en.Wedoany.com Reported - In June 2026, the UK added 27,391 new PV installations, corresponding to 132 MW of new capacity, marking the country's second-highest monthly installation figure on record. According to the latest government deployment data, the UK's total installed PV capacity had reached 22.8 GW by the end of June.

The record for the highest monthly number of installations remains with March 2026, when 28,782 units were recorded. The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) noted that these PV deployment statistics are provisional and may be subject to revision. DESNZ records show that the cumulative number of PV installations in the UK reached 2,076,000 units by the end of June.

Market access policies are set to be relaxed. From August 27, new regulations for plug-and-play solar will take effect, allowing households to self-install systems with a power output of no more than 800 W per circuit. This is expected to open up new opportunities in the rental sector. Large retailers have already consulted with the UK government on the new rules, and product manufacturers are also planning launch events to coincide with the regulatory changes.

David Hope, Managing Director of UK distributor Segen for the UK and Ireland, stated that the company views plug-and-play solar as an additional market rather than a risk of "cannibalizing" traditional rooftop solar. Hope believes these products will not threaten the existing rooftop solar business and represent a good product range, but several considerations need attention, including ensuring manufacturers are leading brands and that installations are carried out by qualified electricians.

"Aside from these considerations, this is an excellent opportunity to further expand the market. So hopefully, these are exciting times ahead," he said.

Utility-scale projects are also progressing. In the 12 months to June 2026, the UK's PV capacity increased by 2.2 GW, a growth rate of 10.9%. The new capacity includes the UK's largest currently operational solar power plant—the 373 MW Cleve Hill Solar Park.

Larger projects are being actively developed, following record-breaking PV capacity in previous Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction rounds. The UK government secured 4.9 GW of capacity in the seventh round (AR7) of CfD allocations, with 1.87 GW expected to be operational by 2028 and 3 GW expected in 2029. The application window for the eighth round (AR8) will close on August 7, 2026.