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. There are 4,456 MCS-certified solar PV installation companies in the UK (July 2026). Wales has the highest installer density at 99 companies per million people; London has the lowest at just 20 per million.
205,340
MCS Installs
2025 total
882
Avg kWh/kWp
National average yield
4,456
MCS Solar Installers
UK-wide, July 2026
18%
Also Fit Heat Pumps
782 dual-certified firms
Last updated August 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
There are 4,456 MCS-certified solar PV installation companies in the UK as of July 2026, based on our analysis of the MCS register. MCS certification is the key quality standard for residential solar and a requirement for Smart Export Guarantee eligibility. 782 of these firms (18%) are also certified to install heat pumps, showing how installers are broadening into whole-home electrification.
4,456
MCS Solar PV Installers
UK-wide, July 2026
676
South East
Most installer bases of any region
18%
Also Fit Heat Pumps
782 dual-certified firms
Installers by Region
| Region | MCS Solar Installers | Population (mid-2024) |
|---|---|---|
| South East | 676 | 9,642,942 |
| South West | 567 | 5,889,695 |
| East of England | 495 | 6,576,306 |
| North West | 447 | 7,737,414 |
| East Midlands | 416 | 5,063,164 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 366 | 5,672,962 |
| West Midlands | 347 | 6,187,204 |
| Scotland | 342 | 5,546,900 |
| Wales | 317 | 3,187,000 |
| London | 185 | 9,089,736 |
| North East | 158 | 2,760,678 |
| Northern Ireland | 53 | 1,927,900 |
Installer Density: Wales Leads, London Trails
Adjusting installer numbers for population reveals a striking gap. Wales has 99 MCS solar installers per million people, almost five times more than London's 20 per million. Despite a population of over 9 million, London is home to just 185 MCS-certified solar firms, fewer than Wales (317) with barely a third of the people.
That works out to one installer for every 49,134 Londoners, against one per 10,054 people in Wales. Flats, leasehold complications, and smaller roofs suppress demand in the capital, and many London installations are carried out by firms based in the surrounding Home Counties. Even so, the gap points to how unevenly the UK's installer base is distributed.
| Rank | Region | Installers per Million People |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wales | 99 |
| 2 | South West | 96 |
| 3 | East Midlands | 82 |
| 4 | East of England | 75 |
| 5 | South East | 70 |
| 6 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 65 |
| 7 | Scotland | 62 |
| 8 | North West | 58 |
| 9 | North East | 57 |
| 10 | West Midlands | 56 |
| 11 | Northern Ireland | 27 |
| 12 | London | 20 |
The Commercial Capability Gap
Almost every MCS-certified solar firm installs domestic rooftops. Far fewer can show evidence of commercial work. Of the 4,456 MCS-certified solar PV firms in the UK, only 205 (4.6%) have verified customer reviews describing commercial or industrial installations, work on warehouses, offices, factories and farm buildings rather than homes. Even among the 2,026 firms with Google reviews on file, just one in ten (10.1%) shows commercial evidence.
The regional spread is starker than the domestic picture. London, already the UK's domestic installer desert, has 10 commercially-evidenced firms for over 9 million people, one per 908,974 residents. Northern Ireland has exactly 1. And Wales, the runaway leader on domestic installer density, drops to mid-table on commercial capability with 10 firms (3.2% of its installer base).
| Region | Solar PV Firms | With Commercial Review Evidence | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| South East | 676 | 37 | 5.5% |
| East of England | 495 | 37 | 7.5% |
| South West | 567 | 28 | 4.9% |
| East Midlands | 416 | 17 | 4.1% |
| North West | 447 | 16 | 3.6% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 366 | 16 | 4.4% |
| West Midlands | 347 | 12 | 3.5% |
| Scotland | 342 | 11 | 3.2% |
| Wales | 317 | 10 | 3.2% |
| London | 185 | 10 | 5.4% |
| North East | 158 | 6 | 3.8% |
| Northern Ireland | 53 | 1 | 1.9% |
Methodology note: a firm counts as commercially evidenced when at least one of its verified Google reviews describes a commercial or industrial installation. Firms without public reviews may still carry out commercial work, so these figures are a floor, not a census. Counts exclude 4 commercially-evidenced firms without a resolvable region.
For businesses, the practical consequence is a thin supplier market: getting like-for-like commercial quotes takes more effort than it does for a house. Our commercial solar guide covers costs, tax relief and funding routes, and our commercial solar installer guide explains how to vet the firms that do have commercial experience.
Geographic Opportunity
Some regions have a high population relative to the number of solar installers based there. These underserved areas represent growth opportunities for the industry. The table below shows the people-per-installer ratio, higher numbers indicate greater unmet demand.
Note: Installer counts reflect where firms are based; many serve customers across regional boundaries. Population data is from ONS, NRS and NISRA mid-2024 estimates.
| Region | Population | Installers | People per Installer |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 9,089,736 | 185 | 49,134 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,927,900 | 53 | 36,375 |
| West Midlands | 6,187,204 | 347 | 17,831 |
| North East | 2,760,678 | 158 | 17,473 |
| North West | 7,737,414 | 447 | 17,310 |
| Scotland | 5,546,900 | 342 | 16,219 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 5,672,962 | 366 | 15,500 |
| South East | 9,642,942 | 676 | 14,265 |
| East of England | 6,576,306 | 495 | 13,285 |
| East Midlands | 5,063,164 | 416 | 12,171 |
| South West | 5,889,695 | 567 | 10,387 |
| Wales | 3,187,000 | 317 | 10,054 |
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.
4,456 Certified Installers
The UK has 4,456 MCS-certified solar PV firms, and 18% of them are also certified to install heat pumps.
London Is Underserved
London has just 20 installers per million people, the lowest in the UK and nearly five times below Wales at 99 per million.
Underserved Regions
London, Northern Ireland and the West Midlands have the fewest installers relative to population, 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.
Commercial Capability Is Rare
Only 205 firms (4.6%) have verified reviews evidencing commercial or industrial solar work, and Northern Ireland has just one.
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, MCS-certified installer records (company, location, technologies) derived from the MCS register, aggregated by region as of July 2026. Commercial capability is measured from verified Google reviews that describe commercial or industrial installations, matched across the 2,026 firms with reviews on file.
- ONS, NRS and NISRA mid-2024 population estimates, Regional population figures from the Office for National Statistics, National Records of Scotland, and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Caveats: MCS installation data covers certified installations only and does not include non-certified installs or commercial systems. Installer counts reflect where firms are registered, and many installers serve customers beyond their home region. A small number of records (87) could not be assigned to a region and are excluded from regional tables but included in the UK total.
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.
How many solar installers are there in the UK?
There are 4,456 MCS-certified solar PV installation companies in the UK as of July 2026, based on Solar Info UK's analysis of the MCS register. The South East has the most (676), followed by the South West (567) and the East of England (495). Around 18% of these firms are also certified to install heat pumps.
Which part of the UK has the most solar installers per person?
Wales has the highest density of solar installers in the UK, with 99 MCS-certified firms per million people, one installer for roughly every 10,000 residents. London has the lowest density at just 20 per million, one installer for every 49,000 Londoners, although many London installations are carried out by firms based in surrounding counties.
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.
Explore the map behind the data: our interactive UK solar farms map plots every utility-scale site with capacity and operator details.
Related Guides
Best Solar Installers UK
Guide to choosing the best solar installer in the UK.
Solar Panel Cost UK
Full cost breakdown and payback periods.
Solar Financing
Loans, payment plans, and how to finance solar panels.
Solar Savings Calculator
Estimate your savings, payback period, and annual generation by region and usage.
Solar Irradiance Map
Interactive map of solar energy potential across UK counties.
Solar Panel Grants
Warm Homes grants up to £15,000, 0% VAT, Smart Export Guarantee, and business capital allowances.
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the UK solar energy market since 2023. He researches every battery and inverter brand against manufacturer datasheets, MCS and Ofgem data, and feedback from the MCS-certified installers in our directory before publishing.