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Thu, 26 Mar 2026

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 Octopus boss: We've seen a 50% rise in solar panel sales since start of Iran war

The UK giant is optimistic but chief executive Greg Jackson tells the BBC he is making contingency plans.

* UK's biggest energy firm, Octopus Energy, sees 50% rise in solar panel sales
* Wholesale oil and gas prices surge due to US-Israel war with Iran
* Ofgem's price cap will reset in July, leading to higher energy bills for households
* Enquiries about electric vehicles (EVs) and chargers increase by over a third and fifth respectively
* Heat pump sales rise by 30%
* Octopus Energy boss, Greg Jackson, says renewable energy is becoming more attractive due to increasing energy costs
* Europe's slow progress on green energy compared to China criticized by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink
* Jackson disagrees with suggestions that more oil drilling in the North Sea would increase UK resilience
* He emphasizes the importance of reducing the cost of electricity to enable wider adoption of EVs and heat pumps