21.8GW and Counting: The Unstoppable Rise of UK Solar Power!

Preliminary data released by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) shows that as of the end of January 2026, the country’s cumulative installed solar capacity had reached 21.8 GW, covering approximately 1.951 million systems; new installations for the month totaled 131 MW, down from 339 MW during the same period in 2025 (figures are subject to revision).

According to statistics from the UK certification body MCS, the small-scale distributed PV market performed strongly, with 17,154 new small-scale systems (≤50 kW) installed in January—the second-highest monthly figure on record, falling just 521 units short of the record set in January 2025. This indicates that the residential and rooftop PV markets have already begun to heat up ahead of the official implementation of the new round of subsidy policies.

However, to achieve the UK government’s target of at least 45 GW of PV installed capacity by 2030, it will still be necessary to vigorously promote rooftop PV installations and continue expanding the deployment of utility-scale PV projects.

Currently, the UK government has launched the “Warm Homes Plan,” which proposes to invest approximately $20 billion to support PV and storage installations through cash subsidies and government-guaranteed loans; simultaneously, it plans to amend building regulations to require PV systems as standard equipment in new residential homes in England. Furthermore, as a large number of Contract for Difference (CfD) projects approach their grid connection milestones, utility-scale solar is expected to see significant growth in 2026. Currently, the UK has 23 CfD solar projects, three of which began operations in January 2026.

Although residential PV currently dominates in terms of the number of systems, its installed capacity accounts for only about 30% of the national total. In contrast, the scale of CfD projects has grown rapidly, surging from 23 MW at the end of 2024 to 546 MW by the end of 2025. As the pace of grid connection accelerates further in 2026, their share of total installed capacity is expected to rise even more.

Although new installations in January declined year-over-year, the UK is still expected to successfully meet its 2026 annual PV installation target, supported by three key factors: policy drivers, a booming residential market, and the concentrated grid connection of ground-mounted power stations.