As part of its Clean Power 2030 strategy, the UK government published its long-awaited Solar Roadmap, laying the groundwork for a major expansion of solar power. The target is to increase capacity from 18 GW to 45-47 GW by 2030. However, subject to grid readiness, there is also potential for reaching 70 GW by 2035.
This marks a pivotal moment in the UK’s clean energy transition—one that industry, investors, local authorities, and skills providers must be ready to respond to.
Why Does This Matter?
🔹 Energy Security – the government’s solar roadmap expands our capacity to generate energy. This means our grid becomes less reliant on global fossil fuel markets.
🔹 Economic Growth – Expanding our solar energy production is set to create up to 35,000 new jobs expected across the value chain. From qualified engineers to installers.
🔹 Household Savings – Producing more rooftop solar energy will have a positive impact on household bills by cutting annual energy bills by £500 or more per home.
🔹 Net Zero Delivery – A trebling of solar capacity is essential to decarbonising power by 2035.
What are the Key Pillars of the UK Solar Roadmap?
- A Rooftop Revolution
The main driver for expanding solar power is building more new homes with solar panels as part of the Future Homes Standard. This revolution will not just hit individual homes as the government is currently exploring plug-in portable solutions that will allow renters and flats to access solar energy.
This revolution will go beyond residential property as the government will encourage the installation of solar PV panels on car parks, schools, and public buildings.
- A Smarter Grid
Reforms to the grid connection are integral to the government’s Solar Roadmap as they are set to raise the TIA (Transmission Impact Assessment) threshold from 1 MW to 5 MW. Expanding the grid’s capacity will play a key role in enabling the distribution of energy generated by solar power.
- Solar Council Leadership
To reach its solar energy production goal, the government created a new Solar Taskforce (now Solar Council). It will oversee energy delivery and coordinate operations between central government, devolved administrations, and industry to resolve planning issues, and find solutions to the grid and skills barriers.
- What Common Concerns Need Addressing?
Land use is one of the main concerns raised by opponents of the Solar Roadmap. However, even based on the ambitious deployment levels, solar panels would occupy less than 0.5% of the UK landmass. A number comparable to that used for golf courses.
Moreover, the roadmap stresses that solar will not come at the expense of food security. This means rooftop installations will only take priority wherever possible, and dual-use approaches (e.g. agrivoltaics) are also considered.
What Does This Mean for Industry Stakeholders?
🔧 Installers and skills providers – Preparing for a significant scale-up in the workforce demand is critical. In the future, the installation of small-scale solar systems is set to increase significantly from the maximum of 700 small-scale solar systems we see today.
🏢 Developers and housebuilders – Solar integration will become a core requirement for new homes and commercial buildings.
🏛 Local authorities and planners – Streamlining the planning processes and identifying sites for rooftop and ground-mount solar will be critical.
💼 Investors and innovators – There will be many investment opportunities in battery storage, grid services, solar canopies, and solar-enabled building design.
A National Call to Action
The UK government’s Solar Roadmap clearly positions solar energy at the heart of the nation's electricity mix. However, this is not only an environmental necessity. It is a huge economic opportunity that will create jobs, drive innovation and industrial growth.
From a national security point of view, it guarantees the UK will be less reliant on importing energy into its grid. As a result, of the government publishing its ambitious solar roadmap, those working in the energy, construction, housing, technology, and training sectors must align their strategies with the government's plans. With this support, the UK can lead the next chapter of global solar deployment.
Following the publication of this roadmap, solar power is no longer a niche option. It is an integral part of the UK’s national infrastructure and underlines the necessity to engage, invest and deliver it.