The United Kingdom is nearing 16 GW of installed solar capacity, with small-scale installations driving much of its recent growth. While the year started slowly, the UK government’s latest data still shows significant progress toward its renewable energy goals.
Optimism for Greater Results
Image: Collected
With an upcoming General Election, many are optimistic that the next government will move quickly to address barriers to further expansion. The UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) reports an impressive 15.9 GW of installed capacity, highlighting the nation’s commitment to renewable energy.
Statistics released on May 30, 2024, reveal that 190 MW of capacity was added in the first four months of the year—a figure that falls short of the 330 MW added during the same period in 2023.
According to DESNZ, the UK installed a total of 916 MW of solar capacity last year. While 2023 ranked as the second-highest year for the number of new systems (191,524), it only placed fifth for new capacity, as smaller installations made up the majority of additions.
Residential Solar Installation Taking the Lead
Small-scale systems also drove most of the capacity increases in the first four months of 2024. Installations of 4 kW or less contributed 84 MW of the 190 MW total, while systems between 4 kW and 10 kW added another 69 MW. The remaining 37 MW came from installations between 10 kW and 50 kW. Notably, and unlike in 2023, no new installations over 50 kW were reported during this period.
By the end of April 2024, residential systems accounted for approximately 88% of the nearly 1.5 million solar installations in the DESNZ database. However, ground-mounted solar still made up 49% (7.7 GW) of total UK capacity as of March 2024, including two operational solar farms accredited under Contracts for Difference (CfDs).
Contracts for Difference (CfDs) could play a key role in expanding solar energy deployment across the UK. In the fifth CfD auction in September 2023, nearly 2 GW of capacity was tendered across 56 projects. The nation’s sixth CfD auction closed for applications on April 19, 2024, and National Grid ESO is expected to announce the results between late June and early September. This latest auction reserved a £120 million ($152,535) fund for “established technologies,” which include solar installations up to 5 MW, onshore wind, and other sources.
2035 Solar Goal of 70 GW
According to Mark Sommerfeld, Deputy Director of Policy at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), recent deployment data suggests the UK is not on track to meet its solar generation goals. The government aims for 70 GW of installed capacity by 2035, but with only around 16 GW currently deployed, significant efforts are needed to bridge the gap.
To achieve this target, Sommerfeld stresses that solar projects of all scales are needed, utilizing both rooftops and suitable ground-mounted sites. While the market for smaller projects is promising, speeding up deployment will require unlocking larger, utility-scale projects. Fortunately, the industry has a substantial backlog of projects ready for development.
Sommerfeld’s remarks come in the midst of the UK’s election season. He stressed that regardless of the General Election outcome on July 4, the next government must urgently implement the recommendations made by the Solar Taskforce—an industry-led advisory body focused on supporting solar deployment.
Among the key recommendations are addressing grid connection timeframes and strengthening solar supply chains. The industry is prepared to collaborate with the next government to achieve these goals and capitalize on opportunities to increase solar capacity.