UK solar market intelligence
UK solar industry data & installer intelligence
The independent read on the UK solar trade — market data, installer-marketing benchmarks and commercial analysis, every figure sourced and dated.
Photo: Premier Electrical Renewables
257,397
UK solar installs in 2025
+32% YoY · MCS
21.6 GW
Total deployed capacity
DESNZ provisional
6.4%
of UK electricity
18.3 TWh generated
5,250+
MCS-certified contractors
highest on record
The UK solar market smashed records in 2025: 257,397 MCS-certified installations, up 32% on 2024 and the highest annual total ever. 2026 is forecast to grow another ~50%. Below: where the capacity is going, and our latest reports for installers, investors and policymakers.
Where the 2025 capacity went
| Segment | Share of new capacity |
|---|---|
| Utility ground-mount | 70% |
| Residential rooftop | 18% |
| Commercial rooftop | 12% |
Latest reports
UK Solar Industry 2026: Record Installations, Market Data & Policy
MCS confirms 257,397 installations in 2025 — 32% growth, 21.6 GW deployed. New-build now 35% of installs. Battery attachment surging. Full market breakdown.
Solar Installer Marketing 2026: Lead Costs, SEO vs PPC, Conversion Data
Real cost-per-lead by channel: Google Ads £80–£250 at 10–15% conversion vs organic SEO at near-zero CPL with 25–30%. Why local SEO wins.
Commercial Solar Trends UK 2026: What Is Driving Business Adoption
35% YoY growth. Grid at 25–29p vs solar at 5–8p. 100% AIA tax relief. Sector leaders: schools, hotels, factories, warehouses.
UK Solar O&M Market 2026: The Maintenance Boom
1.5M+ systems on roofs, the oldest 16 years old. The inverter cliff, orphaned FiT-era arrays, and where the recurring-revenue market is being built.
Homeowners weighing up battery brands may find a detailed Fox ESS vs Sigenergy comparison a useful real-world breakdown, while installers expanding into storage can see home battery storage in Doncaster and regional renewables firms such as Premier Electrical Renewables and Sola. For pricing context see commercial solar panel cost and commercial solar panel installation. Across North Somerset, solar panels in Portishead are a good example of the regional installer picture.
Installer activity keeps climbing in the Midlands, with local specialists now offering home battery storage in Leicester. And for congregations without capital or grant access, church solar power purchase agreements explained covers the no-capex route.
Sources
Export rates now vary by a factor of four between suppliers, so this independent SEG rate comparison is the quickest way to see who is actually paying what this year.
For readers pricing a car-park build this quarter, Commercial Solar Canopy's carport guide sets out structural specs and 2026 cost-by-size figures.