State of Solar in the UK 2025
A data-driven look at the UK's solar energy market in 2025 — covering MCS installation trends, region-by-region performance, installer market dynamics, and customer satisfaction. All data sourced from MCS records, PVGIS satellite measurements, and verified Google reviews.
Quick Answer
The UK saw 205,340 MCS-certified solar installations in 2025, with an average solar yield of 882 kWh/kWp. The installer market includes 0 active companies, NaN% of which are MCS-certified, with an average Google rating of N/A/5.
205,340
MCS Installs
2025 total
882
Avg kWh/kWp
National average yield
0
Active Installers
In our directory
N/A/5
Avg Google Rating
0 total reviews
Last updated March 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
In This Report
Solar Adoption by Region
The UK recorded 205,340 MCS-certified residential solar installations in 2025. The South East, South West, and East of England led in absolute numbers, reflecting their higher solar yields and larger populations.
All UK Regions
| Region | Area | MCS Installs | kWh/kWp | Solar Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater-london | London | 12,000 | 960 | 17 |
| West-midlands | West Midlands | 6,800 | 905 | 36 |
| Hampshire | South East | 6,200 | 990 | 8 |
| Kent | South East | 6,000 | 1020 | 6 |
| Cornwall | South West | 5,800 | 1080 | 1 |
| Devon | South West | 5,500 | 1060 | 2 |
| Greater-manchester | North West | 5,500 | 880 | 48 |
| Essex | East of England | 5,200 | 970 | 12 |
| West-yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | 5,000 | 880 | 48 |
| Surrey | South East | 4,800 | 975 | 10 |
| Hertfordshire | East of England | 4,500 | 950 | 21 |
| Somerset | South West | 4,400 | 1000 | 7 |
| West-sussex | South East | 4,200 | 1020 | 5 |
| Norfolk | East of England | 4,200 | 965 | 11 |
| Lancashire | North West | 4,200 | 875 | 51 |
| Suffolk | East of England | 4,000 | 970 | 13 |
| Dorset | South West | 3,800 | 1050 | 3 |
| Wiltshire | South West | 3,800 | 980 | 9 |
| Lincolnshire | East Midlands | 3,800 | 930 | 26 |
| Nottinghamshire | East Midlands | 3,800 | 910 | 33 |
| East-sussex | South East | 3,600 | 1030 | 5 |
| Berkshire | South East | 3,600 | 970 | 14 |
| Oxfordshire | South East | 3,600 | 955 | 19 |
| Leicestershire | East Midlands | 3,600 | 915 | 31 |
| North-yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | 3,600 | 885 | 44 |
| Gloucestershire | South West | 3,500 | 950 | 20 |
| Cambridgeshire | East of England | 3,400 | 945 | 22 |
| Derbyshire | East Midlands | 3,400 | 905 | 35 |
| South-yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | 3,400 | 895 | 40 |
| Buckinghamshire | South East | 3,200 | 955 | 19 |
| Northamptonshire | East Midlands | 3,200 | 925 | 27 |
| Staffordshire | West Midlands | 3,200 | 905 | 36 |
| Cheshire | North West | 3,200 | 900 | 37 |
| Merseyside | North West | 3,200 | 880 | 47 |
| Bedfordshire | East of England | 2,800 | 940 | 25 |
| Warwickshire | West Midlands | 2,800 | 915 | 30 |
| Tyne-and-wear | North East | 2,800 | 860 | 60 |
| East-riding-of-yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | 2,400 | 895 | 39 |
| Bristol | South West | 2,200 | 955 | 18 |
| Worcestershire | West Midlands | 2,200 | 915 | 32 |
| Durham | North East | 2,200 | 860 | 62 |
| Shropshire | West Midlands | 1,800 | 910 | 34 |
| Cumbria | North West | 1,800 | 850 | 65 |
| Isle-of-wight | South East | 1,400 | 1070 | 4 |
| Northumberland | North East | 1,400 | 850 | 66 |
| Herefordshire | West Midlands | 1,200 | 920 | 29 |
| City-of-edinburgh | Scotland | 1,200 | 835 | 78 |
| Fife | Scotland | 1,100 | 835 | 77 |
| Glasgow-city | Scotland | 1,100 | 810 | 90 |
| Aberdeenshire | Scotland | 980 | 820 | 84 |
| Cardiff | Wales | 850 | 880 | 49 |
| North-lanarkshire | Scotland | 800 | 815 | 87 |
| South-lanarkshire | Scotland | 800 | 815 | 87 |
| Highland | Scotland | 800 | 770 | 98 |
| Belfast | Northern Ireland | 680 | 815 | 86 |
| Carmarthenshire | Wales | 650 | 870 | 55 |
| Aberdeen-city | Scotland | 620 | 830 | 80 |
| Dumfries-and-galloway | Scotland | 600 | 840 | 75 |
| West-lothian | Scotland | 600 | 830 | 79 |
| Perth-and-kinross | Scotland | 600 | 820 | 86 |
| Pembrokeshire | Wales | 550 | 890 | 41 |
| Swansea | Wales | 550 | 880 | 48 |
| Monmouthshire | Wales | 520 | 885 | 46 |
| Rhondda-cynon-taf | Wales | 520 | 860 | 63 |
| Powys | Wales | 520 | 855 | 67 |
| Antrim | Northern Ireland | 520 | 810 | 88 |
| East-lothian | Scotland | 480 | 840 | 73 |
| Scottish-borders | Scotland | 480 | 840 | 74 |
| Angus | Scotland | 480 | 825 | 82 |
| Falkirk | Scotland | 480 | 825 | 83 |
| Renfrewshire | Scotland | 480 | 815 | 89 |
| Down | Northern Ireland | 450 | 810 | 88 |
| Vale-of-glamorgan | Wales | 420 | 890 | 42 |
| Newport | Wales | 420 | 885 | 45 |
| Flintshire | Wales | 420 | 870 | 54 |
| Caerphilly | Wales | 420 | 865 | 57 |
| Gwynedd | Wales | 420 | 860 | 63 |
| South-ayrshire | Scotland | 420 | 835 | 78 |
| East-ayrshire | Scotland | 420 | 830 | 79 |
| Moray | Scotland | 420 | 830 | 79 |
| North-ayrshire | Scotland | 420 | 830 | 79 |
| Dundee-city | Scotland | 420 | 825 | 81 |
| Bridgend | Wales | 380 | 875 | 53 |
| Neath-port-talbot | Wales | 380 | 870 | 56 |
| Wrexham | Wales | 380 | 870 | 52 |
| Ceredigion | Wales | 380 | 865 | 58 |
| Conwy | Wales | 380 | 860 | 60 |
| Midlothian | Scotland | 380 | 835 | 76 |
| East-dunbartonshire | Scotland | 380 | 820 | 85 |
| Stirling | Scotland | 380 | 820 | 85 |
| Armagh | Northern Ireland | 380 | 810 | 89 |
| Anglesey | Wales | 350 | 880 | 50 |
| Londonderry | Northern Ireland | 350 | 805 | 91 |
| Denbighshire | Wales | 340 | 860 | 61 |
| East-renfrewshire | Scotland | 340 | 815 | 88 |
| Argyll-and-bute | Scotland | 320 | 790 | 93 |
| Rutland | East Midlands | 280 | 920 | 28 |
| Torfaen | Wales | 280 | 870 | 55 |
| Tyrone | Northern Ireland | 280 | 800 | 94 |
| West-dunbartonshire | Scotland | 240 | 810 | 92 |
| Inverclyde | Scotland | 220 | 810 | 91 |
| Fermanagh | Northern Ireland | 200 | 800 | 95 |
| Blaenau-gwent | Wales | 180 | 860 | 59 |
| Merthyr-tydfil | Wales | 180 | 860 | 64 |
| Clackmannanshire | Scotland | 180 | 825 | 83 |
| Orkney-islands | Scotland | 120 | 780 | 100 |
| Na-h-eileanan-siar | Scotland | 120 | 750 | 102 |
| Shetland-islands | Scotland | 80 | 750 | 101 |
| City-of-london | London | 50 | 960 | 16 |
Solar Performance by Region
Solar yield varies across the UK from 980 to 1080 kWh per kWp installed. The southeast consistently outperforms, benefiting from higher sunshine hours and lower rainfall. The national average is 882 kWh/kWp.
Installer Market Overview
The UK's solar installer market is served by 0 active companies in our directory. Of these, 0 (NaN%) are MCS-certified — a key quality indicator and requirement for grant eligibility.
0
Total Installers
NaN%
MCS Certified
0 companies
0
Google Reviews
Across all installers
Installers by Region
| Region | Installers Serving |
|---|---|
| Cornwall | 0 |
| Isle-of-wight | 0 |
| Devon | 0 |
| Dorset | 0 |
| East-sussex | 0 |
| Kent | 0 |
| West-sussex | 0 |
| Somerset | 0 |
| Hampshire | 0 |
| Wiltshire | 0 |
| Surrey | 0 |
| Berkshire | 0 |
| Essex | 0 |
| Suffolk | 0 |
| Norfolk | 0 |
Customer Satisfaction
Based on 0 verified Google reviews across 0 installers, the average Google rating is N/A/5. The majority of rated installers score 4.0 or above, reflecting generally high customer satisfaction in the UK solar market.
N/A/5
Average Rating
Based on 0 reviews
Geographic Opportunity
Some regions have a high population relative to the number of solar installers serving them. These underserved areas represent growth opportunities for the industry. The table below shows the population-to-installer ratio — higher numbers indicate greater unmet demand.
Note: Installer counts are based on companies listed in our directory and do not represent the total market. Actual installer coverage may be higher. Population data is from ONS Census 2021.
| Region | Population | Installers | People per Installer |
|---|
Key Takeaways
Strong Adoption
205,340 MCS installations in 2025 show continued strong demand for residential solar in the UK.
Southeast Leads on Yield
Counties in the southeast generate up to 9% more solar energy per kWp than the national average, and all counties are viable.
High MCS Certification
NaN% of installers are MCS-certified, ensuring quality standards and grant eligibility for homeowners.
Customer Satisfaction
An average Google rating of N/A/5 across 0 reviews indicates high customer satisfaction in the market.
Underserved Counties
Several counties with large populations have relatively few installers, presenting growth opportunities for the industry.
South East Leads Volume
The South East leads in total installations by a significant margin, driven by higher solar yields, population density, and property values.
Methodology
This report draws on four primary data sources:
- MCS Installation Database (2025) — Official installation counts by region from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.
- PVGIS satellite data — Solar irradiance and yield estimates (kWh/kWp) from the European Commission's Photovoltaic Geographical Information System, validated against UK weather station data.
- Solar Info installer directory — Business data, Google ratings, and review counts sourced from our verified installer database as of February 2026.
- ONS Census 2021 — Regional population figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Caveats: MCS installation data covers certified installations only and does not include non-certified installs or commercial systems. Installer counts represent companies in our directory and may not capture every installer in the market. Google ratings are a snapshot and change over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar in the UK
How many homes have solar panels in the UK?
Over 1,500,000+ UK homes now have solar panels installed. The rate of adoption has accelerated since 2022, driven by rising energy costs, 0% VAT on residential solar, and falling panel prices. The UK adds approximately 150,000–200,000 new residential solar installations per year.
How much solar capacity does the UK have?
The UK has approximately 15–17 GW of installed solar capacity across residential, commercial, and utility-scale installations. Residential solar accounts for around 4–5 GW of this total. The government has a target of 70 GW of solar by 2035.
Which region of the UK has the most solar panels?
The South East and South West of England have the highest concentration of solar installations, benefiting from higher solar irradiance (1,000–1,100 kWh/kWp per year). However, solar adoption is growing fastest in the Midlands and North, where there is significant untapped potential.
Is solar growing in the UK?
Yes. Solar is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the UK. Residential installations have surged since 2022, with quarterly installation records being broken regularly. 0% VAT, high electricity prices, and improved panel technology are driving unprecedented demand.
Related Guides
Solar Irradiance Map
Interactive map of solar energy potential across UK counties.
Solar Panel Costs
Full cost breakdown and payback periods.
Solar Incentives
0% VAT, Smart Export Guarantee, ECO4, and business capital allowances.
Are Solar Panels Worth It?
Honest pros, cons, and payback analysis for UK homes.
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the UK solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official MCS and Ofgem data and maintains relationships with MCS-certified installers across the UK.