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Official statistics on solar deployment indicate that as of the end of May 2025, the UK had a total of 18.9 GW of solar capacity across 1,803,000 installations. At least 43% of capacity (7,710 MW) came from ground-mounted or standalone solar installations, including the two operational solar farms accredited on Contracts for Difference (CfD).
The UK has entered a new era for solar power with nearly 3,500 solar farms in the planning system, new figures show. Sharp falls in the cost of solar panels over the past decade and rapid increases in the efficiency with which they can convert sunlight to power solar mean it is now the cheapest way to produce electricity in the UK.
The UK government has published a solar roadmap setting out the steps it will take to secure 47 GW deployed capacity by 2030. Image: Nick Fewing, Unsplash The UK government has published a new “Solar Roadmap” policy paper setting out how it plans to achieve 45-47 GW of deployed solar capacity by 2030, from nearly 19 GW as of May 2025.
In 2023, 196,782 new solar projects were added, marking the second-highest annual total for new installations, following the 208,586 installations in 2011. The UK government set an ambitious goal of achieving 45GW-47GW solar generation capacity by 2030, which means the UK needs to triple its solar capacity over the next decade.
Around Japan, competition is intensifying on the research and development front. Major petroleum distributor ENEOS is developing transparent solar cells using organic materials to generate electricity from infrared and ultraviolet light. Building materials giant YKK AP is aiming to create building materials that integrate solar cells.
The photovoltaic cells will be manufactured in Japan and the glass will be manufactured with cooperation from local partners. I hope that we can spread our photovoltaic power generation glass to many countries.” Advanced glass developed in Japan may come to change the windows and walls of the world.
"Even with just a 1% efficiency, installing solar panels on windows across Japan would lead to an annual reduction of 17 million tons of carbon dioxide," Sakamoto notes. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has plans to install lightweight and flexible perovskite solar cells on the exterior of a 230-meter skyscraper in Tokyo.
The country is already a leader in bioplastics and hydrogen energy, and in 2009, it was a Japanese university research team that found that certain crystalline minerals called perovskites are photovoltaic, converting light into a voltage, opening the door to new types of transparent solar cells (pictured above).
He added that Penang Port is exploring the possibility of setting up solar panels on stilts on shallow water pockets in its premises, “like a solar farm”. On the other hand, he said the global cruise business is expected to “go fully shore-power” by 2030.
The Penang government is assessing several strategic locations, including dams and coastal water bodies, to implement floating solar projects as part of efforts to strengthen its Renewable Energy (RE) sources. — NSTP/GHAZALI KORI Get breaking news fast — follow us on WhatsApp and Telegram.
He said that land-based solar farms were not ideal for Penang due to the scarcity and high value of available land. Therefore, he said, installing solar panels on water surfaces was seen as a more practical alternative. "Floating solar is a real possibility for Penang because we are surrounded by water.
The Star has learnt that this entails creating a solar farm that floats on a sheltered quarter of Penang’s harbour stretching over 4ha, the size of three World Cup football fields. On a sunny day, it is expected to churn out 30 megawatts of electricity, which theoretically will be enough for 6,000 homes.
