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Decarbonisation is on every nation’s agenda right now, and solar panels are a major assistance towards global net zero. As they represent one of the lowest-cost options for clean electricity generation, it’s no surprise that the UK’s solar sector is booming.
Generating 3,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) from solar panels – rather than from a gas-fired power station – can save about 1.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. And considering that the amount of sunlight striking the earth’s surface in a single 90-minute period could meet the entire world’s energy needs for a full year, there’s a strong argument for installing solar panels both domestically and commercially.
Cost of solar panels in the UK have decreased while solar energy rates have soared over the past decade. And, with an anticipated 75 per cent increase – to almost 2,400 gigawatts (GW) – in global renewable capacity for 2027, there are clearly many more developments to look forward to in the world of solar power.
Below, we’ve gathered some of the more notable solar panel stats that might encourage you to invest in this exciting technology in your own home. We also investigate which UK universities use the most solar energy.
Global annual renewable capacity increased by almost 50 per cent to nearly 510GW in 2023, representing the fastest growth rate in two decades. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels accounted for three-quarters of renewable capacity additions worldwide. This global acceleration was mainly driven by year-on-year expansion in China’s booming solar PV and wind market.
More than 1 million homes across the UK benefit from solar power arrays. According to Solar Power Portal, by the end of 2024, the nation will have about 20GW of solar generation capacity in place, with 8GW of energy storage. The goals set by Solar Energy UK will increase this capacity in line with the government’s target to generate 70GW of solar energy by 2035.
As of the end of March 2024, the UK boasts a total solar capacity of 15.8GW across 1.4 million installations, marking a 5.6 per cent increase (837MW) since March 2023. In March alone, there were 14,734 installations nationwide, adding 63MW of capacity – the highest figure for the year, though lower than early 2023 levels.
The National Grid anticipates a fivefold increase in solar PV generation in the UK, from 14GW to roughly 70GW, by 2030. Plans for major projects are in place, with a strong focus on commercial rooftop space and solar farms.
Energy Live News reported that, as of December 2023, 49 per cent of capacity (7,708MW) came from ground mounted or standalone solar installations, including two operational solar farms. However, the 2023 capacity is only the fifth highest on record, largely due to the small size of new installations.
According to a 2024 report by Statista, global solar panel uptake statistics for 2023 showed strong continued growth, and 447GW of new solar was installed compared to the 239GW installed in 2022, bringing the world’s total solar capacity to 1.6 terawatts (TW). The growth of solar energy is expected to continue, with some projections estimating that global solar installations could reach 4.7TW by 2050.
According to the International Energy Agency, China commissioned as much solar PV as the rest of the world did in 2022, while its wind additions grew by 66 per cent year on year. The China National Energy Administration’s power industry statistics for 2023 showed that solar power capacity soared by 55 per cent to surpass 609GW. China accounts for almost 60 per cent of the new renewable capacity expected to become operational globally by 2028.
Coming in second place to China, the US added 139GW from utility and small-scale solar installations, an increase of more than 26GW in 2022. According to newly released end-of-year US Energy Information Administration data for 2023, renewable sources accounted for over 22.7 per cent of the nation’s electricity generation.
Europe also showed strong growth in 2023, with 56GW of additional capacity installed overall. Greece emerged as the new leader, generating 19 per cent of its total electricity from solar, followed by Hungary (18 per cent) and Spain (17 per cent).
Given China’s massive commissions of solar panels in 2023, it’s estimated that, by 2028, just under 60 per cent of the world’s renewable energy generation will be in China. The country is on target to reach its 2030 solar targets in 2024 (six years early).
Solar battery storage is essential for energy independence, as much for residential installations as for whole countries trying to lower their dependency on fossil fuels to achieve net zero targets.
The latest analysis from SolarPower Europe revealed that, in 2023, Europe installed 17.2 gigawatt hours (GWh) of new battery energy storage systems, a 94 per cent increase from 2022. Germany was in the lead, with 34 per cent of the 2023 European market share, followed by Italy (22 per cent) and the UK (15 per cent). Deployment is expected to grow in 2024, but projections still fall short of the estimated 200GW of battery power capacity needed by 2030.
In February 2024, 83 per cent of new solar systems in the UK were installed in residential buildings, accounting for 77 per cent of the new capacity, or 46MW. As energy prices continue to rise, more people are turning to solar PV to generate electricity. Thanks to technological advances that make the best solar panels more efficient and reliable, solar power demand is expected to grow in the residential sector.
According to Solar Energy UK, the solar industry employs 6,500 people in a wide range of jobs, and this number may grow to more than 42,000 if the UK commits to 40GW of solar output by 2030. The demand for workers in the solar industry will grow in line with the increasing adoption of solar power.
To find out which universities in the UK are leading the way in solar energy adoption, we sent Freedom of Information requests to institutions nationwide.
We asked each university:
We also used data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency to discover how much solar energy each university consumes and how much it exports back to the grid. We then used those findings to rank each university, sorting them into three tiers: gold, silver and bronze.
| Bangor University |
| Bournemouth University |
| Brunel University |
| Cardiff University |
| Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Nottingham Trent University |
| Swansea University |
| University of Birmingham |
| University of Cambridge |
| University of Durham |
| University of East Anglia |
| University of Essex |
| University of Greenwich |
| University of Kent |
| University of Leicester |
| University of Manchester |
| University of Nottingham |
| University of Oxford |
| University of Sheffield |
| University of St Andrews |
| University of Warwick |
| University of Winchester |
| University of Worcester |
The 23 universities falling into the gold tier show the highest commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. These institutions have extensive renewable energy installations and are actively engaged in sustainability initiatives.
For example, Manchester University exports almost 2 million kWh of electricity back to the grid – far more than any other UK university. It has also committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2038.
The University of Worcester uses almost 400,000kWh of solar energy generated on-site, primarily from panels on the roof of its arena. It also plans to harness thermal energy from the nearby River Severn.
Swansea University actively uses and researches renewable energy. The university uses many types of sustainable sources, including solar and thermal panels, wind turbines, and air and ground source heat pumps. It also has its own Centre for Solar Energy Research, which conducts advanced research on PV technology.
| Anglia Ruskin University |
| Arts University Bournemouth |
| Bath Spa University |
| Birmingham City University |
| Buckinghamshire New University |
| Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| De Montfort University |
| Heriot-Watt University |
| Kingston University |
| Liverpool Hope University |
| London School of Economics |
| London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine |
| Newcastle University |
| Northumbria University |
| Open University |
| Queen’s University Belfast |
| Sheffield Hallam University |
| St George’s University of London |
| Teesside University |
| University of Aberdeen |
| University of Bath |
| University of Bradford |
| University of Brighton |
| University of Bristol |
| University of Derby |
| University of Dundee |
| University of Glasgow |
| University of Gloucestershire |
| University of Hertfordshire |
| University of Hull |
| University of Leeds |
| University of Lincoln |
| University of Liverpool |
| University of Northampton |
| University of Plymouth |
| University of South Wales |
| University of Stirling |
| University of Strathclyde |
| University of Sunderland |
| University of Sussex |
| University of the West of England |
| University of West London |
| University of Westminster |
| University of York |
| University St Mark and St John, Plymouth |
| York St John University |
A further 47 universities fall into the silver tier, making it the most populated of the three. These universities have made notable strides in renewable energy but on a smaller scale than those in the top tier. For example, the University of Plymouth is one of the only universities that uses hydroelectric power, taking water from an on-site reservoir to heat its domestic hot water.
The University of Bristol is another leader in sustainability and renewable energy research. Its Climate Action Programme aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
| Bishop Grosseteste University |
| Falmouth University |
| Glasgow Caledonian University |
| Leeds Trinity University |
| Norwich University of the Arts |
| Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh |
| Royal Holloway, University of London |
| Solent University, Southampton |
| The Robert Gordon University |
| University for the Creative Arts |
| University of East London |
| University of Salford |
| University of Suffolk |
| University of the Arts London |
| University of the West of Scotland |
Finally, 15 institutions fall into the bronze tier. These universities are all making progress in renewable energy use but have less comprehensive systems than the others and have some catching up to do.
None of these universities are on green tariffs for their gas, while just four are on tariffs for renewable electricity. Three on the list have yet to engage in solar power generation: Norwich University of the Arts, Glasgow Caledonian University and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
The bronze tier also contains four (of only five) universities without a sustainability officer on staff, as well as four that don’t offer sustainability workshops.
Despite being the lowest tier, some universities in this section excel in certain areas. For example, while Royal Holloway didn’t perform well in other categories, it has 17 EVs on campus and consumes 45,721kWh of solar energy.
We focused our research on seven main types of renewable energy:
We also invited the universities to highlight any other renewable sources they used. Five universities – the University of Worcester, Swansea University, Bournemouth University, the University of Greenwich and Brunel University – told us they use five different types.
Out of 85 universities who answered our FOI, 94 per cent employ either a sustainability officer or someone with similar responsibilities. This shows just how important this type of role has become at universities, helping to integrate sustainable practices throughout their institutions’ academic and operational sides.
Part of a sustainability officer’s role is to introduce sustainability workshops and initiatives for students and staff. Again, most universities offer some sustainability workshops, with just 11 per cent saying that they don’t provide any. Just one university told us it doesn’t offer any kind of broader green initiative to students and staff.
Universities are increasingly integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into their operations, not just for the environmental benefits but also to reduce their reliance on costly fossil fuels. Of the universities that replied to our request, University of Warwick came out on top. Its 92 EVs include two vehicles that are available free of charge to any staff member for any business purpose.
The University of Sussex has shown a solid commitment to using solar power, consuming over 750,000kWh of PV energy generated on-site. Since they were switched on in 2017, the university’s 3,000-plus rooftop panels represent the largest solar installation at a university in the UK. With the average UK household using around 2,700kWh a year, the University of Sussex produces enough solar energy to power around 280 homes annually.
If you generate more electricity than you consume, you can export this surplus energy back to the national grid using the Smart Export Guarantee scheme, reducing energy costs and helping to lower the wider community’s carbon footprint. Of the 85 universities who responded to our FOI, just 11 (13 per cent) feed electricity back to the grid, with the University of Manchester (at 1.92GWh) exporting the most.
| Rank | University | Estimated savings from renewable energy* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Suffolk | £1,042,390 |
| 2 | Nottingham Trent University | £726,528 |
| 3 | University of West London | £599,730 |
| 5 | Newcastle University | £328,000 |
| 6 | Bournemouth University | £278,600 |
| 7 | Kingston University | £255,000 |
| 8 | University of Warwick | £233,557 |
| 9 | University of Brighton | £182,000 |
| 10 | University of Sussex | £165,431 |
1. University of Suffolk – Estimated savings: £1m
The University of Suffolk leads with an impressive estimated savings of just over £1million from renewable energy sources. The university has invested in solar panels, energy-efficient buildings and innovative energy management systems – which include collaborating with a green hydrogen storage firm and establishing the Suffolk Sustainability Institute to tackle the causes of climate change.
2. Nottingham Trent University – Estimated savings: £726,528
Nottingham Trent University ranks second with estimated savings of £726,528 from sustainable sources. The university has extensively used renewable energy technologies, including wind turbines and biomass heating systems.
3. University of West London – Estimated savings: £599,730
The University of West London is third on the list, with estimated savings of just under £600,000 from renewable energy sources. Key projects include installing over 580 solar panels and replacing gas boilers with ground source heat pumps.
