Domestic solar panel installations in the UK have soared to their highest level in a decade, with nearly 100,000 systems fitted in the first half of 2025-a 22% increase on the same period last year. This marks the most rapid uptake since 2015, driven by strong demand in Wales and Scotland.
Breaking Records
According to data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, 99,500 domestic solar systems were installed between January and June 2025. March stood out as a record month, with almost 24,000 installations, while January was slower due to seasonal factors. The surge follows several years of steady growth, reversing the slowdown that began after government cuts to the Feed-in Tariff scheme in 2016.
Wales has emerged as a leader in solar adoption, with five of the top ten UK areas for new installations in 2025. Argyll and Bute in Scotland recorded the highest proportion of households with solar panels so far this year.
Domestic Panels vs Solar Farms
Although 86% of UK residents back solar energy, installation specialists like https://gsmlimited.com/services/solar-panels/worcester/ still face opposition from communities to the establishment of solar farms in their areas. For example, there has been strong resistance to the mass installation of solar panels Worcester, Colchester and Woodstock. Perhaps understandably, the placement of panels on domestic properties is much more popular.
However, despite broad public support, adoption is still constrained by upfront costs. While 63% of owner-occupiers express interest in solar, fewer than 6% of UK households currently have panels installed. However, the average installation cost has fallen significantly, from over £10,400 in April 2023 to just under £7,600 in April 2025. The government estimates that a typical home can save around £530 annually by installing solar panels.
Looking to the Future
The UK government plans to require solar panels on nearly all new-build homes from 2027, with proposed standards mandating installations that cover at least 40% of a building’s floor area. Additionally, new financial solutions for retrofitting existing homes are being developed in partnership with the Green Finance Institute to accelerate uptake further.
