The UK government has released a new strategic plan aimed at accelerating the deployment of solar energy, setting out a pathway to achieve between 45 and 47 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity by 2030.
The Solar Roadmap outlines policy actions and industry cooperation needed to support the expansion, which is expected to power millions of homes, create up to 35,000 jobs, and occupy less than 0.5% of the UK’s land area.
Developed over two years by the cross-sector Solar Taskforce, the plan was co-chaired by Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband and Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK. The taskforce will transition into a new Solar Council to oversee implementation and further coordination.
“Today marks the dawn of a transformative era for how the UK powers itself,” said Hewett. “The Solar Roadmap highlights dozens of practical measures needed to expand solar generation, boost the supply of cheaper and more secure power, foster new industries, create skilled jobs, boost biodiversity and slash our greenhouse gas emissions.”
Key initiatives include enhancing engagement with trade bodies to address workforce skill shortages, developing a blueprint to ease planning and grid connection barriers, and fostering innovation across the supply chain.
According to government figures, nearly 3GW of nationally significant solar capacity has been approved since July—surpassing the total from the previous 14 years combined. Public support remains high, with surveys showing 88% of UK residents in favour of solar power.
Industry stakeholders welcomed the roadmap’s release, calling it a timely response to rising energy demands and climate targets.
“We are at a pivotal moment for the solar sector,” said Matthew Boulton, director of solar, storage and private wire at EDF Renewables UK. “We fully support the clear, coordinated action set out in the Roadmap that will help unlock the UK’s full solar potential.
Alexandra Desouza, EMEA general counsel at Lightsource bp, added: “The publication of the solar roadmap comes at a big moment for the UK energy sector – and especially for solar. Solar is key to the UK’s future energy mix and has a critical role to play in delivering secure, low-cost power.
The roadmap is part of the government’s broader “Clean Power 2030” strategy aimed at decarbonising the electricity system and enhancing national energy resilience.
