Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity was 21.74 gigawatts in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Kingdom, 2000–2025
Source: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in gigawatts.
Analysis
In 2025, solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Kingdom stood at 21.74 gigawatts. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 14.7% on the previous year and up 126.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Kingdom peaked at 21.74 gigawatts in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.002 gigawatts, in 2000.
That places United Kingdom 15th out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | gigawatts | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.002 gigawatts | — |
| 2001 | 0.003 gigawatts | +50.0% |
| 2002 | 0.004 gigawatts | +33.3% |
| 2003 | 0.006 gigawatts | +50.0% |
| 2004 | 0.008 gigawatts | +33.3% |
| 2005 | 0.011 gigawatts | +37.5% |
| 2006 | 0.014 gigawatts | +27.3% |
| 2007 | 0.018 gigawatts | +28.6% |
| 2008 | 0.023 gigawatts | +27.8% |
| 2009 | 0.027 gigawatts | +17.4% |
| 2010 | 0.095 gigawatts | +251.9% |
| 2011 | 1 gigawatts | +952.6% |
| 2012 | 1.75 gigawatts | +75.3% |
| 2013 | 2.94 gigawatts | +67.5% |
| 2014 | 5.53 gigawatts | +88.2% |
| 2015 | 9.6 gigawatts | +73.7% |
| 2016 | 11.91 gigawatts | +24.1% |
| 2017 | 12.75 gigawatts | +7.0% |
| 2018 | 13.06 gigawatts | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 13.34 gigawatts | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 13.77 gigawatts | +3.2% |
| 2021 | 14.25 gigawatts | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 14.81 gigawatts | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 16.43 gigawatts | +10.9% |
| 2024 | 18.95 gigawatts | +15.4% |
| 2025 | 21.74 gigawatts | +14.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 21.74 gigawatts is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.17 gigawatts, 18.5× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 21.74 gigawatts is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.33 gigawatts, 9.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative 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 | +952.6% | 0.095 gigawatts | 1 gigawatts |
| 2010 | +251.9% | 0.027 gigawatts | 0.095 gigawatts |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0116 gigawatts | 0.002 gigawatts | 0.027 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.2 gigawatts | 0.095 gigawatts | 13.34 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.66 gigawatts | 13.77 gigawatts | 21.74 gigawatts | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
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 (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Kingdom?
- Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity in United Kingdom was 21.74 gigawatts in 2025, according to IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 21.74 gigawatts in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.002 gigawatts in 2000.
- How does United Kingdom rank for solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity?
- United Kingdom ranks 15th out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 126.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar (photovoltaic) panels cumulative capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Solar photovoltaic (on-grid) electricity installed capacity, measured in gigawatts.