UK Solar Industry 2026: Record Installations, Market Data & Policy
257,397
Installations in 2025
+32% YoY, record high
21.6 GW
Total deployed capacity
DESNZ provisional
1.85M
Cumulative MCS installs
since 2008
£2.1bn
Installation market
IBISWorld 2024–25
The UK solar market smashed records in 2025. MCS-certified installations hit 257,397 — a 32% surge over 2024 and the highest annual total ever recorded. Total deployed capacity reached approximately 21.6 GW by year-end (DESNZ provisional), with Solar Media estimating as much as 23.8 GW including pipeline projects. Solar generated an estimated 18,314 GWh, up 30% from 14,067 GWh in 2024 — roughly 6.4% of UK electricity. And 2026 is forecast to grow another ~50% year-on-year.
Installation volumes: breaking down the record
Q1 2025 delivered 57,000 installations — the strongest first quarter since 2012 — with March 2025 alone seeing approximately 24,000. The full-year total of 257,397 beat the previous annual record of 203,125 set in 2011 during the original Feed-in Tariff boom. Cumulative MCS-certified installations now total 1.85 million.
A notable structural shift: new-build installations accounted for 35% of all 2025 installations, up from 32% when MCS began tracking in October 2023. The impending Future Homes Standard is driving developers to include solar as standard rather than optional.
Capacity vs count: a tale of two markets
The commercial and utility sector is growing faster than residential by capacity, even though residential dominates by installation count:
| Segment | Share of new capacity | Share by count |
|---|---|---|
| Utility ground-mount | 70% | Low (by count) |
| Residential rooftop | 18% | 73–86% (by count) |
| Commercial rooftop | ~12% | Growing fastest |
Market size and installer landscape
Sector demand is concentrating where roofs are biggest and daytime loads highest — warehouse solar and the public-sector schools pipeline lead the commercial market, delivered by commercial solar installation specialists.
The solar panel installation industry was valued at £2.1 billion in 2024-25 (IBISWorld), having grown at a compound annual rate of 31.1% over five years. IMARC's broader valuation of the full solar value chain puts the market at approximately £8 billion, projected to reach USD 26.9 billion by 2034.
The UK now has over 5,250 MCS-certified contractors — the most since MCS began in 2008. Over 4,000 hold solar PV certification, with 718 new solar PV contractors certified in 2024 alone. More installers means more competition for the same leads, driving up marketing costs and squeezing margins — which is why installer marketing economics matter more than ever.
The UK solar statistics tracker
Last updated: 12 July 2026 — refreshed on the DESNZ monthly deployment release cycle.
How much solar capacity does the UK have in 2026?
Roughly 22.3 GW of installed solar capacity by spring 2026 (DESNZ deployment statistics), up from ~21.6 GW at the end of 2025, across more than two million installations of all sizes.
How many solar panel installations happened in 2025?
257,397 MCS-certified installations — the highest annual total on record, up 32% on 2024 and ahead of the 2011 Feed-in Tariff peak.
Is the UK on track for its 2030 solar target?
Not yet — the Clean Power 2030 plan implies 45–47 GW by 2030, and the UK is a little under halfway there. Hitting it requires roughly doubling deployed capacity in under five years: sustained growth in rooftop volume plus a step-change in utility-scale connections. The trajectory is credible; the pace is not yet proven.
What share of UK electricity does solar supply?
About 6.4% of UK electricity generation in 2025 — a record share, and one that roughly doubles on sunny summer days.
Mid-2026 update
Half-year signals confirm the trajectory: installer capacity keeps expanding from the record 5,250+ certified-contractor base, battery attachment continues to climb ahead of the officially recorded ~20%, and the 31 March 2027 end of 0% VAT is starting to pull purchase decisions forward. The structural stories to watch into H2 are the Future Homes Standard pushing the new-build share beyond 35% of installs, and the growing gap between flat SEG tariffs and flexibility-rewarding export deals — both covered in our Solar Briefing series.
The battery attachment story
The official MCS-recorded battery attachment rate sits at approximately 20%, but this is widely considered an undercount, as many batteries are retrofitted or installed outside MCS certification. Storage is now central to the installer proposition — and to system economics. For what storage adds to a system, see battery storage costs.
Frequently asked questions
How many solar installations were there in the UK in 2025?
MCS recorded 257,397 certified installations in 2025 — a 32% increase on 2024 and the highest annual total ever, beating the 2011 Feed-in Tariff record of 203,125. Cumulative installations now exceed 1.85 million.
How much solar capacity does the UK have?
Total deployed solar capacity reached roughly 21.6 GW by end-2025 (DESNZ provisional), or as much as 23.8 GW including pipeline projects (Solar Media). Solar generated about 18.3 TWh — roughly 6.4% of UK electricity.
How many solar installers are there in the UK?
There are over 5,250 MCS-certified contractors — the most since MCS began in 2008 — of which 4,000+ hold solar PV certification. 718 new solar PV contractors were certified in 2024 alone, intensifying competition for leads.
What share of new-build homes have solar?
New-build installations accounted for 35% of all 2025 installations, up from 32% when MCS began tracking in October 2023, as the Future Homes Standard pushes developers to fit solar as standard.