Europe's rooftop solar orders have tripled as gas prices climb, a shift driven by the Middle East conflict that has tightened oil and gas supplies. The surge reflects households and businesses seeking to shield themselves from soaring energy costs. In March and April, demand for rooftop systems in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK rose between 30% and 50%, according to industry executives. The spike comes as consumers look to reduce exposure to volatile gas and electricity markets. Solarhandel24 reported that sales last month more than tripled and are expected to triple again in April. Enpal said its orders jumped 30% in March from a year earlier and it anticipates a 33% increase in April. OVO Energy highlighted that 13.7 million UK homes are ready for panels, which could generate 28.5 TWh of renewable energy annually, enough to power 1.2 million electric vehicles for almost a decade. SolarPower Europe found that solar power saved the EU $130 million each day in the first 17 days of the conflict, a figure that would have been 32% higher without solar. The wholesaler said that the tripling of sales reflects a broader trend of consumers seeking energy independence. The Enpal representative noted that the company expects a further surge in April as gas prices remain high. OVO Energy's analysis indicated that the potential 28.5 TWh of annual generation could significantly offset the UK's electricity demand, while SolarPower Europe's research underscored the economic benefit of avoiding fossil fuel imports. Without solar electricity, the EU's fossil fuel import bill would have been 32% higher than it currently is, according to the research. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com