, as the crisis grows in stature, a counter-movement is gathering speed.

New data from renewable energy specialist Glow Green reveals that demand for solar panels has surged 182% year on year, a spike that directly mirrors the escalating tensions in Iran.

For many homeowners, the arithmetic is simple: if the price of grid electricity is going to keep climbing, it makes sense to generate your own.

"With global tensions rising and the situation in Iran putting pressure on fuel and energy prices, we may be on the brink of another shift in the UK's renewable energy market," says Lloyd Greenfield, Founder of Glow Green.

The comparison Lloyd draws is instructive. "During the Ukraine conflict, rising wholesale gas prices led many homeowners to seek renewable alternatives, triggering an unexpected solar panel shortage across the UK," he explains.

"If current trends continue, we could see a similar pattern emerge again where growing demand for solar panels outpaces supply."

There is a precedent worth heeding here. The post-Ukraine rush on solar panels caught many consumers off guard, leaving some households waiting months for installation.

Lloyd warns the same could happen again, and sooner than people expect.

The supply chain squeeze

What makes this moment particularly complex is that the war is not only pushing up energy prices but also threatening the supply chains that deliver the very technologies people are turning to for relief.

Higher fuel, feedstock, insurance and freight costs are raising production and transport costs across the global economy, including for solar panels, batteries and wind components.

In other words, the conflict is simultaneously driving demand for renewables and making them harder to produce and ship.

It is a painful irony, but one that also makes the case for acting quickly.

"Supply and demand constraints can change rapidly in times of uncertainty," Lloyd says. "And as energy prices climb, we predict more households are likely to explore solar as a long-term way to stabilise their energy bills."

Another suggestion to the UK's energy travails has been to expand gas production in the North Sea, though industry insiders are sceptical about whether this could actually save the UK from crisis.

"Calls to ‘just use more North Sea gas’ are false comfort," says Christophe Williams, the CEO of Naked Energy. "UK produced gas is sold at international prices, so it does not insulate us from global shocks," he continues. 

"And the remaining reserves are nowhere near large enough to protect the UK from disruption in global supply routes."

"The durable answer is to cut gas demand with renewables and efficiency," he concludes.

What households can do now

Beyond solar, Lloyd urges homeowners to take a broader view of their energy resilience.

Practical steps include using a smart meter to identify which appliances are drawing the most electricity, draught-proofing doors and windows, and upgrading to a smart thermostat that heats only the rooms in use.

For those already considering solar, pairing panels with battery storage means energy can be stockpiled during the day and used during peak-price evening hours.

Checking the latest government grants and incentives is also worthwhile, as schemes can meaningfully reduce the upfront cost of these upgrades.

"Households that plan will be better prepared if supply becomes tight," Lloyd concludes.

"Families across the UK are already seeking quotes, checking stock, and upgrading their homes, showing that early action can make a real difference in managing energy bills and avoiding last-minute stress."

The war in the Middle East may be far away, but its consequences are arriving at the doorstep.

The households best placed to weather what comes next are those who stop waiting and start acting.