Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Solar energy generation vs. capacity was 19,996 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
19,996 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 36.6%
World rank
19th
of 79 countries
All-time high
19,996 terawatt-hours
in 2025
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United Kingdom, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 19,996 terawatt-hours for solar energy generation vs. capacity in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 36.6% on the previous year and up 165.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar energy generation vs. capacity in United Kingdom peaked at 19,996 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
United Kingdom ranks 19th of 79 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1966 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1968 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1969 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1970 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1971 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 1.01 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 1.01 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 1.01 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0 terawatt-hours | -100.0% |
| 1988 | 1.01 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 terawatt-hours | -100.0% |
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1994 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1995 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1997 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1998 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1999 | 1 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2000 | 1 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2 terawatt-hours | +100.0% |
| 2002 | 3 terawatt-hours | +50.0% |
| 2003 | 3 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 4 terawatt-hours | +33.3% |
| 2005 | 8 terawatt-hours | +100.0% |
| 2006 | 11 terawatt-hours | +37.5% |
| 2007 | 14 terawatt-hours | +27.3% |
| 2008 | 17 terawatt-hours | +21.4% |
| 2009 | 20 terawatt-hours | +17.6% |
| 2010 | 40.28 terawatt-hours | +101.4% |
| 2011 | 243.66 terawatt-hours | +505.0% |
| 2012 | 1,354 terawatt-hours | +455.6% |
| 2013 | 2,010 terawatt-hours | +48.5% |
| 2014 | 4,054 terawatt-hours | +101.7% |
| 2015 | 7,533 terawatt-hours | +85.8% |
| 2016 | 10,408 terawatt-hours | +38.2% |
| 2017 | 11,457 terawatt-hours | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 12,668 terawatt-hours | +10.6% |
| 2019 | 12,418 terawatt-hours | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 12,547 terawatt-hours | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 12,128 terawatt-hours | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 13,983 terawatt-hours | +15.3% |
| 2023 | 14,639 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 14,635 terawatt-hours | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 19,996 terawatt-hours | +36.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 19,996 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,936 terawatt-hours, 4.1× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 19,996 terawatt-hours is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4,430 terawatt-hours, 4.5× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +505.0% | 40.28 terawatt-hours | 243.66 terawatt-hours |
| 2012 | +455.6% | 243.66 terawatt-hours | 1,354 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.404 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 1.01 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 1 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.3 terawatt-hours | 1 terawatt-hours | 20 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,219 terawatt-hours | 40.28 terawatt-hours | 12,668 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,655 terawatt-hours | 12,128 terawatt-hours | 19,996 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 16 Netherlands 25,520 terawatt-hours compare
- 17 Poland 23,689 terawatt-hours compare
- 18 Chile 20,862 terawatt-hours compare
- 20 South Africa 18,560 terawatt-hours compare
- 21 United Arab Emirates 18,204 terawatt-hours compare
- 22 Saudi Arabia 18,179 terawatt-hours compare
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is solar energy generation vs. capacity in United Kingdom?
- Solar energy generation vs. capacity in United Kingdom was 19,996 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 19,996 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does United Kingdom rank for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- United Kingdom ranks 19th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar energy generation vs. capacity rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 165.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar energy generation vs. capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.