United Kingdom unveils ambitious plan for massive solar power expansion

The UK government has unveiled a plan for the rapid expansion of solar power plants, which would increase their total installed capacity from the current roughly 18 GW to 45–47 GW by 2030. Most of the new capacity is expected to come from large ground-mounted installations, with a smaller share from rooftop systems at homes and businesses. 

One of the British government’s aims is to make the United Kingdom a clean energy superpower. This includes ensuring clean electricity generation by 2030, a goal that is also to be achieved through the massive expansion of solar power.

"Solar power has huge potential to increase our energy independence, reduce energy bills and tackle the climate crisis. It also represents a significant opportunity for our economy and industry. We estimate that the solar sector could create around 35,000 jobs by 2030, twice as many as today," said UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

According to the published document, the installed capacity of UK solar power plants would grow even without further intervention, but more slowly than needed to meet the targets. It would reach around 30 GW in 2030.

In a scenario assuming favourable economic and infrastructure conditions, installed capacity would rise to 45–47 GW by 2030 and then to as much as 75 GW by 2035.

The most ambitious scenario, which builds on the one above but assumes a much faster expansion of rooftop installations, would bring installed solar capacity to more than 50 GW in 2030 and around 85 GW in 2035.

Britain’s path to “net zero”

The expansion of solar power plants is part of a broader plan to decarbonise the British economy. The path to “net zero” should, according to the country’s Climate Change Committee (CCC), rely primarily on electrification and zero-emission electricity generation.

Offshore wind farms are expected to become a key technology for zero-emission electricity generation, with installed capacity set to rise from 15 GW in 2023 to 88 GW in 2040. Installed capacity at onshore wind farms (to 32 GW by 2040) and solar power plants (to 82 GW by 2040) is also expected to grow significantly.

In addition to renewables, the CCC says nuclear power plants, low-carbon dispatchable sources (either gas-fired plants combined with carbon capture and storage technology, or hydrogen-fired plants), energy storage and grid reinforcement are also needed.