Home Solar Soars: UK Hits Highest Installation Rate in 10 Years

Home solar installations across the UK surged in the first half of 2025, jumping 22% compared to the same period in 2024. According to new data from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), nearly 100,000 domestic systems were installed between January and June, marking the highest rate of uptake since 2015. Wales has played a key role in this resurgence, though Scotland’s Argyll and Bute topped the list for the most installations so far this year.

MCS, which certifies both products and installers for small-scale renewable energy, recorded almost 24,000 installations in March alone. That figure made it the best month since the end of 2015. In contrast, January lagged, held back by seasonal weather and the usual financial hangover after the holidays.

The last time the UK approached this kind of volume was just before the Government drastically scaled back the Feed-in Tariff scheme in 2016. That program rewarded homeowners for the electricity they generated and exported, providing a strong incentive for installation.

Wales now accounts for half of the ten most active regions for solar adoption in 2025. While enthusiasm for solar energy remains high across the country, the cost of getting panels onto roofs is still a sticking point.

The Price Problem

Public support for solar remains overwhelming. Government polling shows that 86% of people back it as an energy source. Yet when asked about building a solar farm nearby, only around half were on board. That’s why rooftop solar — particularly on private homes and smaller buildings — is becoming a central piece of the UK's clean energy strategy.

Among owner-occupiers, nearly two-thirds say they would like to install panels. But in practice, fewer than 6% of UK households have done so. Why? Upfront cost remains the biggest hurdle.

That said, costs are falling. MCS has tracked a steady drop in prices since April 2023, when installation costs peaked at just over £10,400 per home. By April 2025, that figure had dropped to under £7,600 on average.

With current energy prices, the Government estimates that a typical home could save about £530 per year by switching to solar. For many, though, even that long-term benefit doesn’t offset the steep upfront investment.

What’s Next

Significant policy shifts are on the horizon. The Government confirmed last month that it will soon require housebuilders to include rooftop solar panels on nearly all new homes across Britain. These requirements, part of the upcoming Future Homes Standard, will be detailed in the autumn.

If the plans proceed as expected, solar arrays equivalent in size to at least 40% of the building’s floor space will need to be installed on most new buildings starting in 2027. Industry experts predict that this could result in up to 99% of new homes being equipped with solar panels.

To support retrofitting efforts for existing buildings, the Government is working with the Green Finance Institute and private lenders to design better financing options. It also plans to revamp its Energy Efficient Home website to make solar adoption easier and more attractive. For commercial buildings, new toolkits are in development to address lease-related barriers.

These initiatives are all part of a broader solar roadmap, which outlines more than 70 actions aimed at accelerating solar deployment across the UK.