The Energy Transition | UK Solar Roadmap lays out plans to treble solar energy by 2030
Published on 8th July 2025
Welcome to our top picks of the latest energy regulatory and market developments in the UK's transition to net zero
This week we look at the UK Solar Roadmap, plans to accelerate onshore wind, Ofgem’s draft determinations for RIIO-3 and NESO's first-in-kind Centralised Strategic Network Plan.
UK Solar Roadmap lays out plans to treble solar energy by 2030
The UK government with trade association Solar Energy UK (SEUK) has published a roadmap that details a strategy and action plan aimed at trebling solar energy capacity by 2030. The government has identified that a significant increase in solar deployment is essential for achieving the goals it set out in its Clean Power Action Plan.
The UK Solar Roadmap identifies 70-plus "practical actions", which are also listed separately in an action table, to be taken by the government, Ofgem, network operators and other industry bodies. The actions are grouped into thematic areas – including rooftop, networks, supply chain and innovation, and planning reforms and support schemes – as means by which the UK can achieve its solar deployment targets.
The role of rooftop solar
The roadmap identifies rooftop solar as playing a central role to the clean power action plan's deployment. It notes a lack of awareness of the benefit of commercial and domestic rooftop solar, including a lack of understanding among homeowners of how solar can impact Energy Performance Certificate scores, as well as environmental, social and governance ratings, and property valuations.
Actions identified in the roadmap include the Green Finance Institute working with government, the finance sector, consumer rights organisations and other industry bodies to facilitate rooftop solar and provide financial solutions for all suitable customers;
It also highlights the government's consultation on proposals to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for the social-rented sector which may stimulate the installation of solar on many social homes.
The roadmap also spotlights the government's publication of the Future Homes Standard this autumn, which will ensure solar panels are installed on the majority of new build homes once it comes into force.
Electricity networks
The report highlights the delays that, in particular, large scale ground mounted solar projects face in getting connected to the grid. However, there are actions that Ofgem, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) and network operators can take in order to better enable solar deployment. These include Ofgem undertaking a review of the regulatory arrangements governing independent distribution network operators (iDNOs) by the end of 2025 to consider whether iDNO regulation should be brought into alignment with other distribution network operators (DNOs).
It notes the government is also considering reforms to planning requirements for distribution power lines carried on wooden poles. Meanwhile, DNOs, through the ENA and with input from industry, will need to ensure that DNO processes facilitate residential solar projects as far as possible.
Supply chain and innovation
The roadmap notes that, despite China holding a strong position in the manufacture of solar panels, the UK is well placed to capitalise on opportunities for production of balance system components, batteries and other innovative technologies.
Actions identified in this area include the government considering the case to further support companies looking to scale up production of innovative solar technologies and processes and balance of system components, as well as working with industry to create an online directory for solar manufacturing businesses. Meanwhile, SEUK is working with industry to develop an exemplary fair contracts and fair payment document.
Planning and support schemes
The roadmap notes that the policy changes already introduced to support solar deployment have included updates to the National Planning Policy Framework and the increase to the threshold at which solar projects enter the nationally significant infrastructure planning regime from 50MW to 100MW. The roadmap also looks at the development of floating solar, with an action on the government to consider how planning levers could further support floating solar projects as well as how floating solar is considered in the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme.
With our solar objectives now aligned through this roadmap, the momentum behind clean power continues to grow.
UK government published onshore wind strategy
The UK government has released its first onshore wind strategy to accelerate the development of related projects nationwide and to offer a boost to achieving the UK's wider net-zero goals.
The Onshore Wind Taskforce was established by the government in July 2024 with three key objectives: unlocking the barriers to onshore wind deployment; ensuring sustainability; and capturing benefits by facilitating cost reductions and investment in UK onshore wind.
The government has noted that the taskforce has now developed 42 actions. These are primarily government commitments to achieve the objectives and resolve the main obstacles to onshore wind in the UK.
A cornerstone of the strategy is the revision of planning rules to remove the de facto ban on onshore wind projects in England. These changes are designed to streamline the approval process for onshore wind projects, making it easier for developers to gain necessary permissions. By simplifying the regulatory landscape, the government hopes to encourage a more rapid deployment of wind energy infrastructure.
The strategy also looks to ensure active local community engagement with the development of onshore wind projects. Measures to increase community engagement include allowing residents to express their support and contribute to the planning process. This approach aims to ensure that the benefits of renewable energy projects are shared with the communities hosting them. A significant part of this is the introduction of the Community Benefit Protocol for England, which guarantees that local communities hosting onshore wind projects receive tangible benefits such as financial contributions, community funds and local investment.
Finance and routes to market for onshore projects have also been explored. The strategy proposes a commitment to establishing a joint government and industry subgroup as part of a new Onshore Wind Council to identify and monitor specific challenges facing projects. It also proposes the government continues to consider reforms to the CfD scheme. The National Wealth Fund (NWF) has been tasked with exploring potential structures to support onshore wind projects or portfolios with power purchase agreements, where the end-user does not have an investment-grade credit rating. The NWF will determine the most appropriate product offering for each deal on a case-by-case basis.
The interface with aviation and defence is also considered, with a range of new commitments to tackle onshore wind interference issues with civil and military radar identified and proposed.
The strategy promises substantial economic benefits, including job creation and the provision of cheaper, greener energy. The government estimates that the initiative could generate billions of pounds in investment and create up to 45,000 jobs. Moreover, the environmental impact of this initiative is profound, as it represents a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change.
Ofgem approves £24.2bn in RIIO3 upfront spending for transmission operators
Ofgem has published its draft determinations for transmission operators (TOs) for the price control period RIIO-3, which extends from 1 April 2026 until 31 March 2031. The price control framework – revenues equals incentives plus innovation plus outputs or "RIIO" – sets the level of permitted spending for the UK's gas and electricity networks and is designed to ensure the monopoly companies running these networks efficiently operate and develop them.
Ofgem has approved an initial £24.2 billion of upfront TO expenditure, which represents £8.5 billion less than the TOs had cumulatively put forward in their proposed business plans.
For the transmission system, a total of £8.9 billion will be allocated as upfront expenditure between the electricity TOs. The expenditure allowance will be spread across 80 transmission projects identified in the government's Clean Power 2030 plan, which Ofgem expects will be completed within the RIIO-3 period. Despite not hitting the levels of upfront expenditure the TOs requested, Ofgem expects that investment in electricity transmission could exceed £80 billon across the period. In its accompanying press release, Ofgem stated that the RIIO-3 period will bring the connection of over 4400km of overhead lines, 3500km of new circuits and up to 126GWs of clean power to the grid by 2030.
In its determination documents, Ofgem gives three reasons for the reduced expenditure allowances: a more robust assessments of projects; a number of projects where further information was required to make the full case for any investments; and that additional funding decisions should be made later into the price control period to allow for greater certainty to be priced into the investment details.
The draft determinations will now undergo consultation. Responses can be sent to Ofgem at RIIO3@ofgem.gov.uk until 26 August.
NESO invites feedback on first-of-a-kind network infrastructure plan
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has invited public feedback on its new strategic energy planning technical framework, the Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP). Supporting NESO's Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, the CSNP sets out a 25-year roadmap of the transmission network infrastructure needed across Britain to reach net zero by 2050.
For the first time, the CSNP brings the UK's electricity, gas and hydrogen transmission network planning together beyond 2030, delivering a whole system view of transmission requirements for all three energy sources. It includes considerations of onshore and offshore electricity generation, cross-border electricity interconnectors, the repurposing of the onshore gas transmission system, and future network requirements to facilitate the emerging hydrogen economy.
The CSNP will be reviewed every three years to account for changes to each energy source as the transition continues, and to ensure the plan balances the needs of consumers, investors, communities and the environment.
Taking this coordinated approach to infrastructure planning is vital – not only to help drive investment decisions, but also to ensure everyone has access to reliable, clean and affordable energy.
The consultation will be open to feedback until 5pm on 1 August, with NESO intending to submit its methodology to Ofgem in September. Stakeholders are invited to share their views on the methodology as a whole, and/or specifically in respect of the network planning proposals for electricity, gas, or hydrogen.
This article was written with the assistance of Ellie Smyk and Adam Budd, trainee solicitors, and Sumaiya Hafiza, solicitor apprentice.
