Market data
DESNZ figures: 291,000 new UK solar installations in the 12 months to August 2026
Government data reported on 1 October puts UK solar at 23.2GW across 2,131,000 installations, with more than 195,000 domestic installations in the last 12 months and the South West, South East and East of England leading on capacity.
1 October 2026 · Source: Solar Power Portal (DESNZ data)
DESNZ data, reported on 1 October: 291,000 installations in the 12 months to August 2026, including 24,154 in August (124MW). UK capacity is 23.2GW across 2,131,000 installations; over 195,000 of the year's installs were domestic.
On capacity the South West is highest at 4.6GW, then the South East at 3.8GW, then the East of England at 3.7GW. Herne Bay is in the South East, but the source offers no local breakdown and we do not infer one.
A well-established market usually means more installers and tariffs to pick from. The checks are unchanged: MCS certificate, several quotes, and a clear statement of how your exports will be paid.
Read the original: Solar Power Portal (DESNZ data). Commentary is Herne Bay Solar's own editorial view; the original reporting is credited to its publisher.
More solar news
- MCS data: 207,619 UK solar installs so far in 2026, on track for 300,000
- Octopus to sell plug-in solar kits from £450 after the 27 August rule change
- British Gas has quietly retired its 15.1p flat SEG rate, replacing it with a 12p tariff for most homes
- Adding a battery to an existing solar install can trip a G98 system into G99 territory, and that changes the paperwork