Europe Rooftop Solar Surge Amid Middle East War

Rooftop solar installations across Europe have surged since the outbreak of war in the Middle East on February 28, driven by households and businesses seeking to shield themselves from skyrocketing energy prices amid disrupted oil and gas supplies. In countries including Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, demand has increased by 30 to 50 percent, according to industry executives and equipment wholesalers.

The conflict, which includes the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and interruptions in liquefied natural gas shipments from Qatar, has triggered a sharp rise in fossil fuel costs, pushing electricity prices higher and accelerating the shift toward renewables. In Northwest Europe, wholesalers and utilities reported a doubling or more in orders for solar systems in March, with the trend intensifying in April as consumers install panels to generate their own power and reduce reliance on volatile grids.

In Germany, solar equipment wholesaler Solarhandel24 saw sales more than triple in March to nearly 70 million euros, and expects another tripling this month. The company, which has stocked half a million panels to meet demand, plans to expand its workforce by about 85...