The United Kingdom recorded its strongest year for solar deployment in 2025, with 269,000 installations completed nationwide, according to new government data published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
The figure represents a 37% increase compared with the previous year and marks the highest annual total ever recorded. Around 255,000 of these installations were rooftop solar systems — more than 95% of the total — installed across homes, businesses and public buildings.
The government said this equates to a new rooftop solar installation every two minutes throughout 2025.
Official data show that 9 of the 10 strongest months for solar installation on record have occurred in the past year, highlighting a sharp acceleration in deployment.
In April 2026 alone, nearly 23,000 new solar installations were completed, with more than half installed on homes, indicating continued growth in residential adoption.
The milestone follows the UK surpassing 2 million total solar installations for the first time in March 2026, covering homes, communities and large-scale solar farms across the country.
The government also reported that the cost of acquiring and installing solar PV systems has fallen by up to 9%, supporting wider adoption.
The surge in solar deployment is linked to the UK government’s clean power mission, aimed at reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
According to official figures, rooftop solar can save households up to £480 per month on energy bills, encouraging more families to generate their own electricity.
Policy measures supporting the expansion include the approval of Springwell Solar Farm, described as the largest solar power plant in UK history; the rollout of low-cost “plug-in” solar panels for balconies and outdoor spaces; and requirements for new homes in England to be fitted with solar panels as standard.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK is “taking back control of its energy” through clean power generation.
“As we face a second fossil fuel crisis in five years, Britain is generating more clean power than ever before,” he said. “Record-breaking solar growth means greater energy security and less exposure to fossil fuel markets we cannot control.”
He added that the clean power mission is focused on “backing homegrown energy, giving people more control over their bills, and building a more resilient energy system for the future.”
Solar adoption is also accelerating across industry and public services, helping organisations cut costs and strengthen energy security.
Numatic International, the manufacturer of the Henry vacuum cleaner, has launched a new solar park expected to supply around 20% of the electricity demand of its Somerset factory.
In healthcare, the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has installed rooftop solar systems expected to save around £9,500 per year on electricity bills. Wren Kitchens is also developing what is set to become the largest industrial rooftop solar array in the UK.
The government also highlighted progress under the Great British Energy solar scheme, under which 100 schools and colleges are set to receive rooftop solar installations this year.
Overall, the latest figures reinforce the rapid expansion of solar power in the UK, driven by falling costs, policy support and growing household participation in the energy transition.
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