According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the UK’s total installed solar capacity has surpassed 17GW, reaching 17.2GW as of October 2024.
This marks a 1GW, or 6.3%, increase compared to October 2023.
In October alone, 76MW of new capacity was added through 20,102 installations, with 73% of these on residential properties, contributing 58MW.
While domestic installations dominate the number of new projects, they account for only about 30% of the UK’s total solar capacity, equivalent to 5.2GW.
Ground-mounted and standalone systems make up the majority of the UK’s solar generation.
By the end of September 2023, at least 45% of the total capacity (7.71GW) was attributed to these installations, including two solar PV plants accredited under the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme.
DESNZ estimates that unaccredited ground-mounted projects bring the total share of ground-mounted capacity to around 55%.
In 2023, the UK saw 196,760 new solar installations, the second-highest annual total, surpassed only by 2011’s record of 208,586.
So far in 2024, 155,256 installations have been completed. To exceed last year’s total, 41,504 additional projects would need to be installed by the end of December—a challenging but not impossible target.
This growth highlights the ongoing expansion of solar energy in the UK, with both residential and large-scale installations contributing to the nation’s renewable energy goals.
