The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has confirmed that the UK reached 18 GW of installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity as of February 2025, driven by sustained growth in both domestic systems and large-scale solar farms.
Over the past year, a total of 1.735 million installations were completed, reflecting a 6.8% increase (1.1 GW) compared to February 2024. Just last month, 80 MW were added through 20,427 new installations, well above the average volumes recorded between 2016 and 2021.
This growth underscores the dynamism of the UK’s solar sector and positions it as one of the most active in Europe. According to Solar Media Market Research, between 3 GW and 3.5 GW of new solar capacity is expected to be added in 2025, reinforcing the country’s role in the clean energy transition.
Domestic solar boom driven by falling costs
Domestic solar installations remain the main driver in volume, accounting for 73% of new systems deployed in February 2025. However, they contribute only 30% of the country’s total capacity.
Between January 2024 and January 2025, there were 200,010 residential PV installations, according to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). In addition, 22,667 battery storage systems were installed, enhancing resilience and self-sufficiency for homeowners.
The surge in uptake has been largely fuelled by declining costs. The average cost of a residential solar system fell from £9,238 to £7,561 over the year, with an annual average of £8,198.
Ground-mounted solar dominates installed capacity
By December 2024, 43% of the UK’s solar capacity—or 7.71 GW—came from ground-mounted or standalone solar farms, according to DESNZ. This includes sites supported through Contracts for Difference (CfD) such as the Charity and Triangle solar parks.
DESNZ also estimates that around half of the capacity currently labelled as “uncertified” is ground-mounted, which means that approximately 55% of the UK’s total solar capacity comes from utility-scale projects.
This dominance of large-scale generation is now being further reinforced by a wave of nationally significant solar projects progressing through the planning process.
Over 1 GW of solar capacity under examination
The Planning Inspectorate has recently accepted two major solar projects for examination: Peartree Hill (320 MW), led by RWE, and One Earth (740 MW), developed by PS Renewables and Ørsted. Combined, they represent over 1 GW of new solar capacity.
Both projects are classified as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) and must obtain a Development Consent Order (DCO) before construction begins.
Peartree Hill, located in East Riding of Yorkshire, will feature co-located battery energy storage (BESS) and connect to the national grid via the Creyke Beck substation. RWE has committed £4.2 million to a community benefit fund over the project’s 40-year lifespan.
“We listened carefully to feedback and made key changes, including the removal of Land Parcel A and adjustments to access routes,” says Mike Greslow, Project Manager at Peartree Hill.
Meanwhile, the One Earth solar farm, located in Nottinghamshire, will also include battery storage, though capacity details have not yet been disclosed. Ørsted is gradually assuming project management, with the goal of reaching commercial operation before 2030. “Projects like this are crucial to UK energy security and our net-zero targets,” notes Randall Linfoot, Programme Director at Ørsted.
A maturing, rapidly scaling solar ecosystem
The UK’s solar expansion is not only growing in volume but also in technological sophistication, financing models and stakeholder diversity. Alongside industry leaders like RWE and Ørsted, the country is seeing a clear shift toward distributed generation, battery storage and smart-grid integration.
According to data gathered by Strategic Energy Europe, the UK has over 20 GW of solar projects in planning or construction, highlighting strong investor and developer interest in the sector.
The 18 GW milestone is not a ceiling but a solid foundation on which the UK is building a resilient, decentralised energy model aligned with its climate commitments.
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