The UK government has published a new solar roadmap aimed at achieving 47 GW of operational solar capacity by 2030, as set out in the government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

The roadmap notes that removing barriers for rooftop deployment could increase residential rooftop solar to around 10 GW and commercial rooftop solar to more than 10 GW by 2030.

Many consumers in the UK are already benefiting from solar power, with over 1.5 million domestic installations. With the right conditions, millions more homes could install rooftop solar. Households can save up to £500 (~$680) a year based on the current energy price cap. The cost of a typical 3.5 kW system has fallen from £9,000 (~$12,250) in 2014 to £6,500 (~$8,847) in 2025.

Earlier, commercial rooftop solar projects above 1 MW required planning permission. The removal of this cap has simplified planning for large non-domestic rooftops, opening up new opportunities.

Outdoor carparks also offer strong potential. A new permitted development now allows easier installation of solar canopies in non-domestic off-street carparks in England, which can also support electric vehicle charging and provide shelter.

To build on this momentum, the government issued a call for evidence on expanding solar canopies in larger carparks. Responses are under review. A safety study is also planned this year to support future uptake of plug-in solar.

Households installing rooftop solar benefit from lower electricity bills, improved EPC scores, and increased property value. However, upfront costs remain a key barrier for many.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, the government intends to help households access solar energy and other measures to reduce their energy bills. The government is investing £13.2 billion (~$17.9 billion) in this plan during the spending review period to support the adoption of solar modules, heat pumps, batteries, and insulation. This would lower bills, enhance energy security, and reduce emissions.

Officials also intend to engage with the finance sector to explore how the government can support low-cost lending for clean energy upgrades. Scaling green home finance faces challenges, particularly around regulatory risks under the Consumer Credit Act (CCA) 1974. The government is committed to reforming the CCA. Phase 1 consultation, open until July 21, 2025, focuses on information requirements and sanctions. Phase 2, later this year, plans to address green finance issues.

The Green Finance Institute plans to work with the government, lenders, consumer groups, and industry to improve access to rooftop solar financing. In social housing, rooftop solar offers significant bill savings. The Warm Homes Social Housing Fund enables landlords to install solar. Wave 3 began in April 2025 and is expected to install solar on tens of thousands of homes.

The UK’s transformation to clean energy is expected to draw £100 billion (~$136.1 billion) in private investment.

The government also plans to consult on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for the social rented sector, which could accelerate the uptake of solar energy in social housing. Additional support for landlords may follow. Under the Plan for Change, the UK government plans to build 1.5 million new homes and set new standards for net zero. The Future Homes Standard, due this autumn, would require solar panels on most new-build homes, cutting bills and supporting clean, domestic energy.

The government and industry plans to collaborate to ensure that solar is accurately valued in residential property. Commercial rooftops on warehouses, offices, and industrial buildings also hold major potential. Research by the UK Warehousing Association and Delta-EE indicates that rooftop solar can reduce energy bills by 40% to 80% and save the warehouse sector approximately £3 billion (~$4.1 billion) annually. The largest 20 % of warehouses can host 15 GW of capacity.

Financing behind-the-meter solar remains difficult when end-users lack strong credit ratings, limiting uptake to large corporates. The corporate PPA market faces low demand for long-term fixed-price agreements and limited credit strength. The National Wealth Fund would help explore models to finance solar projects backed by sub-investment-grade PPAs. The DBT Industrial Strategy team will lead a Whitehall-wide steering group to assess whether the government should intervene to promote corporate PPAs.

In March 2025, the government announced that Great British Energy (GBE) would support rooftop solar installation in around 200 schools and 200 hospitals. Further details on funding allocation will be announced soon. This is the beginning of a broader initiative. GBE, under the Local Power Plan, would also support local energy projects by partnering with mayoral authorities, local authorities, community energy groups, and devolved governments to scale up local renewables across the UK.

In 2023, the UK government announced the allocation of Contracts for Difference (CfDs) to 95 new renewable energy projects, securing a substantial 3.7 GW of clean energy capacity in its fifth allocation round.