UK renewables round-up – August 2026

August has brought another busy month for UK renewable energy, with record-breaking solar generation, rapidly growing installation numbers and further investment in battery storage. At the same time, energy costs remain firmly in the spotlight, reinforcing the case for businesses looking at ways to generate, store and manage more of their own electricity.

Solar continues its record-breaking year

The latest figures show just how quickly solar is growing across the UK. Nearly 172,000 installations have been completed since the beginning of 2026, with almost 28,000 added during July alone. More than seven in ten of those July installations were rooftop systems.

Generation has been breaking records too. Figures published at the beginning of August showed that solar provided 14.4% of Great Britain's electricity during July, the highest monthly share recorded so far and considerably ahead of the 9.6% recorded in July 2025.

For businesses, farms and landowners, these figures are another indication of how established solar has become within the UK's energy mix. It isn't simply about adding new capacity either. With many systems installed ten or more years ago, we are also seeing a growing opportunity to look again at existing installations and consider whether repowering older solar systems could increase generation from the same available roof or land area.

Battery storage gathers pace

Storage has been another big theme during August, with around 36,000 certified battery installations recorded during the first six months of the year, almost double the equivalent period in 2025.

The Government has also announced £28 million for its new Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage Challenge. The programme is aimed at developing technologies capable of storing renewable electricity for more than 100 hours, helping the country make better use of periods when wind and solar generation is particularly strong.

For commercial energy users, the direction of travel is important. Battery storage is increasingly being considered alongside solar rather than as a completely separate technology, allowing businesses to make better use of the electricity they generate and potentially reduce reliance on the grid during more expensive periods.

Major solar and storage projects move forward

Large-scale projects have also continued to progress.

Development consent has been granted for Beacon Fen Energy Park, which includes a 400MW solar farm alongside significant battery storage capacity.

Elsewhere, Statkraft secured consent during August for another 100MW of battery storage at its Coylton Greener Grid Park in East Ayrshire. The project is designed to store surplus renewable electricity and provide greater flexibility to the grid.

These projects may be considerably larger than the systems installed by most businesses, but they demonstrate an important change in the energy market: generation and storage are increasingly being developed together.

Plug-in solar arrives in Great Britain

One of August's more unusual developments came right at the end of the month, with plug-in solar becoming legal across Great Britain from 27th August.

The new rules allow approved systems producing up to 800W to be connected to homes, potentially opening solar to people living in flats, rented accommodation and properties where a conventional rooftop installation isn't practical.

While very different from the larger commercial installations we work with at East Green Energy, it is another sign of solar becoming part of everyday energy generation in the UK.

Energy prices remain difficult to predict

Against all of this renewable growth, energy costs remain a concern.

Ofgem confirmed in August that the domestic energy price cap will rise by 4% in October, taking the typical annual dual-fuel figure from £1,663 to £1,723.

Businesses operate in a very different energy market, of course, but the underlying issue remains relevant. Energy prices continue to move in response to wholesale markets, international events, weather and supply conditions, making long-term budgeting difficult.

For many organisations, that's becoming just as important a reason to consider solar and battery storage as the environmental benefits. Generating more electricity on site gives a business greater control over where its energy comes from and reduces the amount it needs to purchase from the grid.

Looking ahead

If there is one theme running through August's news, it is that renewable energy is moving further into the mainstream.

Solar installations are increasing, generation records continue to fall and battery storage is becoming a much bigger part of how the UK thinks about its electricity system.

For businesses with available roof or land space, it is a good time to look at what could be achieved on site. And for those that already have solar, particularly systems installed a decade or more ago, it may also be worth checking whether the system is still delivering what it should.

East Green Energy can help businesses, farms and landowners assess existing solar installations, explore repowering opportunities and look at new solar PV and battery storage projects. Get in touch with our team to find out what could work for your site.