July turned out to be the highest-performing month ever for solar power in Great Britain. It produced 14.4% of the country’s electricity. This is according to data from the National Energy System Operator (Neso). This beat the earlier peak of 12.4% seen in May. The sharp rise was due to unusually sunny weather in many areas. Some regions saw close to twice as much sun as usual for the time of year.
Solar growth reaches a six-year high
New solar projects have been growing at a fast rate, with both big solar farms on the ground and small rooftop setups contributing. A total of 142,536 new solar projects were added in this period, suggesting that 2026 could surpass the current record for annual solar additions.
Rooftop solar panels help cut household costs
Most of the new projects are small rooftop solar installations. Although they make up less than a third of the country’s total solar power, they are gaining popularity. As energy prices have risen sharply due to fossil fuels, more people are choosing solar to generate their own affordable electricity. Energy companies have observed this trend as an important step in moving away from fuel imports.
Chris Hewett, chief executive of Solar Energy UK, a trade organization, highlighted the transformation of solar energy. He said, “Fifteen years ago, solar energy was a footnote in the electricity mix.” He added, “Now it is a major player, delivering homegrown, cheap, clean and reliable energy.”
The large amount of solar power produced in July was critical in handling the increased electricity use driven by the summer heatwave. As more people and businesses relied on air conditioning and fans, solar power helped support the grid. This was a rare silver lining during a period of droughts, wildfires, and heat-related deaths across Europe.
Ember, a clean energy thinktank, reported that a typical UK home with rooftop solar was able to supply over five hours of air conditioning daily during the June heatwave. This was when temperatures were at their seasonal peak.
Frankie Mayo, a senior analyst at Ember, noted that the UK is in the midst of its second major wave of solar development. She said, “This mirrors a worldwide shift as homes and governments are increasingly adopting solar as a low-cost and locally sourced alternative to oil and gas.”
Among the new large solar projects is the Cleve Hill solar farm in Kent, now the largest operational solar site in the UK with a power capacity of 373 megawatts (MW). Cleve Hill is much larger than the UK’s first solar site, the 1.4MW Wheal Jane in Cornwall, but it won’t remain the biggest for long. The 800MW Springwell solar project in Lincolnshire, expected to start producing in 2029, will soon surpass it.
Michael Shanks, the energy minister, underlined the growing value of local solar power. He said, “The lesson is clear: the more power we generate in Britain, the less families and businesses are affected by global energy price shocks. That’s how we build energy security, lower bills permanently, and create skilled jobs across the country. Alongside expanding clean, homegrown power, we’re reducing VAT on energy bills, giving families more relief this winter.”}]}(){};()}()}(){};()}()}(){};(){