A report from the Common Wealth thinktank is urging the UK government to cut the cost of loans for household solar panels, arguing that a scheme of state-backed "solar bonds" could widen access to clean energy and reduce bills, particularly for lower-income households. Solar installations typically cost £5,000 to £10,000 upfront, putting them out of reach for many, while commercial loans carry high interest rates that can cancel out most bill savings for a decade; the proposal comes as forecasts point to a further 4% rise in the energy price cap this October.

Under the plan, the government would offer "solar bonds" similar to national savings products, letting savers earn interest while funding panel installations for other households at roughly half the current 9–10% market loan rates. Report author Donal Brown estimates this could cut household energy bills by about £250 a year, with 25-year loans repaid via an addition to energy standing charges and attached to the property rather than the individual, so they transfer to a new occupier on sale. Investors could earn 4–5% interest through the bonds, and the Solar Energy UK trade association has welcomed the proposal as a way to accelerate the "rooftop revolution" alongside the government's warm homes plan.