Great Britain has broken the maximum solar generation record, producing over 14.4 gigawatts (GW) of electricity – enough to power around 11 million homes across the country.
Between 12:30 and 13:00 on 7 April, solar generated a new high of 14,414 megawatts (MW) of electricity, beating the maximum record of 14,147 MW set just the day before (Monday 6 April) at the same time.
This week’s two record-breaking days surpassed the existing record of 14,023 MW set on 8 July last year. The milestone comes less than a fortnight after Britain beat the wind record, when the other leading renewable source generated 23,880 Megawatts (MW) of electricity on 25 March.
Last year saw renewables (solar, wind, hydro and biomass) produce a record 44% of Britain’s electricity – up from just 3% in the year 2000.
Solar saw the biggest single rise, reaching 6.5% across the year – up nearly a third on 2024. This was helped by 2025 being the UK’s sunniest year on record – as confirmed by the Met Office – as well as the expansion of solar panels around the country.
The UK Government aims to double onshore wind and quadruple offshore wind by 2030 as part of its plan for clean power. By the end of the decade, the country will have two and half times more solar power powering its homes and businesses.
In 2024 Britain became one of the only countries in the world to entirely stop using coal to generate electricity – the first time since the 1880s – despite it generating 40% of our electricity as recently as 2013.
Claire Dykta, Director of Strategy and Policy at the National Energy System Operator (NESO), said:
“These new world-leading solar records underline the resilience of Britain’s national electricity system, which is again demonstrating it can be run safely and securely on large quantities of homegrown renewables.
“It really shows what is possible, and I look forward to seeing if we can hit another clean energy milestone in the months ahead: running Britain’s electricity grid entirely zero carbon.”
Michael Shanks, UK Energy Minister, said:
“After record-breaking wind generation, Britain is once again smashing records – basking in a solar surge as we take another step towards greater control over our energy, our bills and our future.
“Four years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine we are again seeing what it means to be in the grip of volatile fossil fuel markets we do not control.
“While we continue to fight for people’s corner, with action taken at the budget cutting the price cap by £117 from April, we are also going further and faster on solar, one of the cheapest forms of power available. This includes bringing plug-in solar to the UK and fitting solar on new homes as standard.”
Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said:
“Solar helps shield households from volatility on gas markets by reducing the amount of fuel we need to buy from other countries.
“The war in Iran has been a sobering reminder of this with bills expected to suffer as a result. Every wind turbine and solar panel installed helps the UK become more energy independent and electricity prices more stable – and with records regularly being broken, and the Government approving the UK’s largest solar farm today, this impact is clearly set to continue.”
Image from Shutterstock
