Summer in the UK means longer days, and now we are experiencing warmer temperatures and less rain than usual. What many people do not realise is that this, in turn, is very good for the renewable energy technologies such as solar pv. The brighter the day the better the solar pv panels work and produce energy. This helps homes and businesses powering them from renewable sources. By using clean renewable electricity they can now rely less on energy from the grid.

How Much Energy is Generated from Solar PV Panels?

The amount of solar pv power in the UK has grown a lot over the last few years. In 2023, there were more than 15 gigawatts of solar pv panels installed across the country. This includes large solar pv farms and rooftop panels on homes and businesses. Nearly 5 gigawatts of this comes from solar pv panels on homes alone. To give some perspective, the biggest power station in the UK produces about 2.6 gigawatts.

About 1.39 million homes now have solar pv panels. These homes can create their own clean electricity and earn money by sending any extra power back to the grid. Together, solar pv power makes up around 4.5 percent of the UK’s total energy supply. This number might actually be lower than the real impact because many people use most of the solar energy they produce themselves before exporting any leftovers.

What Time of Year Are Solar PV Panels Most Effective?

From April to September, the UK has the longer periods of daylight with over 14 hours of daylight each day. In June, the days are longest with about 16.4 hours of daylight. It is no surprise that these months are when solar pv panels usually produce the most electricity.

Even though the UK is known for changeable weather, on average we get over five hours of strong daylight each day during these months. These “daylight hours” measure how intense the light is. The more hours we get, the better solar pv panels perform.

Why Does This Matter?

More sunlight means solar pv panels can generate more power, which helps reduce electricity bills and cuts carbon emissions. With more energy coming from the sun during summer, homes and businesses can take full advantage of their solar pv systems and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Plus, longer daylight hours means there is more time to charge solar pv home batteries, so you can store energy to use when the generation. is low or it is now nighttime. This makes solar pv power even more efficient and valuable throughout the year.