UK Solar Panels See Record Growth in 2023
The Solar Power Sector is Experiencing Unprecedented Expansion
by David Lewis | published 24 September 2023
Rooftop solar panel installations this year so far have surpassed the total number recorded in 2022, as per the latest data from the MCS, the body that sets standards for renewable energy.
This year has seen a remarkable increase in solar photovoltaic system registrations, reaching 138,336 since December, a slight rise from the 137,926 recorded in the entirety of 2022, which itself was a landmark year for the industry following the cessation of government subsidies.
These statistics highlight the installation of systems with a capacity of up to 50 kWp, primarily on residential properties, educational institutions, and small enterprises, with the average household system boasting about 4 kWp capacity.
Predictions are now pointing towards the UK potentially breaking the record of 203,120 installations set back in 2011 during the peak of the Feed-in Tariffs scheme, which was discontinued at the close of 2019 after the government declared it had achieved its goal of reducing the costs associated with photovoltaic energy.
The solar industry’s rapid expansion is evident, with more than half of the capacity added in the last four and a half years being installed in just the past 13 months. MCS Chief Executive Ian Rippin commented on the significance of this growth amidst the cost-of-living and energy crises, highlighting the importance of solar energy in providing individuals and businesses with a measure of energy autonomy and protection against rising electricity prices. He also noted the ongoing efforts needed to further simplify the transition to green technology for consumers in the UK, marking 2023 as an historic year for rooftop solar installations.
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