UK Solar Surpasses 2 Million Installations as Rooftop Demand Soars

The UK government recently published new data showing that more than 27,000 solar installations were completed in March 2026, the highest monthly total in more than a decade. This added 121MW, the most in any calendar month since 2012. This brings the total number of solar installations across solar farms and rooftops in the UK to more than two million for the first time. The escalation was driven for the most part by rooftop solar, with two-thirds of installations being new solar panels on homes. Of the total installations in March, 66% were on domestic properties, contributing 85MW of capacity. Currently, there is a total of 22.1GW installed in the UK across 2,003,000 installations. 

Large-scale commercial solar installations, including ground-mounted solar farms, account for around 38% of the UK’s installed solar capacity, representing approximately 8.4GW. This includes 25 operational solar plants with Contracts for Difference (CfDs), 19 of which came online in 2025, four in 2026. Contracts for Difference (CfD) solar farms are large-scale solar power projects in the UK that receive government financial support through a specialised, two-way contract mechanism. These contracts enable investors to fund large solar projects by guaranteeing a stable and predictable revenue stream through a fixed “strike price” over 15 years protecting developers from the volatility of wholesale electricity market prices. 

The database by the UK government draws from its own survey of major power producers (MPPs), the Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD), the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) database and those subsidised by the Renewables Obligation (RO), Feed-in Tariff (FiT), and Contracts for Difference (CfD). 

Support for solar power is increasing in households across the UK as the government expedites its quest for clean power to reduce consumer reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets in the wake of the war in Iran.

According to the National Energy System Operator (NESO) on the 7th of April this year, solar panels mounted to rooftops and on the ground generated an estimated 14,414 megawatts. This is enough power to boil 4.8m kettles simultaneously or run over 140m 32-inch widescreen TVs.

The sector accounted for 35% of Great Britain’s (GB) electricity consumption at the time. The record replaced another that had been set the previous day, coming in at 14,147MW. This record was reached earlier in the year than any previous annual peak. The old GB record was set on the 8th of July last year, at 14,046MW, when it met 39% of demand. Northern Ireland, although part of the UK, is considered separately, as it is part of the all-Ireland grid.

The growing share of solar and other renewable energy on the grid is good news for consumers, especially those on time-of-use tariffs who can benefit from cheaper electricity during periods of high supply. The price of electricity can drop to zero or less during times of high solar and wind generation, which is the best time to run domestic appliances or charge an electric vehicle or home battery.

According to estimates by Josh Cornes, Senior Market Analyst at Solar Media in February, the industry was expected to install 5-5.5 gigawatts of capacity this year. This is in addition to the almost 24GW expected to be in place by the end of 2026.

This prediction was made before the latest energy crisis led the government to promise further measures that will speed up the pace of growth even further.

Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK said:

“As solar and wind power become more commonplace, the price of electricity will come down, especially at times of abundant generation. With sunnier weather ahead of us, combined with more and more installations being deployed, it is inevitable that further records will be set, putting further downward pressure on prices and reducing Britain’s dependence on expensive gas.” 

In recent weeks, average daily wholesale electricity prices have fallen, thanks to strong wind and solar generation, weakening the traditional link between electricity and natural gas prices.

The government has recorded 11.7% growth in installed solar capacity in the UK since March 2025, including the commissioning of the largest solar plant in the UK, the 373 MW Cleve Hill project, in June 2025. While Cleve Hill is currently the largest operational solar farm in the UK, the Springwell project which the government approved in April 2026 is designed to produce 800 MW once completed. This will be the largest power-producing solar farm in UK history.

Solar Energy UK, a trade association representing the solar and energy storage sector, has welcomed the government’s decision to place solar power at the centre of efforts to tackle the energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran. In future, panels will be fitted as standard on new homes and buildings, and plug-in systems will be permitted and made widely available. Plug-in solar panels are expected to become available in shops within months and can save people money on bills. 

The Future Homes Standard and Future Buildings Standard are expected to result in solar panels becoming standard on most new homes from next year. Combined with improved insulation and low-carbon heating systems, installing solar panels on new-build homes can cut energy bills by hundreds of pounds a year, while keeping homes warm and comfortable. Occupants of new, energy-efficient commercial buildings could also see savings running into the thousands annually.

A significant proportion of new homes have already been fitted with solar panels although until now the rules have encouraged the delivery of unnecessarily small arrays. The new rules should promote larger and more effective installations.

Homeowners have acted quickly and directly since the latest energy crisis began with solar installers reporting having received an unprecedented number of enquiries for rooftop solar. According to the Times, Octopus Energy has reported a 41% year-on-year increase in inquiries while other companies have seen an even greater rise in business. 

Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK said:

“With grants to be made available soon for low-income groups under the Warm Homes Plan, more new homes being built with rooftop PV and now with plug-in systems coming for homes where that can’t be deployed, plus accelerating demand from the public, 2026 is bound to set a record for smaller-scale solar installations. That’s on top of expectations that more solar farms than ever before will be delivered this year, on top of an active market for commercial-scale rooftop systems, such as on supermarkets and warehouses. All will have a knock-on effect to cut our bills and allow clean, home-grown energy to push pricey, polluting gas off the grid.”

The UK’s solar sector is expanding at a remarkable pace, driven by rising energy costs, growing public demand, and stronger government backing for renewable energy. Passing the milestone of two million installations highlights how rapidly solar power is becoming part of everyday life, from rooftop panels on family homes to some of the largest solar farms ever built in Britain.