Carbon Brief · Klimaat

UK Solar Power Reaches Record High During Summer 2026

Solar power generation in the UK achieved a new record during the summer of 2026, with a total of 8.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity generated by solar farms and rooftops. This surge was attributed to clear skies, continued deployment growth, and the hottest summer on record in the UK.

The summer of 2026 was the sixth sunniest on record, with over 620 hours of sunshine. England and Wales experienced their second-sunniest summers, with June 2026 being the hottest June in England since 1884 and the driest July for England and Wales since 1836. Despite extreme heat, longer daylight hours and higher irradiation levels offset potential efficiency losses in solar panels. Each month from June to August set new monthly records for solar generation, with July producing 3.3TWh, meeting 15% of the month's electricity demand.

As of the end of August 2026, total UK solar generation reached 17TWh, a 13% increase from the same period in 2025. This growth is supported by a substantial increase in solar farms and rooftop installations. Domestic rooftop solar constitutes approximately 29% of total capacity, which neared 24GW by late 2026. In July alone, over 19,800 rooftop solar panels were installed, with nearly 1.7 million households now having solar panels.

Households with rooftop solar panels saved an estimated £86.7 million in electricity costs during the summer's 26 heatwave days. The increased solar generation helped lower overall power prices by reducing reliance on gas generation during the day. However, no new half-hourly solar power output record was set during summer 2026, with the record remaining at 15.2 megawatts (MW) from April 2026. The analysis pertains to Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), not Northern Ireland.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.