Solar Energy UK and the National Energy System Operator (NESO) have reported that solar energy in the UK reached a new record in July.
British solar power production achieved an all-time monthly high in July, according to findings released by Solar Energy UK and the National Energy System Operator. Photovoltaic technology accounted for 14.4 percent of the nation's total electricity output during the month, surpassing the previous record of 12.4 percent set in May and exceeding the 9.6 percent share recorded in July of the previous year.
The record generation figures coincided with prolonged dry and sunny conditions driven by heatwaves in the UK, alongside longer summer daylight hours. Total solar generation reached 3.2 terawatt-hours in July. On July 12, solar sources contributed 18.8 percent of the country's electricity, closely approaching the 19.5 percent record established on May 24. NESO reported that solar sources accounted for 44 percent of generation between 10:30 a.m. and noon on July 12, peaking at 15,427 megawatts, while embedded solar panels achieved a record of 16.3 gigawatts on April 23.
Minister for Energy Michael Shanks stated that the milestone reflects the ongoing strengthening of Britain's solar sector and helps protect consumers and businesses from international energy price fluctuations following prior fossil fuel crises. Data evaluated by Solar Energy UK confirmed that solar generation in 2025 grew by 34.2 percent compared to 2024, driven by extended sunshine durations and expanded capacity, alongside the opening of the country's largest solar farm.
During the first half of 2026, the UK recorded 142,536 completed solar installations, representing the highest volume for any six-month period since the subsidy era ended, though still below the record 167,316 projects logged in the second half of 2011. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero data indicated that domestic rooftops accounted for the majority of H1 2026 installations, while commercial-scale projects frequently remain unregistered due to exemption from standard planning frameworks.
Battery energy storage systems also expanded their contribution, surpassing pumped storage in 2025 amid declining deployment costs. BloombergNEF reported a 40 percent drop in turnkey expenses between 2017 and 2025, while International Energy Agency figures showed a 90 percent price reduction for lithium-ion technology.
By the end of 2025, solar energy represented one-third of renewable capacity, while overall renewables comprised 52.1 percent of generated electricity. This marks a substantial shift from the period prior to the 2010 Feed-in Tariff system, when solar made up only 1 percent of renewable capacity and the nation had recently launched its first utility-scale solar project.
Solar Energy UK Chief Executive Chris Hewett noted that solar has evolved from a minor component of the electricity mix fifteen years ago into a primary supplier of affordable and reliable domestic power. NESO Strategic Energy Planning Director and Chief Engineer Julian Leslie observed that renewables now supply approximately 60 percent of the nation's electricity, compared to 3 percent in the year 2000.
Combined solar and battery storage sectors contributed an estimated 1.9 billion pounds to the UK economy in 2024 while supporting 20,000 jobs. Projections from Solar Energy UK indicate these figures will rise by 3.5 billion pounds annually and reach 43,000 jobs by 2035, alongside anticipated targets of 90 gigawatts of solar capacity and 50 gigawatts of storage capacity.
Originally reported by Solar Power Portal on Aug 6, 2026.
