Analysis: UK solar power hits record high over summer 2026
UK solar power generation reached a record high during the summer of 2026, driven by exceptionally sunny weather and increased infrastructure deployment. Despite extreme heatwaves, the surge in solar output significantly outperformed previous years.
Why it matters
The data demonstrates the growing role of renewable energy in the UK's power grid, even under the stress of climate-change-induced weather extremes.
Share Solar power generation in the UK reached a new record over the summer of 2026, as temperatures across the nation soared, according to new analysis by Carbon Brief.
Collectively over June, July and August, solar farms and rooftops generated 8.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in the UK*, as shown in the chart below.
Speaking to Carbon Brief, Chris Hewett , chief executive of trade association Solar Energy UK welcomed the new record, adding that it was driven by “clear skies and continued growth in deployment”.
This surge in generation took place amid the hottest summer on record in the UK, with five heatwaves between May and August.
Summer 2026 was the sixth sunniest on record, with more than 620 hours of sunshine, according to the Met Office . England and Wales – which experienced the most extreme heat – saw their second-sunniest summers on record.
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