Solar Power
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the total acreage of land is in the UK that is currently covered by solar farms; and what the acreage is for which planning permission for solar farms has been granted.
Answered by Michael Shanks
According to a report on energy trends published by DESNZ, as of September 2024 ground-mount solar PV panels covered an estimated 21,200 hectares (52,000 acres), which is only around 0.1 per cent of the total land area of the UK. While such information is not currently available for projects that have been granted planning permission, we are working on expanding the coverage of the data to all projects in the pipeline.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →