New figures reveal that 159,000 homes in England and Wales installed solar panels in 2025, marking a record year for domestic solar adoption and representing a 19% increase on the 133,000 installations completed in 2024. The data, released by renewable energy specialists Switch Together, follows closely on the announcement of the government’s Warm Homes Plan, which is expected to further accelerate uptake.
According to Switch Together, the latest figures make 2025 the strongest year on record for household solar installations. The organisation notes that this growth comes at a crucial point, as the UK government sharpens its focus on renewable energy, home decarbonisation and improving access to clean energy technologies.
The Warm Homes Plan introduces significant financial support for households installing solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps and insulation. The measures are intended to help reduce energy costs while increasing household energy security and independence.
George Frost, UK Head of Switch Together, said: “We’ve seen a real jump in activity across the domestic renewables sector over the past 18 months. Households want to reduce bills, cut carbon emissions and gain greater control over their energy use – and solar is now one of the most accessible ways to achieve all three.
We’re seeing demand from every part of the country as solar becomes a mainstream choice. Installation costs are falling, battery storage is growing and flexible finance options are helping more families make the switch. Many families are motivated not just by lower bills but also by the desire for long-term resilience, allowing them to generate and store their own clean energy.
The Warm Homes Plan is a major boost and could help millions of households. The next step is making sure people understand what support is available and how to access it.”
Additional policy changes already confirmed will require rooftop solar panels to be installed on all new homes from 2027, providing a sustained boost to solar adoption. Alongside this, the government’s wider clean energy strategy, including the creation of Great British Energy, is intended to stimulate investment, create jobs and accelerate progress towards national decarbonisation targets.
The analysis is based on MCS installation data compiled as of 27 January 2026.
