Surprising Solar Installations Across the UK

When you imagine solar panels, it’s normal to picture them sitting on the rooftop of a typical family home. But solar isn’t just for houses.

In fact, you may be surprised to find out that solar panels have been popping up in some pretty surprising locations. From historic castles and iconic railway stations to market rooftops. And with the UK committed to reaching net zero by 2050, finding practical ways to generate cleaner energy is becoming ever more important.

So, where exactly are we seeing solar installations? You may be surprised…

Windsor Castle

It’s official, Windsor Castle has gone solar.

A small rooftop solar system was installed at Windsor Castle during 2024/2025 as part of the Royal Household’s wider work towards reducing emissions across its estate.

It probably seems like quite an unusual place for solar panels, but Windsor Castle has, in fact, been using renewable energy for years. It’s a great example of how versatile and adaptable solar power is, and how renewable energy can be considered even for buildings with hundreds of years of history behind them. 

Thinking about solar for your home? Book a free solar consultation with our team and find out what could work for you.

Edinburgh Castle

It turns out that Windsor isn’t the only castle that’s embracing solar. In 2022, Edinburgh Castle had solar panels installed on the roof of the Scottish National War Memorial. They’re cleverly installed so as not to be obvious to visitors admiring the castle.

The panels were carefully designed and positioned so they’re not visible from parts of the site, the city or surrounding areas. Incredibly, they're expected to generate around 26,500 kWh of renewable electricity each year. It’s a brilliant example of how solar panels can be incorporated into buildings without taking away from what makes them special.

King’s Cross Railway Station

The iconic King’s Cross station roof now includes 2,300 square metres of solar panels, cleverly integrated into the main platform glass roofs. Altogether, this solar array generates approximately 10% of the station’s energy needs. 

The solar panels were installed as part of the station’s major redevelopment and were actually designed to work alongside its Grade I listed architecture. Pretty impressive stuff.

It’s a clever reminder that solar doesn’t have to look out of place, and with the right design, it can actually become part of a building.

With our free solar consultations, we design bespoke systems suited to your property and energy needs. Book yours today and find out what solar could do for your home.

New Spitalfields Market

Completed just recently in August 2026, the solar project at New Spitalfields Market is now London’s largest rooftop solar installation. And the numbers are pretty impressive too.

Built up of 2,730 solar panels, creating a 1.4 megawatt-peak (MWp) system that’s capable of generating around 1.27 gigawatt-hours of electricity every year. The installation is expected to cut carbon emissions by around 225 tonnes annually. 

But when you think about it, this is exactly the sort of building where solar makes a lot of sense.

The market has significant energy requirements, such as refrigeration, lighting, and other essential infrastructure. By generating electricity on site, more of that energy can come directly from the roof.

Why Are These Buildings Having Solar Installed?

There’s a very common theme running through all of these projects: rooftop space can be incredibly useful AND valuable.

Whether it’s a castle, railway station or an enormous commercial building, a roof can provide an area to generate renewable electricity.

For businesses and homeowners alike, solar can help reduce reliance on electricity from the grid, generate power on-site and support wider sustainability goals.

And as we’ve already looked at, you don’t necessarily need a brand-new building either. As Edinburgh Castle and King’s Cross show, solar can be carefully incorporated onto most rooftops. Of course, if you live in a listed building or conservation area, then some rules do apply, but with the right permissions, solar can be carefully incorporated onto rooftops where you’d least expect.

Every building is different. The size of your roof, orientation, shading, structural considerations and how much electricity you actually use will all affect whether solar is suitable. That's why getting professional advice is a good place to start. 

Want to know whether solar could work for you? Book your free solar consultation, and we’ll take a look at what’s possible.

The Growth of Solar Installations

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about these projects is what they tell us about the future of solar in the UK.

Solar panels are popping up everywhere on houses across the country. With energy bills rising and homeowners looking to reduce their electricity costs and carbon footprint, they’re continuing to grow rapidly in popularity. In fact, it was recently announced that the UK has now passed 2 million solar installations. But solar panels are no longer something we only associate with houses.

Could your rooftop be next? Get in touch today to book your free solar consultation and discover what solar could do for your home.