Online searches for solar panels areupbyafifth

As huge fuel bills land on doormat...

BRITONS are turning to solar panels and smart meters as a way of limiting their soaring energy bills, research suggests.

Data from eBay shows the number of customers looking for solar panels on the online marketplace has grown by almost a fifth since last year, with one search being made every minute, while demand for smart meters has rocketed by 27 per cent.

The firm said that solar panels – which use the sun’s rays to generate power – or large batteries to store it made up six of the top ten DIY items.

Smart meters can cost up to £50 and allow users to monitor their gas and electricity usage.

Consumers are braced for a jump in bills, with the energy price cap set to increase by £693 to £1,971 a year for standard variable tariffs from April 1.

A further rise later this year could take average household energy annual bills to about £2,300.

Sellers on eBay are offering everything from £2 micro solar panel systems used for charging gadgets to a £29,000 kit for homes which includes panels and a mounting system. The average price to fit solar panels on a home in Britain is between £4,800 and £6,000.

The amount of electricity generated depends on the location of the house and which direction the roof faces. Investment in solar panels on a home typically takes between 15 and 25 years to pay for itself.

Murray Lambell, general manager of eBay UK, said: ‘Many families are understandably looking for ways to keep costs low, causing a surge in demand for products like solar panels. These shoppers are making savvy investments to tackle the cost of living squeeze and the market for green energy is growing as a result.’