Which areas of the UK have the most solar panels?

Installing solar panels is a great way to reduce your electricity costs and your CO₂ emissions. Using free, renewable energy from the sun means you’re not paying for electricity from the grid. 

Solar panels are suitable for anywhere in the UK. But we’ve seen that some areas tend to have a lot more solar panels than others. With that in mind, we looked at which areas of the UK have the most solar panels, and why. To make sure there’s consistency across the four UK nations, we looked at the number of home solar panel installations per 10,000 people. 

Jump to solar hotspots in your region:

Why do some areas have more solar panels than others?

Looking at Global Solar Atlas’ map showing photovoltaic (PV) power potential, these five areas have a higher than average ‘long term PV power potential’. This takes into account factors including: 

• amount of sunshine
• shading from nearby terrain 
• average air temperature 

The top five solar hotspots in the UK are also in areas where at least two-thirds of the population are homeowners. 

This is an important factor. If you own your own home, you’ve much more freedom to make these kinds of changes. If you’re renting or in social housing, it’s more complex. 

It’s no surprise that the areas with the lowest number of residential solar panels are all in a large urban area like London. These areas have a high percentage of people living in flats compared to the national average. Installing solar panels in flats can be more complicated because you’re more likely to have shared ownership of the roof. 

Less than a third of people who live here are homeowners, which may make solar panels more difficult to get. If you’re renting it’s up to the landlord to make changes to the property.

If you’re currently renting, speak to your landlord about installing solar panels. Even if it’s not possible, there are still ways you can save energy while renting. 

Outside of London, the areas with the fewest solar panels are still in densely populated urban areas with relatively low home ownership: 

• Edinburgh North and Leith 
• Glasgow West 
• Glasgow North 
• Belfast West 
• Belfast East 

Most of the hotspots in the top 10 are in the south west of England. Given how sunny and warm these areas are, you’d think this was the main reason for a high number of solar panels. However, we’ve found that home ownership is a much bigger factor. 

As with the top UK hotspots, most of these areas have an above average number of homeowners. And most areas have between 30-60% of homes that use gas for heating. 

There’s a lot of potential in the south east of England, given the high ‘PV power potential’ of the area. There are plenty of areas in the sunny south coast that have a high proportion of homeowners, making solar panels a more likely prospect. 

Peterborough stands out as going against the trends we see in other regions. It has a relatively lower rate of homeowners (52%) and isn’t in one of the highest parts of the UK for ‘PV potential’. So, why is Peterborough such a solar hotspot? 

One of the reasons may be that the area is quite switched on when it comes to making energy efficient improvements. In 2024 the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority launched a ‘Net Zero Villages’ initiative. This project made grants available for communities to install solar panels, insulation and battery storage. 

While this project doesn’t cover solar panel installations for homes, it may indicate a general desire to embrace renewable energy in the area. 

Scottish residents have access to tailored advice through services like Home Energy Scotland to help them with making improvements like solar panels. 

Most areas in Scotland’s top 10 are clustered around the rural area of Scotland, where there’s a higher amount of home ownership and fewer flats. All these areas match the pattern we’ve seen in England, where at least two-thirds of the population are homeowners. 

Ynys Môn is the clear winner for both Wales and the UK. You might think this is because it’s one of the sunnier parts of the country. But it’s more to do with the higher amount of home ownership and that these areas have a higher proportion of detached houses . A larger house typically means more space for solar panels, making them a more worthwhile investment. 

These areas also have a high percentage of homeowners, ranging from 63% to 72%. 

In Wales, eligible homes can get support to install solar panels as part of a package with the Welsh Government Warm Homes Nest scheme. 

Most of the top areas circle the coast of Northern Ireland and the border with Eire. The east coast has the highest ‘PV power potential’, so it’s interesting that there’s a greater mix of higher density sites elsewhere in the country. 

Overall, Northern Ireland has a much lower density of solar panels than other areas of the UK. Only two areas are above the UK average of 208 solar panel installations per 10,000 people. 

But this could change in future. In May 2023, the UK Government introduced a 0% VAT rate on solar panel installations in Northern Ireland. The 0% rate has already been in England, Scotland and Wales since April 2022. This could help make solar panels a more affordable home improvement for homeowners in Northern Ireland. 

Top opportunities for solar panel installations in the UK

What do I do if I want to install solar panels?