UK renewables round-up – September 2026

September has been another busy month for UK renewables, with solar continuing its record-breaking year, battery storage moving further into the mainstream and growing attention on whether the electricity grid can keep pace with the amount of new renewable generation coming forward.

For businesses, the direction of travel remains clear. Generating more electricity on site, making better use of it through battery storage and reducing exposure to unpredictable wholesale energy markets are becoming increasingly important parts of long-term energy planning.

UK solar heads towards another record year

The pace of solar installations across the UK continues to grow. More than 207,000 MCS-certified solar installations have already been recorded during 2026, overtaking the total installed during the whole of 2011, which held the annual record for almost 15 years.

Solar Energy UK believes that, if the current pace continues, around 300,000 homes, businesses, schools and other buildings could install solar during 2026. Importantly, these figures don't include larger commercial installations on warehouses, factories and other sites, so the overall level of solar activity is considerably greater.

Record summer for UK solar generation

It hasn't just been a strong year for new installations. Solar generation also reached record levels over the summer.

Across June, July and August, UK solar farms and rooftop systems generated around 8.8 TWh of electricity, the highest summer total recorded. Continued growth in installed capacity combined with exceptionally sunny weather helped push generation to the new high.

For businesses that already have solar, this highlights the value that well-designed systems can deliver, particularly where generation can be matched closely with daytime electricity demand.

Batteries move further up the agenda

Battery storage has been one of the biggest themes in the renewables market this month.

As more renewable electricity comes onto the system, storing electricity when generation is high and using it later is becoming increasingly valuable. Across European electricity markets, periods of very low or even negative wholesale prices are becoming more frequent when renewable generation is particularly strong.

At the same time, prices can rise sharply as solar generation falls later in the day. That growing difference between low and high-price periods is strengthening the case for battery storage alongside solar, allowing energy to be stored rather than exported when its value is low.

This is increasingly relevant for commercial sites too. Rather than looking at solar purely in terms of how much electricity can be generated, businesses are looking more closely at when they use energy, how much solar they can consume on site and whether battery storage can increase that figure further.

Ofgem tackles the battery connection queue

The rapid growth of battery projects has created another problem - a huge grid connection queue.

On 17th September, Ofgem launched a consultation on introducing a financial commitment for Battery Energy Storage System projects wanting to retain their place in the connection queue.

Around 90 GW of battery capacity is currently either operational or sitting within the reformed connections queue, compared with a projected requirement of around 29 GW by 2035.

The intention is to remove speculative projects that are unlikely to be built and free up grid capacity for viable battery and renewable energy schemes.

For developers and businesses considering larger solar and storage projects, grid availability remains one of the biggest issues facing the sector.

The UK's grid needs to catch up

That wider grid challenge was highlighted again in September by the National Audit Office.

Around £70bn of investment is expected to be needed in Britain's electricity transmission network between 2025 and 2031 as more renewable generation connects to the system.

The problem is that much of the required infrastructure is still at an early stage. The NAO warned that delays could significantly increase the cost of managing the electricity network.

Constraint costs, which arise when generators have to be paid to reduce output because the grid cannot transport the electricity to where it is needed, reached £1.9 billion in 2025/26 and could rise to as much as £7.8 billion a year by 2030 without sufficient progress.

It is another reminder that increasing renewable generation is only part of the transition. Grid infrastructure, battery storage and smarter management of electricity demand will all need to develop alongside it.

More support for locally generated energy

Great British Energy also announced the first wave of its new People's Power projects during September.

The programme will support local authorities and community energy groups developing renewable energy schemes, including solar on public buildings, community wind projects and hydro generation.

The aim is to allow more communities to generate and own their own electricity, with income and energy savings remaining within the local area.

It adds to the growing emphasis on decentralised energy generation across the UK, with electricity increasingly being generated closer to where it is actually used.

PPA prices rise in the UK

There was an interesting development for the commercial market this month, with European Power Purchase Agreement prices rising during August.

According to Pexapark's European PPA index, prices increased by 2.2% across Europe, but the UK recorded the largest monthly increase at 4.9%.

PPAs remain an important option for businesses that want the benefits of renewable electricity without necessarily funding a solar installation themselves. The latest figures also underline the importance of looking at energy procurement and on-site generation together rather than treating them as completely separate decisions.

Plug-in solar begins to enter the UK market

Following the legalisation of plug-in solar across Great Britain at the end of August, September has seen the industry begin to look at what this new market could mean.

Compliant systems of up to 800W can now be connected directly to a standard household socket, opening solar generation to people who may not previously have been able to install a conventional rooftop system.

The Government estimates that plug-in solar could provide up to 20% of an average household's electricity use and save up to £110 a year, with major retailers preparing to offer systems.

It is a very different market from the larger commercial systems we work with at East Green Energy, but it represents another significant change in the way solar is becoming part of everyday energy generation in Britain. We have also recently launched our own sister company, Plugsol, offering plug-in solar kits for people who want to start generating their own renewable electricity but aren't ready, or don't have the option, to commit to a full rooftop solar system. Starting with just two panels, from £475, Plugsol offers a simple way to get started with solar and makes renewable generation accessible to a much wider range of homes and properties.

Solar & Storage Live puts commercial solar in the spotlight

September also saw the UK renewables industry gather in Birmingham for Solar & Storage Live, with grid connections, project finance, battery storage, skills and the delivery of the UK's growing pipeline of large-scale solar projects among the major talking points.

The event reflected an industry that has no shortage of projects or ambition, but where grid connections and the practicalities of financing and delivering large schemes remain significant challenges.

It was also a particularly memorable event for us at East Green Energy, with our 750 kWp floating solar installation at Suffolk Fresh named Commercial Project of the Year at the Solar & Storage Live Awards 2026. The 1,250-panel installation near Ipswich supplies renewable electricity to Suffolk Fresh's 8.4-hectare hydroponic glasshouse.

Looking ahead

September's news shows just how quickly the UK renewables market is developing. Solar installations continue to climb, battery storage is becoming an increasingly important part of the energy mix and new ways of generating electricity, from community-owned renewables to plug-in solar, are opening the market to a much wider audience.

The challenge now is making sure the infrastructure keeps pace.

For businesses, there is also a growing reason to look at energy as a whole. Solar generation, battery storage, grid capacity, export opportunities and electricity procurement are increasingly interconnected. Understanding how they work together can help businesses reduce their reliance on the grid, make better use of the electricity they generate and protect themselves against future energy price volatility.

At East Green Energy, we've been working in renewable energy for nearly 20 years, helping businesses understand what works for their site and their energy requirements. If you're considering solar, battery storage or a larger renewable energy project, speak to our team about the options available.