Following on from positive figures concerning UK support for renewable technology from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), a BBC survey has echoed these sentiments. 

According to the ComRes study, conducted on behalf of the BBC, 84 per cent of people would willingly give their support towards solar panel schemes in their local area. The research, which sampled 1,035 people, also revealed that 67 per cent would back plans for wind farms. 

In comparison, 48 per cent said they would oppose drilling activity associated with fracking shale gas if it were to happen in their local area. 

Balcombe in West Sussex recently saw residents protest the activity that was planned for the village. The survey also revealed that respondents would still oppose fracking even if the local community was offered financial compensation. 

Furthermore, the study showed that 38 per cent were concerned with rising heating bills during the winter, with 25 per cent putting up with "unacceptably cold" homes during winter last year as they struggled to cover the cost of heating. 

Some 63 per cent of adults in the survey said they had cut their energy usage in order to save money on their energy bills. 

Speaking to Radio 5 Live, shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint criticised the government for its current energy strategy, describing it as "a disgrace". 

"This is yet more evidence that David Cameron's failure to get tough with the energy giants has pushed millions of vulnerable households even deeper into fuel poverty," she said. 

However, Ed Davey has moved to combat the shadow secretary's claims, saying: "With our emphasis on competition, on helping vulnerable consumers directly and with our energy efficiency policies, the coalition is delivering in difficult times for people, when Labour failed to deliver in easy times."

For people concerned about how they will heat their properties in the coming winter, solar panels could provide an affordable and effective solution to reduce the cost of energy bills in the long-term.