Why consumers are choosing solar over fossil fuels

A new global survey finds people increasingly see rooftop solar and battery storage as a way to protect their household budgets, not just the environment. The 2026 Ipsos Energy Transition Barometer, which polled more than 46,000 adults across 31 countries, found that three in four people worry about rising energy costs, and half have already cut back on other spending to cover energy bills. Two in three support investment in renewable energy and storage, and solar farms now rank as more popular locally than any other type of power generation.

The survey also found 60% of people support energy independence, and 70% are anxious about relying on foreign energy sources, worries tied to conflict-driven price and supply shocks. Support for heat pumps (a heating and cooling system that moves heat rather than burning fuel to make it) also runs high, at 58%.

The idea behind the push for home solar and batteries is straightforward: generating and storing your own power can shield you from price spikes in wider energy markets, and any savings show up quickly, often within the next billing cycle. A new partnership between the Global Solar Council and the Global Covenant of Mayors on Energy & Climate aims to expand residential rooftop solar and storage across 14,000 cities worldwide. For homeowners, the takeaway from the data is less about climate policy and more about cost: rooftop solar and storage are being framed increasingly as tools for controlling your own energy bill rather than waiting out swings in global fuel prices.