The UK has just hit its highest level of rooftop solar panel installations ever recorded, making 2025 a landmark year for home energy.
New data from MCS shows that solar has already passed the previous peak set back in 2011, with households and new-build developers installing panels at record speed.
Falling upfront costs, changing building rules, and a growing desire for cheaper, home-grown power are all pushing the numbers up. Many experts say solar is now moving from a “nice-to-have” to a normal feature of homes across the country.
UK rooftop solar installations hit all-time high
Rooftop solar in the UK has reached a new all-time high in 2025, with the number of certified solar panel installations surpassing 203,125 – beating the long-standing record from 2011.
This pushes the total number of certified solar systems nationwide to 1.85 million, marking the strongest year the sector has ever seen.
A major driver behind this rise is the rapid growth of solar on newly built homes. Since MCS started tracking new-build installations in October 2023, more than 139,000 properties have been fitted with panels, representing nearly one-third of all installations in that period. The share has grown further in 2025, and June broke the monthly record with 9,507 new-build solar installations.
With the Future Homes Standard set to be confirmed later this year – requiring most new homes to include low-carbon technologies by 2027 – the new-build market is expected to keep climbing.
Policies and new homes are powering the solar surge
Developers and homeowners are responding to both lower solar costs and clearer government expectations about future building rules.
Solar is becoming a common way to meet energy targets and cut running costs, especially as new housing developments aim to future-proof properties against rising energy prices.
The combination of strong demand, supportive policy and a rapidly expanding installer base has created the conditions for the biggest year the rooftop solar sector has ever seen. For many households, the appeal is simple: lower bills, greater energy independence and a more efficient home.
Which UK regions are leading the solar revolution?
While solar growth is strong across the country, certain areas are taking the lead. According to the latest MCS figures:
- Somerset – 3,741 installations in 2025
- Cornwall – 3,726 installations
- North Yorkshire – 2,780 installations
- County Durham – 2,668 installations
- Wiltshire – 2,545 installations
These top-performing regions show that both rural and urban areas are embracing, what Ed Miliband, the Energy Minister, has termed a “rooftop revolution”, with strong activity across the South West, North, and Midlands.
Battery storage is also rising sharply alongside solar. Certified home solar batteries – used to store extra solar power – have jumped 122% compared with the same period last year, reaching around 59,000 in total.
This trend suggests more households want greater control over their energy use and the ability to make the most of the power they generate.
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