Fresh statistics from the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) have shown that the UK exceeded 16GW of solar capacity in May 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 1.2GW.
Additionally, the capacity total for April 2024 was revised by government organisations to 0.9GW. May 2024 saw the completion of 16,333 installations contributing 69MW of capacity.
While this number is the highest monthly figure for 2024 so far, it is lower than the volumes installed at the start of 2023.
However, these latest figures, although possibly revised in the future, are significantly higher than the average figures recorded between 2016 and 2021.
Looking ahead
The UK’s new Labour government, which came to power on July 5th, is also expected to bolster solar energy support as the party is committed to triple solar power, double onshore wind and quadruple offshore wind by 2030.
Trade association Solar Energy UK has called on the new government to publish a Solar Roadmap drafted by the Solar Taskforce and increase the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6’s budget.
Labour’s promise to triple solar power aligns with Solar Energy UK’s call for the UK to achieve 50GW of solar generation capacity by 2030 – with the UK expecting 20GW of solar and 8GW of battery energy storage by 2024’s end.
“Labour’s first year in power is going to be a critical period for the solar and energy storage sectors – essential for future energy security, lowering energy bills and addressing the climate emergency,” comments Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK.
“To meet Labour’s objective of decarbonising the grid by the end of the decade, it must hit the ground running.”
