The UK added over 2 GW of solar capacity in the 12 months to the end of June 2026. With new plug-in solar regulations soon to take effect, a UK wholesaler boss tells pv magazine plug-in solar is a great opportunity to further grow the market.
There were 27,391 new UK solar installations in June 2026, the second highest monthly installations volume on record, adding 132 MW of capacity. Total UK solar capacity reached 22.8 GW by the end of June, according to the latest government deployment data.
March 2026 remains the strongest month for number of installations with 28,782 recorded, although solar deployment statistics from the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) are provisional and subject to revision. DESNZ recorded a total of 2,076,000 UK solar installations at the end of June.
The barrier for entry to the distributed solar market will be lowered when new regulations on plug-in solar come into force on August 27, potentially opening up opportunities in the rental sector. Updated regulations will allow households to self-install systems up to an 800 W limit per electrical circuit.
Major retailers have been in consultation with the UK government ahead of the launch, while product manufacturers are currently planning launch events timed for the regulation change.
