Recently released statistics from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DENZ) show that, in August 2024, the UK’s solar photovoltaic capacity surpassed an astonishing 16GW.
But what has this progress looked like over the last 14 years? Did domestic installations increase steadily, or was there a significant boom in solar adoption?
What do solar installation statistics look like in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales when compared to Great Britain? To answer these questions, we’ll use the UK government’s most recent statistics on solar photovoltaics’ deployment, published on August 29th, 2024.
What is solar photovoltaic capacity?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity refers to the total amount of electricity-generating capacity that is installed using solar photovoltaic systems.
It’s typically measured in megawatts (MW) or gigawatts (GW). These figures indicate how much solar power can be produced under optimal conditions. In the UK, solar panel capacity has grown significantly since records first began!
Before analysing the figures, first, some terms require clarification. The UK government’s statistics on solar photovoltaic capacity are organised according to cumulative capacity and cumulative count.
What does ‘cumulative’ refer to in this context?
In the context of statistics, cumulative refers to a total that continuously increases as new data is added over time. It includes all past statistics, meaning that each new addition is added to the existing total.
What is cumulative capacity?
For example, when discussing solar photovoltaic capacity, cumulative capacity represents the total amount of installed solar panel capacity up to a specific point in time: it includes all past installations.
Recording installations this way provides an overview of the overall growth trend of solar power capacity, rather than just showing the amount installed in a specific period.
What is cumulative count?
Cumulative count refers to the total number of recorded instances or units accumulated over time. With solar panel installations, the cumulative count would be the total number of solar panels or installations that have been set up to a certain date.
How has the UK’s solar capacity increased since 2010?
So, how have domestic installations progressed since records began? Both cumulative capacity and installation count show significant growth from 2010 to 2024. However, the most rapid growth in capacity occurred between 2012 and 2016.
The growth rate for both capacity and count slowed down after 2016 but continued to increase. There’s also a noticeable uptick in growth for both metrics from 2022 to 2024. Below, you can see the growth over time in both megawatts (MW) and installations.
UK-wide, cumulative capacity has risen from just 93.7MW in 2010 to an impressive 16,973.1 in July 2024 – an increase of 16,879.4MW!
How have domestic solar installations increased across UK constituencies?
The total installed solar photovoltaic capacity across all constituencies in the UK is 5,024.3 MW. 1,404,409 domestic solar PV installations across the UK contribute to this figure.
South Cambridgeshire has the highest installed capacity, at 27.6 MW, but Torridge and West Devon follow closely, with 23.1 MW each. South Norfolk and North Cornwall are tied for third place, with 22.9 MW each.
The data shows that England has the majority of the top-performing constituencies. Scotland’s highest-ranking constituency is Banff and Buchan with 18.9 MW. Wales’ top constituency is Ceredigion, with 17.8 MW, and Northern Ireland’s highest is Ynys Môn, with 16.5 MW.
Urban vs. rural
Interestingly, the data suggests that rural areas tend to have higher installed capacities. For example, many London constituencies have relatively low capacities:
- Cities of London and Westminster (1.9 MW)
- Islington North (1.7 MW)
- Hackney North and Stoke Newington (2.1 MW)
Rural areas in the South and East of England tend to have the highest capacities:
- South Cambridgeshire (27.6 MW)
- Norfolk (20.8 MW)
- North Cornwall (22.9 MW)
- South East Cornwall (18.1 MW)
Regional variations
There are significant variations even within countries!
England
The area with the highest capacity in England is South Cambridgeshire, leading with 27.6 MW, followed by Torridge and West Devon (23.1 MW) and South Norfolk (22.9 MW).
The City of London and Westminster have the lowest capacity, at 1.9 MW, followed by Hackney South and Shoreditch (2.5 MW) and Kensington (0.9 MW).
What division exists in England?
The data shows evidence of a regional divide. South and East England generally have higher capacities. For example, Cornwall constituencies average 17.4 MW. North East England has lower capacities, with Newcastle upon Tyne Central at 3.4 MW.
As suggested earlier, there may also be a rural-urban split in England. Rural constituencies like North Norfolk (16.2 MW) significantly outperform urban areas like Manchester Central (4.4 MW).
Scotland
In Scotland, Banff and Buchan have the highest capacity, 18.9 MW, followed by Stirling (16.8 MW) and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (17.4 MW).
Glasgow North has the lowest at 0.9 MW, followed by Glasgow North West (1.2 MW) and Edinburgh North and Leith (1.4 MW).
What division exists in Scotland?
The July 2024 statistics indicate that Scotland has a highland-lowland divide. Highland constituencies like Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (11.7 MW) outperform lowland urban areas like Dundee West (3.3 MW).
Other figures illustrate differences between island communities: Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) has 1.9 MW, while Orkney and Shetland have 3.2 MW combined.
Wales
Ceredigion has the highest capacity, 17.8 MW, followed by Preseli Pembrokeshire (17.0 MW) and Ynys Môn (16.5 MW). Cardiff Central, however, has the lowest, 2.7 MW, followed by Rhondda (3.3 MW) and Swansea West (3.5 MW).
What division exists in Wales?
As with England, there exists evidence of a rural-urban split. Rural Brecon and Radnorshire (14.6 MW) significantly outperform urban Cardiff West (4.4 MW). However, there may also be a North-South divide.
North Wales constituencies like Clwyd West (10.8 MW) generally outperform South Wales urban areas like Newport East (6.5 MW).
Northern Ireland
South Down has the highest capacity in Northern Ireland with 11.1 MW, followed by Fermanagh and South Tyrone (10.9 MW) and Mid-Ulster (10.2 MW). Belfast West has the lowest at 2.2 MW, followed by Belfast East (2.7 MW) and Belfast South (3.0 MW).
What division exists in Northern Ireland?
Constituencies along the border with the Republic of Ireland tend to have higher capacities, e.g., Newry and Armagh (8.9 MW), suggestive of a border region divide.
There is also a significant difference between Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland. The four Belfast constituencies average 2.7 MW, while the rest of Northern Ireland averages 8.6 MW.
What are the potential factors for regional differences in domestic solar installations?
The stark statistical disparities between different UK constituencies, both country-wide and regionally, can be explained by a range of factors, the main ones being;
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Available space
The availability of space can indeed influence the adoption of domestic solar panel systems.
Regions with more detached or semi-detached houses generally have more suitable rooftops for installing solar panels. In areas where housing density is lower, such as rural or suburban regions, greater space can make installations easier.
For example, areas in Wales like Ynys Môn (16.5 MW) and Ceredigion (17.8 MW) have higher installation rates because of their larger detached properties.
However, densely populated urban areas like London (1.9 MW), where flats and smaller properties are more common, face challenges due to space constraints and shared property ownership.
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Planning restrictions
Another barrier to domestic installations is planning restrictions. Different local authorities regulate the installation of solar panel systems differently.
Areas with stringent planning requirements (e.g., those protecting historical sites or where properties are listed) may face more hurdles in obtaining the necessary permissions.
Rural areas in Scotland and Wales often have fewer constraints compared to urban centres like London, where additional considerations are often required due to buildings’ historical and architectural significance.
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Grid capacity
Connecting to the grid requires compliance with regional grid codes, which can vary (and may pose challenges depending on the location).
For example, areas with less developed grids or fewer available connections may experience delays or additional costs for new installations.
The issue of grid capacity is especially relevant in rural areas, where the infrastructure may not be as robust as in urban centres.
Contact Project Solar for domestic installations around the UK!
Domestic solar installations will continue to play a vital role in the UK’s progress towards Net Zero.
To achieve this ambitious goal by 2050, individuals across the country can contact Project Solar. As one of the UK’s most established solar panel installers, we can set up a brand-new, domestic PV system to help supplement your grid-generated electricity.
Together, homes across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales can help push our country towards carbon neutrality.