UK daily solar energy
UK daily solar energy stood at 50.61 GWh on Oct 18, 2026, according to PV_Live — Sheffield Solar, University of Sheffield. It is one of the indicators in the Electricity system, daily table (Value · Daily), with a complete series running from Jan 1, 2013 to Oct 18, 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Electricity system, daily table
| Indicator | 18-10-2026 | 17-10-2026 | 16-10-2026 | 15-10-2026 | 14-10-2026 | 13-10-2026 | 12-10-2026 | 11-10-2026 | 10-10-2026 | 09-10-2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar generation (PV_Live, University of Sheffield) | |||||||||||
| Daily energy | 50.61 | 60.64 | 57.41 | 32.61 | 53.05 | 59.74 | 19.32 | 53.39 | 56.8 | 37.66 | |
| Peak output | 9,026.97 | 10,718.2 | 9,950.59 | 5,947.32 | 9,475.29 | 11,320.9 | 3,130.34 | 9,160.14 | 8,467.88 | 6,181.01 |
Understanding UK daily solar energy
Cumulative electrical energy produced over the course of a day by all registered photovoltaic solar installations connected to distribution networks across Great Britain. The metric aggregates total generation from both metered commercial solar farms and unmetered residential rooftop arrays, converting instantaneous power readings into total gigawatt-hours generated daily. Unlike capacity figures that measure maximum potential output under optimal conditions, this series records actual metered production influenced by cloud cover, daylight hours, and seasonal solar irradiance. Sibling series in the table separate instantaneous peak generation from cumulative daily totals, distinguishing between instantaneous capacity and total energy yielded over twenty-four hours.
Interpreting the series requires accounting for extreme seasonal variation, as output drops significantly during winter months compared to mid-summer due to daylight length and angle. Early estimates published immediately after the day concludes are subject to revision as delayed telemetry and meter readings from smaller micro-generators are fully processed. Analysts should avoid comparing raw daily energy totals directly against consecutive days without adjusting for weather patterns, and should use year-on-year comparisons rather than period-on-period changes to evaluate underlying capacity expansion rather than meteorological fluctuations.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of solar installations are included in the daily energy total?
- The metric covers utility-scale solar farms as well as small-scale residential and commercial rooftop photovoltaic panels across Great Britain.
- Why should year-on-year comparisons be preferred over day-on-day analysis?
- Day-on-day changes are heavily driven by weather and cloud cover, whereas matching periods from previous years provide a clearer picture of underlying capacity growth.
- Are preliminary daily solar estimates subject to revision?
- Yes, initial figures are updated as telemetry from unmetered residential arrays and delayed commercial meters are fully incorporated.