Miliband’s net zero drive unleashes record number of solar installations
Ed Miliband’s net zero blitz led to a record number of solar panels being installed across the UK last year, according to official figures.
A total of 262,000 solar installations were carried out in the UK in 2025, reflecting a 37pc increase year-on-year. This was the highest recorded total since 2011.
The bulk of the growth came from capacities of under 50 kilowatts, suggesting it was driven by households and businesses installing rooftop solar. Of the total number of installations, a total of 177,000 were at people’s homes.
But Mr Miliband, the Energy Secretary, has also approved a string of large solar farms since Labour came to power, aided by taxpayer-backed subsidies.
This sparked outrage among many households in rural areas, with some claiming that the green energy projects are a blight on the countryside.
However, Ben Graves, of solar installer Sunsave, said the numbers showed households were “looking for ways to cut high energy costs” following a surge in bills.
The amount spent on electricity by a typical household has risen by around 60pc to £963 per year since 2020, according to the GB Electricity Bills tracker website.
Mr Graves said: “People are recognising that generating and storing their own electricity is the most effective way to cut bills and protect against price uncertainty.
“These record installation figures prove there’s a strong consumer appetite, which will only increase when the right support is in place.”
He added: “Solar and battery systems deliver immediate bill savings whilst strengthening the UK’s energy security.”
The surge in solar installations will be seen as a boost to Mr Miliband, who has set highly ambitious clean power targets for 2030.
Today, there is about 21.6 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity, including 6.3 GW on domestic rooftops, according to the new data.
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But under Mr Miliband’s plan, the total needs to rise to between 45 and 47 GW in barely five years – an increase of at least 23.4 GW.
By comparison, just 7.7 GW were built in the past five years.
But the rollout is expected to gain momentum in the coming years after the Government approved a string of large solar farms in the countryside.
This includes vast projects in North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, such as the Tillbridge Solar Farm in Gainsborough, which will cover 2,000 football pitches’ of prime farmland.
At the same time, Mr Miliband has announced plans to provide cheap loans or grants to households who install solar panels.
This is aimed at cutting the upfront cost of installation, which was still around £7,000 last year, according to installation data from the MCS Foundation, the industry’s accreditation body.
Mr Graves added: “The Government’s proposed loan financing scheme addresses the biggest barriers to adoption.
“With continued policy backing, we expect to see this upward trajectory continue throughout 2026.”
Michael Shanks, the energy minister, said: “Every solar panel installed helps us to take back control of our energy sovereignty and tackle the cost of living crisis.
“Solar is one of the cheapest and quickest forms of energy to build and these record results for installations are a win for those who want Britain to stand on our own two feet and bring down energy bills for good.”