By Matthew Lynas | PV Magazine | November 27, 2025
Most PV installations in the United Kingdom are domestic, however these account for just 30% of total capacity. As of the end of October 2025, at least 40% of UK solar capacity – 8.2 GW – came from ground-mounted or standalone solar installations accredited under the UK Renewables Obligation (RO), feed-in tariff or CfD schemes. Half of unaccredited capacity is believed to be ground mount, meaning this type of installation accounts for roughly 58% of UK total capacity.
Large-scale projects include 18 operational solar farms accredited under the government-backed Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, 16 of which came online in 2025. In its deployment statistics commentary, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said it expects that number to increase.
The pipeline of utility-scale solar projects granted planning permission through the government’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) process has grown significantly since July 2024, with Energy Minister Ed Miliband signing off on the construction of gigawatts of new capacity.
