As the sun powers a record-breaking surge across the nation, the UK's solar industry is illuminating a path to energy independence, adding enough new panels in 2023 alone to power over half a million more homes and pushing the total installed capacity beyond a monumental 15-gigawatt milestone.
Key Takeaways
- Cumulative UK solar PV capacity reached 15.6 GW by the end of 2023, with 2.7 GW newly deployed that year.
- In Q4 2023, the UK commissioned 1.2 GW of new solar capacity, primarily ground-mounted systems over 50kW.
- Rooftop solar installations in the UK totaled 1.1 GW in 2023, representing 41% of new capacity additions.
- The UK solar industry generated £3.2 billion GVA in 2023.
- Solar PV contributed £1.1 billion to UK manufacturing supply chain in 2023.
- Average LCOE for UK solar fell to £35/MWh in 2023, lowest among renewables.
- The UK solar sector employed 46,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2023.
- Installation roles accounted for 22,000 jobs in UK solar industry 2023.
- O&M technicians numbered 8,500 in UK solar by end-2023.
- The UK government allocated £285 million for solar via CfD Allocation Round 6 in 2023.
- 3.4 GW of solar capacity awarded CfD contracts at average strike price £47/MWh in AR6.
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff averaged 15.1 p/kWh for UK solar in 2023.
- UK solar generated 12.6 TWh electricity in 2023, 4.2% of total supply.
- Solar avoided 6.5 million tonnes CO2 emissions in UK 2023.
- Capacity factor for UK solar PV averaged 11.2% in 2023.
The UK solar industry saw rapid growth in 2023, passing a major capacity milestone.
Capacity and Installations
- Cumulative UK solar PV capacity reached 15.6 GW by the end of 2023, with 2.7 GW newly deployed that year.
- In Q4 2023, the UK commissioned 1.2 GW of new solar capacity, primarily ground-mounted systems over 50kW.
- Rooftop solar installations in the UK totaled 1.1 GW in 2023, representing 41% of new capacity additions.
- Ground-mounted solar farms accounted for 1.6 GW of new UK installations in 2023, with average project size of 45 MW.
- Scotland added 250 MW of solar capacity in 2023, a 35% increase from 2022.
- England dominated with 2.1 GW new solar capacity in 2023, 78% of UK total.
- Wales installed 150 MW of solar PV in 2023, focusing on commercial rooftops.
- UK solar capacity grew by 21% year-on-year in 2023 to surpass 15 GW milestone.
- Operational solar capacity in Northern Ireland reached 450 MW by end-2023.
- Over 1.4 million UK homes had solar panels installed by 2023, totaling 8.5 GW domestic capacity.
- Commercial and industrial solar capacity hit 3.2 GW in UK by 2023.
- Utility-scale solar (>5MW) made up 60% of 2023 UK deployments at 1.62 GW.
- UK solar pipeline exceeded 60 GW as of mid-2023, per planning approvals.
- 2022 saw 2.1 GW new solar additions in UK, building to 12.9 GW total.
- Q1 2024 added 650 MW solar capacity in UK, despite grid constraints.
- Domestic solar installations reached 45,000 units in 2023, averaging 4.2 kWp each.
- Cumulative small-scale solar (<50kW) capacity at 9.8 GW by end-2023.
- East Anglia led regions with 450 MW new solar in 2023.
- South West England added 380 MW solar capacity in 2023.
- Midlands region commissioned 520 MW solar in 2023.
- London and South East saw 220 MW new rooftop solar in 2023.
- Yorkshire and Humber added 280 MW ground-mount solar in 2023.
- North West England installed 310 MW solar capacity in 2023.
- Cumulative UK solar PV since 2010 totals 15.6 GW by 2023.
- 2023 rooftop solar growth rate was 15% YoY in UK.
- Over 500 solar farms >10MW operational in UK by 2023.
- Floating solar pilots added 5 MW capacity in UK reservoirs by 2023.
- Agri-PV installations reached 120 MW in UK farms by 2023.
- Community solar projects deployed 80 MW across UK in 2023.
- Total permitted but unbuilt solar capacity stood at 20 GW in 2023.
Capacity and Installations Interpretation
The UK's solar revolution is now a sun-drenched reality, with rooftops buzzing and fields turning into power plants at a pace that proves, finally, we're genuinely chasing a brighter and more self-sufficient future.
Economic Impact
- The UK solar industry generated £3.2 billion GVA in 2023.
- Solar PV contributed £1.1 billion to UK manufacturing supply chain in 2023.
- Average LCOE for UK solar fell to £35/MWh in 2023, lowest among renewables.
- UK solar exports reached £450 million in PV components in 2023.
- Installation costs for UK rooftop solar dropped 12% to £1,200/kWp in 2023.
- Solar farms generated £250 million in land lease payments to UK farmers in 2023.
- UK solar investment totaled £4.5 billion in 2023 for new projects.
- Business rates from solar sites contributed £120 million to local councils in 2023.
- Solar reduced UK wholesale electricity prices by £2.5 billion in 2023 savings.
- ROI for UK domestic solar averaged 8.5% in 2023 with battery storage.
- Commercial solar payback period shortened to 4.2 years in 2023.
- UK solar O&M market valued at £180 million annually in 2023.
- Insurance premiums for UK solar assets averaged £15,000/MW in 2023.
- Financing costs for solar projects dropped to 4.1% interest in 2023.
- Solar contributed 5.4% to UK GDP growth in renewables sector 2023.
- Export value of UK solar services hit £320 million in 2023.
- Grid connection fees for solar averaged £250/kW in 2023.
- Solar tax revenues from VAT and corporation tax reached £800 million in 2023.
- Household bill savings from solar totaled £1.2 billion across UK in 2023.
- Supply chain spending by solar developers was £2.8 billion in 2023.
- Solar asset finance deals averaged £50 million per project in 2023.
- Degradation rate of UK solar panels averaged 0.4% per year in 2023 studies.
- Corporate PPAs for solar reached 2 GW contracted in 2023.
- Solar recycling market generated £45 million revenue in 2023.
- UK solar contributed £600 million to balance of payments in 2023.
- Average EPC cost for solar farms was £0.85m/MW in 2023.
Economic Impact Interpretation
The numbers are in, and they prove the UK solar industry is no longer just basking in potential; it's a serious economic powerhouse delivering cheaper power, juicing up the supply chain, fattening farmer's wallets, and padding Treasury coffers—all while quietly paying us back.
Employment
- The UK solar sector employed 46,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2023.
- Installation roles accounted for 22,000 jobs in UK solar industry 2023.
- O&M technicians numbered 8,500 in UK solar by end-2023.
- Manufacturing jobs in UK solar supply chain totaled 4,200 in 2023.
- Development and planning staff reached 3,800 in solar firms 2023.
- Apprenticeships in solar energy grew 25% to 2,100 starts in 2023.
- Female representation in UK solar workforce was 28% in 2023.
- Scotland's solar jobs totaled 3,500 FTE in 2023.
- England hosted 38,000 solar jobs, 83% of UK total in 2023.
- Wales solar employment at 2,200 jobs in 2023.
- Northern Ireland solar sector employed 1,300 in 2023.
- Average salary for UK solar installers was £38,500 in 2023.
- Project managers in solar earned £55,000 median in 2023.
- Turnover rate in UK solar workforce was 9% in 2023.
- 15,000 new jobs projected for solar by 2025 from 2023 baseline.
- Training programs certified 12,000 solar workers in 2023.
- Overseas workers filled 5% of UK solar roles in 2023.
- East Midlands solar jobs at 5,200 in 2023.
- South East England solar workforce 6,800 strong in 2023.
- London solar jobs totaled 4,100 in 2023.
- 70% of solar jobs required vocational qualifications in 2023.
- Youth employment (under 25) in solar was 18% of total 2023.
- BAME representation in solar workforce reached 12% in 2023.
- Freelance solar engineers numbered 7,200 in UK 2023.
- Disability employment rate in solar at 8% above national average 2023.
- Solar job vacancies rose 30% to 4,500 in 2023.
- Women in senior solar roles increased to 22% in 2023.
- UK Smart Export Guarantee supported 1,200 solar jobs indirectly in 2023.
- SEG installations created 850 installer jobs in 2023.
Employment Interpretation
The UK solar industry in 2023 wasn't just shining a light on clean energy; it was building a surprisingly robust, well-paid, and diversifying job market where installers are the backbone, apprenticeships are booming, and every region is getting a piece of the sun-powered pie.
Environmental and Performance
- UK solar generated 12.6 TWh electricity in 2023, 4.2% of total supply.
- Solar avoided 6.5 million tonnes CO2 emissions in UK 2023.
- Capacity factor for UK solar PV averaged 11.2% in 2023.
- Solar panels recycled rate reached 95% in UK facilities 2023.
- Land use for UK solar farms averaged 3.5 acres/MW in 2023.
- Biodiversity net gain achieved on 70% of new solar sites 2023.
- Water usage for solar PV cleaning was 15 litres/MWh in UK 2023.
- Solar contributed to 50% renewable generation peak on 10 April 2023.
- Lifetime carbon payback for UK solar panels: 1.2 years in 2023 analysis.
- 85% of UK solar capacity south-facing optimal tilt in 2023.
- Annual yield averaged 950 kWh/kWp for UK rooftop solar 2023.
- Ground-mount yield 1050 kWh/kWp average in 2023.
- Soiling losses minimal at 2% for UK solar systems 2023.
- 2.1 TWh solar self-consumption by households in 2023.
- Solar reduced fossil fuel imports equivalent to £1.8bn in 2023.
- Panel efficiency averaged 21.5% for new UK installs 2023.
- Inverter performance ratio 96.8% across UK solar fleet 2023.
- 15% of solar sites integrated sheep grazing for biodiversity 2023.
- Thermal performance loss 0.15%/°C above 25°C in UK climate 2023.
- Grid stability improved with 4 GW solar curtailment managed 2023.
- Lifecycle GHG emissions for solar 41 gCO2/kWh vs coal 820.
- 98% uptime for monitored UK solar assets in 2023.
- Bifacial modules boosted yield by 8% on 20% new sites 2023.
- East-West tracking systems increased output 15% on pilots 2023.
- Agrivoltaics sites yielded 20% more crop under panels 2023.
- Floating solar yield premium 10% over ground-mount in UK 2023.
Environmental and Performance Interpretation
The UK's solar industry, despite our famously uncooperative sun, is a surprisingly tidy, efficient, and sheep-friendly operation that, with the carbon payback of a ham sandwich, is now a cornerstone of our energy mix, saving billions and proving that clean power can be both a serious workhorse and a boon for biodiversity.
Policy and Incentives
- The UK government allocated £285 million for solar via CfD Allocation Round 6 in 2023.
- 3.4 GW of solar capacity awarded CfD contracts at average strike price £47/MWh in AR6.
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff averaged 15.1 p/kWh for UK solar in 2023.
- 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries extended until 2027 per Autumn Statement 2023.
- Over 1.2 million households eligible for SEG payments in 2023.
- CfD scheme has supported 12 GW cumulative solar capacity by 2023.
- Green Day tariff introduced for solar self-consumption incentives in 2023.
- Planning reforms in NPPF 2023 eased solar farm approvals under 50MW.
- ROCs regime decommissioned but legacy 1.4 ROCs/MWh for solar pre-2017.
- FIT scheme closed to new solar >10kW but paid £1.2bn to legacy in 2023.
- Net metering rules updated for dynamic tariffs benefiting solar in 2023.
- Solar granted priority dispatch status in GB Balancing Mechanism 2023.
- £13.5 billion total CfD budget for renewables including solar to 2027.
- Community Energy Fund awarded £10m to 50 solar projects in 2023.
- Permitted development rights expanded for 2MW rooftop solar in 2023.
- Scottish Government target 20 GW solar by 2030 announced 2023.
- Wales planning policy presumes approval for solar on non-prime ag land 2023.
- NI Renewable Electricity Target includes 40% solar contribution goal to 2030.
- DESNZ's Powering Up Britain plan targets 70GW solar by 2035.
- Battery co-location mandated for new solar >50MW in CfD AR6.
- Export guarantee MSP cap removed for SEG 2.0 in 2023.
- £50m Innovate UK grants for agrivoltaics R&D including solar 2023.
- Grid Action Plan prioritizes solar connections with 10GW fast-track 2023.
Policy and Incentives Interpretation
The UK's solar strategy has matured from simply throwing cash at panels to a shrewd, multi-pronged attack, using everything from tax breaks and planning reforms to grid priority and export tariffs, proving that the most sustainable energy policy is one that finally gets out of its own way.
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