• Cornwall ranks as the leading location for solar panel installations, with 31,024 installations in total. 
  • Around one in eight homes in Cornwall now has solar panels, placing it first in the UK for residential solar installation, according to new analysis of government data.
  • A new study has revealed which locations in the UK are leading the way in solar panel installations based on the latest installation data. 

Energy experts at E.ON UK have analysed GOV.UK data to determine which locations have the highest number of residential solar panel installations across the country.

One in eight homes in Cornwall now has solar panels, with 31,024 systems across approximately 250,500 households. This corresponds to an adoption rate of roughly 12%, indicating a significant regional commitment to decentralised renewable energy generation.

Somerset follows with 24,603 solar panel systems across an estimated 250,100 households. The resulting adoption rate of around 10% reflects strong community participation in renewable energy.

North Yorkshire’s 22,983 installations are spread across an estimated 274,400 households, yielding an adoption rate of just over 8%. These installations mean that around one in 12 North Yorkshire homes is now equipped with solar panels.

Wiltshire records 19,794 solar installations across 215,100 households. Around one in every 11 households (9%) now has solar panels, showing that residents are investing in renewable energy.

Aberdeenshire stands out as Scotland’s top solar region, with 17,381 installations across approximately 117,419 households. Nearly 15% of households in the area now have solar panels.

The top 15 UK locations with the highest number of solar panel installations 

Rank Location Country Estimated number of households Number of solar panel installations
1 Cornwall England 250,500 31,024
2 Somerset England 250,100 24,603
3 North Yorkshire England 274,400 22,983
4 Wiltshire England 215,100 19,794
5 Aberdeenshire Scotland 117,419 17,381
6 Dorset England 169,300 15,744
7 County Durham England 234,800 14,001
8 Buckinghamshire England 220,300 13,619
9 Leeds England 341,500 13,417
10 Birmingham England 423,500 13,328
11 Fife Scotland 171,913 13,057
12 Northumberland England 146,900 12,908
13 North Somerset England 94,600 12,108
14 South Cambridgeshire England 67,000 11,862
15 Shropshire England 139,600 11,793

Dorset ranks sixth and reports 15,744 solar panel systems among 169,300 households, translating to an adoption rate of roughly 9%. These installations mean that around one in 11 homes in Dorset now has solar panels.

County Durham follows with 14,001 installations across 234,800 households, equivalent to a 6% adoption rate. These installations mean that more than one in 17 homes in County Durham is now equipped with solar panels.

Buckinghamshire’s 13,619 solar systems are spread across 220,300 households, resulting in a 6% adoption rate. These installations mean that around one in 16 Buckinghamshire homes is now equipped with solar panels.

Leeds records 13,417 installations across 341,500 households, which is around a 4% adoption rate. As one of England’s largest urban centres, the city’s relatively lower proportion reflects the challenges of implementing solar at scale in densely built environments.

Birmingham ranks tenth with 13,328 installations among 423,500 households, representing an adoption rate near 3%. Despite lower proportional uptake, the city’s number of systems demonstrates a sizeable contribution to urban renewable capacity.

Fife contributes 13,057 installations across 171,913 households, producing an adoption rate of approximately 8%. These installations mean that around one in 13 homes in Fife is now equipped with solar panels. This figure reflects Scotland’s embrace of decentralised energy generation across both rural and coastal areas.

Northumberland’s 12,908 solar panel systems serve roughly 146,900 households, equating to an adoption rate of 9%. These installations mean that around one in 11 homes in Northumberland now has solar panels.

North Somerset records 12,108 installations among 94,600 households, which is an impressive adoption rate of around 13%. These installations mean that more than one in eight homes in North Somerset is now equipped with solar panels.

South Cambridgeshire demonstrates a particularly high level of solar engagement, with 11,862 systems across just 67,000 households. The resulting 18% adoption rate is among the best nationwide, highlighting the area’s proactive investment in clean energy technologies.

Shropshire rounds out the top fifteen with 11,793 installations across 139,600 households. This gives Shropshire an adoption rate of around 8%, comparable to counties such as North Yorkshire and Fife.

A spokesperson at E.ON UK commented on the findings: 

“This data shows the locations with the strongest commitment to renewable energy through solar adoption. Cornwall leads the UK in total solar panel installations with 31,024, reflecting a strong overall uptake, while South Cambridgeshire, with nearly 18% of households equipped, demonstrates how rural communities can achieve exceptionally high adoption rates.

“With households driving much of the current growth, there’s a major opportunity for businesses to follow suit. If every business in Cornwall were fitted with solar panels, the energy produced could power the equivalent of 130.12% of homes in the region, according to our research. In Somerset, that figure rises to 160.77%, showing significant potential for commercial sites to boost local renewable generation.

“Expanding solar adoption across both households and businesses will be key to making the energy transition affordable, sustainable and secure. As technology becomes more accessible and installation costs continue to fall, the path to energy independence is opening for more communities. By investing in solar installations across homes and workplaces alike, we can accelerate the UK’s move toward a cleaner, self-sufficient energy future that brings lower bills, stronger local infrastructure and greater energy security for everyone.”