2008 — The Beginning
When The Solar Shed story started, solar power in the UK was still a niche technology. We started out designing and arranging the installation of Thermal Solar Systems to heat hot water, saving on oil and gas bills.
- Solar PV cost over £7,000 per kW.
- UK solar capacity was barely 80 MW – almost nothing by today’s standards.
- Renewable electricity made up around 6–7% of the UK grid.
But change was coming.
2010 — Feed-in Tariffs Spark a Revolution
The UK’s Feed-in Tariff transformed the landscape.
- Thousands of homes installed panels for the first time.
- Returns were strong, awareness grew, and a new green industry was born.
This was the era when solar first reached ordinary households — and we were there from the start.
2015 — Solar Becomes Mainstream
A huge milestone year:
- UK solar exceeded 8 GW — a hundred-fold increase from 2008.
- Solar became the cheapest new energy source in many countries.
- Battery technology began its steep price drop, setting the scene for today’s storage boom.
2017–2019 — Renewables Beat Fossil Fuels in the UK
The UK recorded several firsts:
- 2017: First day when wind, solar and hydro together out-generated coal.
- 2019: Coal’s contribution fell below 2% of UK electricity.
- The UK grid achieved its first coal-free fortnight.
This was the decade when clean energy stopped being “alternative”.
2020 — Solar and Wind Take the Lead
During the pandemic year, something hugely symbolic happened:
- Renewables overtook fossil fuels in the UK annual electricity mix for the first time.
- Solar became the cheapest electricity in history, according to the International Energy Agency.
2023 — Global Records and Storage Arrives
Worldwide, renewables accelerated at the fastest pace ever recorded:
- Over 300 GW of solar added in a single year.
- Large battery storage projects began operating at grid scale.
- The UK saw rapid adoption of heat pumps and home batteries, making households more energy independent.
4
2025 — A World First
In the first half of 2025, the world hit a historic milestone:
Renewables generated more electricity than coal for the first time in human history.
This is the moment the clean energy transition became irreversible.
Solar is now:
- The fastest-growing energy technology ever developed
- Cheaper than fossil fuels in over 90% of countries
- A central pillar of UK energy security and climate planning
🌱 What This Means for Our Customers
Since 2008, we’ve gone from solar being a rare, expensive niche to the dominant force shaping global energy.
For households today:
- Solar systems are 70–80% cheaper than they were in 2008
- Panels are more efficient, durable and warrantied for 25+ years
- Home batteries and smart tech now make self-powered living realistic
- Heat pumps and EVs pair naturally with solar and storage
The transformation is astonishing — and we’ve been proud to guide people through it from day one.
#SolarLove in the #SolarNation