The UK is closing in on 18 GW of total deployed solar capacity, according to the latest government data as of January 2025.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) reported 17.9 GW of deployed capacity, with 69 MW added in the first month of 2025. This follows an upward revision to official statistics, bringing the total for the end of 2024 to 17.8 GW, an increase of 200 MW from the previously published 17.6 GW.
For 2024, annual solar capacity additions reached 1.3 GW, making it the fifth-highest year on record. However, the 69 MW of new capacity in January 2025 falls short of the 241 MW added in January 2024. As always, government deployment statistics remain provisional and subject to revision as more data becomes available.
Despite steady growth, deployment speed must increase significantly to meet the UK government’s clean energy targets for 2030. The UK aims to achieve 45 GW of solar capacity by 2030, forming part of a broader strategy to decarbonize Great Britain’s electricity grid.
The project pipeline is expanding, with DESNZ Secretary of State Ed Miliband approving several Development Consent Orders (DCOs) in 2024 for solar projects under the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) process, adding gigawatts to the pipeline. Additional utility-scale solar projects are expected to receive rulings in 2025.
Furthermore, a proposed update to the UK Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme highlights the urgency of accelerating large-scale solar deployment. DESNZ has suggested extending the commissioning window for eligible solar projects to encourage larger PV developments. A final decision on these CfD adjustments, including potential contract term extensions, is expected before the seventh allocation round (AR7) in summer 2025.
it is currently one of the largest exporters of photovoltaic products in China.
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