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Britain’s Sunniest Spring Propels Solar Generation to Record Highs

A government solar roadmap set for publication this month outlines steps to triple capacity by 2030.

Solar farm on farmland in Bentham, UK. Credit: Tao Liang / Alamy Stock Photo
For the first time solar has accounted for more than a tenth of monthly electricity generation for two months in a row

Overview

  • Solar output hit 7.6 TWh from January to May, a 42 percent rise year-on-year and a peak daily generation of nearly 3,400 MW in May.
  • Installed capacity has grown to 18.2 GW, driven by rooftop panels being fitted on homes at three times the rate of businesses.
  • More than 1.5 million households now host solar panels, cutting their reliance on grid power and earning income through legacy feed-in tariffs.
  • Solar for the first time accounted for over 10 percent of monthly electricity generation in both March and April.
  • The upcoming roadmap will propose measures such as mandating panels on new car parks alongside other initiatives to meet the 2030 target.