In a major push to increase energy independence and lower household bills, the UK government has unveiled a new Solar Roadmap aimed at dramatically expanding rooftop solar power nationwide. The initiative promises savings of up to £500 a year for homeowners while supporting up to 35,000 clean energy jobs and bolstering the UK’s energy security.

The roadmap outlines the government’s plan to reach 45-47 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity by 2030 — a nearly fourfold increase. Rooftop solar panels will be installed on homes, warehouses, car parks, and public buildings such as schools and hospitals, helping to power Britain’s future with affordable, homegrown energy.

“Families have been paying the price for the fossil fuel rollercoaster for years,” said Energy Minister Michael Shanks. “Our Plan for Change means delivering more homegrown energy that we control — boosting energy security and cutting bills. Solar is one of the quickest and cheapest solutions we have.”

Key measures in the solar roadmap include:

• Increasing solar deployment on new build homes through the Future Homes Standard to save households money on bills
  
• Launching a call for evidence to understand how to harness the untapped potential of solar in car parks across England, Wales and Northern Ireland  
  
• Plans to launch a safety review to unlock portable plug-in solar panels, making it easier and cheaper for people living in rented accommodation and apartments to install solar on their balconies and rooftops
  
• Stronger engagement with industry and trade bodies to identify skills gaps in the solar sector to support more people into well-paid clean energy jobs

Ed Miliband MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero salid: "This Roadmap presents the fnal conclusions of the Solar Taskforce, setting out the steps Government and industry will take to seize these opportunities – from installing solar on as many new newbuild homes as possible through the Futures Homes Standard to exploring how to maximise the potential of solar canopies on car parks."

Currently, over 1.5 million UK homes have solar panels. January 2025 saw a 16.5% year-on-year rise in rooftop solar installations, with nearly 15,500 homes joining the clean energy revolution, according to MCS, the UK’s renewables certification body.

The government also announced it is working with the Green Finance Institute and others to make rooftop solar financially viable for more households, including renters and first-time buyers. The roadmap includes plans to evaluate and properly value solar installations in property assessments, in partnership with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

One of the most innovative aspects is the potential legalization of plug-in solar panels — portable systems ideal for balconies and rental properties. Already popular in Germany, where 435,000 were installed in 2024 alone, plug-in solar could offer UK apartment dwellers a new way to save on bills.

Public support remains strong, with 88% of Britons in favor of solar energy. Since July 2024, the government has approved nearly 3 GW of nationally significant solar projects — more than in the previous 14 years combined — enough to power over 500,000 homes.

Last month, Great British Energy committed £200 million to solar installations across schools and hospitals, with some hospitals projected to save £200,000 a month.