The great British takeoff

Despite grid connection headaches and the realities of securing planning approval, solar deployment in the United Kingdom has returned to healthy volumes with a growing capacity pipeline. With ambitious capacity targets set for 2030, pv magazine catches up with Solar Energy UK’s Chris Hewett for the latest on a market that’s showing promise.

By

Matthew Lynas

22 Sep 2026

09022_Chris_Hewett_Solar_Energy_UK_Matthew

Solar Energy UK Chief Executive Chris Hewett (right) discusses the challenges and opportunities facing an industry that could double deployed capacity by 2030. | Image: pv magazine/Philipp Gülland

The UK solar industry added 7 GW of new capacity in three years, with annual additions from 2023 to 2025 reaching levels not seen since 2016. More growth is expected, following successive rounds of record-breaking solar procurement in UK contracts-for-difference (CfD) auctions, and a run of utility-scale plants securing approval through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project …

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The great British takeoff

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