Solar supplies record 14.4% of Great Britain’s electricity in July

Solar farms and rooftop panels supplied a record 14.4% of Great Britain’s electricity in July 2026, according to data from the National Energy System Operator reported by The Guardian.

The share exceeded the previous monthly record of 12.4%, set in May, and was 50% higher than the 9.6% recorded in July 2025. Extended periods of sunshine helped lift output while hot weather also increased electricity demand for cooling.

Installation data point to a broader expansion in solar capacity. Great Britain added 142,536 solar installations during the first half of 2026, the strongest six-month total since 2011. Most of the new systems were installed on household rooftops, although smaller rooftop projects account for slightly less than one-third of the country’s total solar capacity.

The growth includes large projects such as the 373-megawatt Cleve Hill solar farm in Kent. The planned 800-megawatt Springwell project in Lincolnshire is expected to be larger when it begins generating in 2029.

The July result strengthens solar power’s role in Britain’s electricity mix, but it also came during unusually sunny conditions. Monthly output can vary with weather, making grid management and complementary generation and storage important as renewable capacity expands.