UK Solar Cumulative Capacity Surpasses 22.3GW... 11% Growth in the Past Year

As of April 2026, the UK's cumulative solar capacity reached 22.3 gigawatts (GW), with over 2 million installations added in the past year. According to statistics released by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), cumulative capacity grew 11.2% over the past 12 months, with 2.3GW of new capacity added. Monthly installations in April 2026 totaled 22,733 projects, equivalent to 107 megawatts (MW). Installation costs declined across all sectors in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, with mid-range pricing dropping 9% for 0-4kW systems, 8% for 4-10kW systems, and 3% for 10-50kW systems. The government awarded 4.9GW of solar projects under the 7th round of the Contract for Difference scheme in February 2026, with a bid price of £65.23 per MWh. The UK aims to expand solar capacity to at least 45GW by 2030 to meet its clean energy targets.