In an impressive surge, Britain saw 27,000 solar installations completed in a single month, marking the highest four-week total since 2012. This rise in clean technology adoption has been influenced by the ongoing Iran war.
According to British Government data, March witnessed the addition of 27,607 solar arrays, pushing the total number of installations across the UK to over two million for the first time.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz) reported that this growth is largely due to rooftop solar, with two-thirds of the new installations being panels fitted on residential properties.
Over the past year, solar capacity has grown by 11.7%, contributing an additional 2.3 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy to Britain’s power portfolio.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband commented, “The numbers speak for themselves – the highest monthly installation of solar in over a decade, rising capacity and more than two million solar installations now powering homes across Britain.
“This is our clean energy mission in action – helping families weather global energy shocks, bringing bills down, and getting Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster.”
The government has committed to expanding solar power in homes, schools, and communities, granting approval for the UK’s largest solar farm, Springwell Solar Farm in Lincolnshire. Additionally, efforts are underway to promote “plug-in” solar panels for balconies and outdoor areas, making them standard features in new homes.
Miliband has previously emphasized his commitment to advancing the clean energy transition, especially in response to the Iran war’s impact on fossil fuel prices, despite some political opponents advocating for a slow down on net zero initiatives and increased oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
Drilling
The National Energy System Operator announced that solar power set new records in March, generating over 15GW for the first time as the grid approaches a milestone of 100% clean energy, even if just for a short period.
Jess Ralston, head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank, noted that the British public sees net zero technologies like solar as key to stabilizing energy bills amid ongoing oil and gas crises.
“They are voting with their feet on accelerating the clean transition through electrification – the logical way to shield households from oil and gas prices soaring as a result of conflict thousands of miles away.
“Once we have installed solar panels or wind turbines, the wind and sun are free, but we will increasingly need to pay other countries for oil and gas as the North Sea continues its inevitable decline, with or without new drilling,” she said.
This Author
Emily Beament is the environment correspondent for Press Association.
