The UK set new records for solar power deployment in 2025 and early 2026 as households, businesses and public services accelerated investment in rooftop and utility-scale installations, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said on Thursday.
The latest data shows that 269,000 solar installations were completed across the country in 2025, the highest annual total on record and 37% higher than a year ago.
The Department said about 255,000 of those were rooftop systems, translating to at least 95% installation on homes, businesses and other buildings.
The UK added 23,000 new installations in April 2026, with over half on residential rooftops, as households turned to self-generation amid heightened concerns about energy security following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict.
The government said nine of the 10 strongest months for solar deployment on record had occurred within the past year. Britain also surpassed 2 million cumulative solar installations in March 2026.
Costs for solar photovoltaic systems fell by up to 9% over the past year, supporting wider adoption, the data showed.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain was "taking back control" of its energy system by expanding clean power and reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
"This is what our clean power mission looks like: backing homegrown energy, giving people more control over their bills, and building a stronger, more resilient energy system for the future," he said.
The government said rooftop solar was helping households reduce energy bills, with savings of up to 480 British pounds ($645) a month cited in its assessment.
The program includes approval of large-scale projects such as Springwell Solar Farm, described as the largest solar farm in the country, alongside plans to roll out low-cost "plug-in" solar panels and require solar installations on new homes in England.
Corporate and public sector adoption has also accelerated. Numatic International, the maker of Henry the Hoover, has launched a solar park expected to supply around 20% of the electricity demand at its Somerset factory.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said rooftop solar installations are expected to reduce its energy bills by about 9,500 British Pounds per year.
Kitchen manufacturer Wren Kitchens is also building what it says will become the UK's largest factory rooftop solar array.