Latest News and Trends
1st September 2026
The UK residential solar market is continuing to grow rapidly, with record installation levels, rising adoption of battery storage and new government support helping solar become an increasingly mainstream home energy technology.
Here are some of the biggest trends shaping the market in 2026.
UK solar installations reach record levels
Demand for solar remains strong. Nearly 172,000 solar installations were completed across the UK between January and July 2026, according to government figures.
Almost 28,000 installations took place during July alone, with rooftop solar accounting for more than seven in ten installations that month.
Growth has also been widespread, with solar installations increasing across every UK nation and English region over the previous 12 months.
Battery storage is booming
One of the biggest changes in the residential market is the increasing popularity of home battery storage.
Around 36,000 MCS-certified battery installations were completed during the first six months of 2026, almost double the number installed during the same period a year earlier.
Rather than simply generating electricity and immediately using or exporting it, homeowners are increasingly looking at solar and battery storage as one combined home energy system.
A battery can allow surplus solar electricity to be stored for later use, while some systems can also take advantage of cheaper electricity available through time-of-use tariffs.
Plug-in solar arrives in Great Britain
One of the most significant developments of 2026 has been the introduction of plug-in solar. From 27 August 2026, compliant plug-in solar systems became legal to use in Great Britain.
These smaller systems can produce up to 800W and are designed to make solar accessible to households that may not want, or be able, to install a conventional rooftop system.
The government estimates that suitable households could save up to around £110 a year, depending on their circumstances.
Plug-in solar isn't a replacement for a full rooftop solar installation, but it introduces a much lower-cost route into generating electricity at home.
More government support is coming
Solar and battery storage are also central to the government's Warm Homes Plan. The programme includes support for home energy improvements and plans for low- and zero-interest finance to help more households meet the upfront cost of technologies including solar panels and batteries.
The government has set an ambition to install rooftop solar on up to three million additional homes by 2030.
Solar is already the most commonly installed measure under the Warm Homes: Local Grant, accounting for 38% of measures reported by participating local authorities in the latest figures.
Solar is becoming part of a complete home energy system
Perhaps the biggest trend isn't a particular panel or product. It's the way homeowners are beginning to think about energy.
Modern systems can combine:
Solar generation → battery storage → smart tariffs → EV charging → intelligent energy management
Instead of simply asking how much electricity solar panels can generate, households can increasingly control when electricity is generated, stored, purchased and exported.
With installation numbers continuing to rise and battery technology becoming increasingly important, the UK residential solar market appears to be entering a new phase. For homeowners, that means more choice — but also a greater need to compare the equipment, costs, tariffs and installers available before deciding which solution is right for their home.
21st March 2024
According to article in the Energy Live News, The UK has seen a record increase in solar power installations.
In January 2024, UK’s solar capacity hit 15.7GW across 1,454,607 installations, marking a 6.6% increase since January 2023, with domestic installations leading the charge.
According to the latest data, solar power installations in the UK have surged, reaching a total capacity of 15.7GW across 1,454,607 installations by the end of January 2024.
This represents a notable increase of 6.6% (equivalent to 974MW) compared to the same period in 2023.
Throughout January 2024, 13,322 installations were accounting for 58MW of capacity.
While this figure is slightly lower than the volumes recorded at the beginning of 2023, it still surpasses the average figures observed between 2016 and 2021.
The recovery of solar installations from a sharp decline experienced in April 2020 due to Covid-19 lockdown measures has been evident, with numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels by the second half of 2020.
Between 2016 and 2021, the median number of new monthly installations stood at around 3,000 per month.
However, the median over the past 12 months has soared to over 15,000 installations per month.
Despite domestic installations representing the majority of the solar PV fleet in the UK, they only contribute to 29% of the total capacity.
However, there has been a recent uptick driven by residential installations, accounting for 84% of new schemes installed in January 2024. This surge amounted to 44MW, constituting 77% of the new capacity.
14th March 2024
The latest developments in the UK regarding solar panels highlight significant steps towards enhancing the country's solar energy capacity and making solar installations more accessible for homeowners and businesses:
Solar Roadmap for 2024: The UK government plans to unveil a solar roadmap next year to increase the country's solar capacity nearly fivefold by 2035. This roadmap aims to drive the installation of rooftop solar panels, making solar energy more accessible and affordable, thereby leading to significant reductions in energy bills. A key focus is tapping into the potential of commercial buildings, schools, warehouses, and car parks for solar panel installations.
Rising Solar Panel Installations: The UK has seen a significant surge in solar panel installations, with a 62% increase in the adoption of renewable energy technologies, including solar panels, compared to the previous year. Over 120,000 certified installations of renewable technologies, including solar panels, were logged in the first half of 2023, indicating a growing embrace of energy-efficient solutions.
Policy and Regulatory Changes: Solar Energy UK has emphasized the need for higher ambition and policy changes to meet a 40GW solar energy target, crucial for meeting the UK's climate change commitments and net-zero goals. Recommendations include business rates reform, an end to VAT for solar energy systems, and eligibility for clean power auctions to boost solar PV deployment.
New Homes and Buildings Standards: There are proposals to make high-efficiency solar PV panels standard on new homes and buildings, aiming to balance higher build costs with significantly lower consumer bills. This initiative could see cost savings up to £2,120 per year on heating and hot water bills, alongside lower electricity bills for homes equipped with solar panels and associated technologies.
Easing Planning Rules: New UK planning rules aim to boost solar panel rollout by simplifying the process and reducing the costs associated with planning applications. This includes extending permitted development rights to more properties, allowing the installation of solar panels without navigating the planning system, thus encouraging more individuals and businesses to adopt solar energy solutions. However, it's noted that the new shortcut for easier installation without planning permission will not apply to homes with pitched roofs; these homes will still have to comply with specific development conditions.
These developments signal the UK's continued commitment to increasing renewable energy usage, cutting energy bills, and reducing carbon emissions, aligning with broader environmental and economic goals.