Here is an approximate overview of UK solar electricity generation over the last ~10 years (mainly Great Britain grid data), measured in terawatt-hours (TWh) per year.
| Year | Solar generation (TWh) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | ~10.4 | Rapid growth after early subsidy schemes |
| 2017 | ~11.5 | Capacity expansion continues |
| 2018 | ~12.9 | Sunny summer increased output |
| 2019 | ~12.3 | Slight dip due to weather |
| 2020 | ~13.1 | Pandemic year but good solar conditions |
| 2021 | ~13.0 | Stable production |
| 2022 | ~13.5 | Gradual growth from new installations |
| 2023 | ~13.9 | Continued rooftop expansion |
| 2024 | 14.1 | Record generation for the year |
| 2025 | ~18.3 (record) | Large jump due to more capacity and unusually sunny weather |
Key trend
- Solar generation has increased roughly 60–75% over the decade.
- Capacity has grown to over ~20 GW installed by 2025.
- Solar produced about 6.3% of the UK’s electricity in 2025.
Visual trend (simplified)
TWh
20 | █
18 | █
16 | █
14 | █ █ █ █
12 | █ █ █
10 | █
+--------------------------------
2016 2020 2025
What drove the growth
- More installations (especially rooftop systems).
- Falling solar PV costs.
- Government clean-energy targets (aiming ~45 GW solar by 2030).
- Weather variations (sunny years like 2025 significantly boost output).
Overall: solar in the UK has shifted from a small contributor (~10 TWh/year) to a significant renewable source approaching ~20 TWh/year.
The UK has very ambitious solar expansion plans for the next decade, mainly driven by its goal to decarbonize electricity and improve energy security. Here are the key future targets and policies.
Capacity targets (2030–2035)
The UK government’s Clean Power 2030 plan aims to dramatically increase solar capacity.
- Current capacity (2024–2025): ~18 GW
- Target by 2030: 45–47 GW (about 2.5× today’s capacity)
- Possible by 2035: up to 70–75 GW if deployment accelerates
If achieved, solar could become one of the largest electricity sources in the UK.
Massive build-out of solar farms
Large projects are being approved across England.
Example:
- A 700 MW solar farm in Lincolnshire approved in 2025, expected to power ~300,000 homes.
The government has already approved multiple “nationally significant” solar projects as part of its clean-energy expansion.
Huge growth in rooftop solar
Future growth won’t just be large farms.
Policies include:
- Solar panels required on new homes in England from 2027.
- Expansion of rooftop solar on:
- warehouses
- factories
- parking lot canopies
- residential roofs
The government also plans grants and financing programs for retrofitting homes with solar panels.
Batteries and storage to support solar
Because solar is intermittent, the UK is planning major storage expansion.
Targets by 2030:
- 23–27 GW of battery storage
- 4–6 GW of long-duration storage
These systems help store excess solar power during sunny periods and supply electricity at night.
Grid and infrastructure upgrades
To integrate large amounts of solar and wind, the UK is:
- Reforming grid connection rules to accelerate projects.
- Building ~80 new grid infrastructure projects by 2030.
- Clearing backlog of renewable projects waiting to connect.
Overall trajectory
| Year | Solar capacity |
|---|---|
| 2024 | ~18 GW |
| 2030 target | 45–47 GW |
| Possible 2035 | 70 GW+ |
This implies installing roughly 4–6 GW of new solar every year through 2030.
Conclusion:
The UK is planning one of the fastest solar expansions in Europe, combining utility-scale solar farms, rooftop systems, storage, and grid upgrades to reach a largely clean electricity system by 2030.