Nearly 172,000 solar installations have been completed across the UK since the start of 2026, with deployment increasing across every UK nation and English region over the past year, according to new government data published by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on 27 August.

The latest figures show that nearly 28,000 solar installations were completed in July alone across homes, businesses and larger-scale projects. July was the third-highest month for solar installations on record, behind March and June 2026.

Rooftop solar accounted for more than 19,800 installations in July, equivalent to around one installation every two minutes. The government said rooftop systems accounted for more than seven in 10 solar installations during the month, highlighting their contribution to the latest increase in deployment.

South East leads regional deployment

For the first time, the UK government has published a regional breakdown of solar deployment, showing the number of installations recorded across different parts of the country.

The South East recorded the highest number of installations so far in 2026, with 22,628, taking its total installed base to 305,101, an increase of 14% compared with July 2025.

The South West followed with 17,539 installations in 2026, bringing its total to 271,400, up 13% year-on-year. The East of England recorded 18,109 installations this year, taking its total to 241,195, an increase of 15%.

The East Midlands added 15,981 installations in 2026, reaching 182,606 installations in total, up 17% from July last year. Meanwhile, the North West recorded 15,927 installations, taking its total to 186,253, an increase of 16%.

The government said solar installations increased across every UK nation and English region over the past 12 months. Wales recorded an 18% increase, while Scotland saw installations rise by 14% and the North East by 11%.

Plug-in solar to expand access

The increase comes as plug-in solar panels become legal across Great Britain, with major retailers including Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon preparing to offer the technology following changes introduced by the government.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said households across Britain were increasingly adopting solar to generate clean electricity and reduce their energy bills.

The government also linked the expansion of rooftop solar to its Warm Homes Plan, which aims to upgrade homes, tackle fuel poverty and make rooftop solar more affordable for families.

The latest data therefore shows that the UK’s solar expansion is being driven not only by larger-scale projects but also by continued growth in rooftop installations across households and businesses.