Last year – the first full calendar year of the UK’s subsidy-free solar era – saw 545 megawatts (MW) of new solar PV capacity deployed, according to new analysis carried out by Solar Media Ltd. and Solar Energy UK. A 27 percent year-on-year increase compared with 2019.
60 percent of the new capacity in 2020 came from ground-mounted PV systems. The remaining 40 percent was installed on rooftops, with the majority of this located on commercial and industrial buildings.
“These figures show that the government is playing catch-up in its understanding of the strength of the UK’s solar energy industry” said Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett. “Solar energy will enable people across the country to benefit from clean, cheap power for their homes and technology, such as electric vehicles. We are delighted to launch this partnership with Solar Media, which will make it easier than ever to learn about the UK’s solar revolution.”
Solar Media’s head of research Finlay Colville added that the UK solar industry is now operating effectively in a post-subsidy phase with strong growth dynamics and that the outlook for 2021 and beyond is expected to see continued deployment at the gigawatt-plus level, with investments now flowing into the sector for both rooftop and ground-mount projects.
At the end of 2020, 13.9 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity had been installed in the UK. This is almost 0.5 GW higher than existing Government-released figures, suggesting that the Government’s data-collecting efforts continue to be unfit for purpose, despite repeated industry calls for this to be addressed.
The speed at which new solar sites were installed during 2020 was in keeping with a record-breaking year for UK solar generation. In April 2020, solar hit a new all-time peak generation record of 9.68 GW, while in May 2020 solar supplied 11 percent of all electricity, according to information supplied by Sheffield Solar.
The strongest growth in 2020 came from the ground-mount segment, driven by large utility-scale projects. Excluding the impact of COVID-19, the residential sector also rebounded strongly during 2020, with increased deployment each quarter since Q2 2019, when the Feed-in Tariff scheme ended.
The new working arrangement between Solar Energy UK and Solar Media Ltd. includes quarterly and annual market updates for new solar PV capacity added in the UK, providing a much-needed source of data for Solar Energy UK members, Solar Media Ltd.’s online audience, and other key stakeholders tracking industry growth trends.
The research is undertaken by Solar Media Ltd., utilising over 10 years of market knowledge and data collection on the UK solar industry. The methodology to size the market combines in-house completed project databases, accreditation lists, import volumes from leading component suppliers, and cross-checking with site developers, investors, and installers.
For additional information:
Solar Energy UK (Formerly the Solar Trade Association)
