More solar farms on the way after record renewables auction
The UK government has greenlit a record-breaking expansion of solar energy, awarding contracts for 157 new solar developments across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Announced on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, this latest "Allocation Round 7" (AR7) is the largest renewables auction in the country's history. Combined with offshore wind and tidal projects, the government has secured 14.7GW of new clean power—enough to supply the equivalent of 16 million homes.
The Solar "Gold Rush" ☀️
Solar energy was the undisputed winner of the auction, securing nearly 5GW of capacity.
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Historic Scale: The 157 projects represent a massive jump from the 93 projects approved in the 2024 auction.
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Flagship Project: The West Burton solar farm, situated on the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire border, has become the largest solar project ever to win a government contract. Built on the site of the UK's last coal-fired power station, it aims to power 144,000 homes.
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Cost Efficiency: New solar power was agreed at a fixed price of £65.23 per MWh (in 2024 prices), which Energy Secretary Ed Miliband noted is less than half the cost of running gas-fired power stations.
Local Opposition and "Mass Industrialization" 🚜
Despite the push for clean energy, the sheer scale of the expansion has sparked significant backlash from rural communities and agricultural groups.
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The "40 Square Mile" Debate: Campaigners estimate the new solar schemes could cover over 40 square miles of land—an area roughly the size of Manchester.
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Food Security: Farming groups, including the NFU, have expressed concern that the loss of productive arable land—such as the 2,500 acres at West Burton—risks "squeezing" domestic food production during a time of global instability.
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Political Resistance: Shadow Energy Minister Claire Coutinho warned that the government is adding solar to the grid "before it can handle it," potentially leading to higher network charges for consumers.
Empowerment through the "Local Power Plan" 🏗️
To counter opposition and ensure communities benefit directly, the government simultaneously unveiled its Local Power Plan, backed by £1 billion in funding from the state-owned Great British Energy.
The 2030 Clean Power Target
The government is racing to reach 95% clean electricity by 2030. To achieve this, ministers are targeting a total solar capacity of 45-47GW.
However, experts warn that "sticking points" remain, particularly the multi-year wait times for these new farms to actually connect to the National Grid and the need for a massive expansion in battery storage to keep the lights on when the sun isn't shining.
