Scotland’s cumulative solar capacity stood at 0.9 GW by the end of the first quarter of 2026 (Q1 2026), according to an update posted by the Scottish government. The figure is a 0.1 GW increase on the figure reported at the end of the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025). 

Total renewables capacity in Scotland stood at 18.1 GW at the end of Q1 2026, a 3.2% increase on the 17.6 GW registered at the end of Q1 2025. Onshore wind represents the largest share of total renewables capacity, at 10.7 GW, followed by offshore wind, at 4.3 GW.

Scotland’s renewables fleet generated 13.4 TWh of electricity during Q1 2026, the figures add, which is the highest figure recorded in a single quarter and a 22% increase on Q1 2025.

Additional figures released by the Scottish government put Scotland’s solar pipeline at 3.4 GW. From this figure, 0.2 GW are under construction, 1.7 GW is awaiting construction and applications have been submitted for the remaining 1.5 GW.

By the end of Q1 2026, there were 24 operational electricity storage projects in Scotland with an estimated capacity of 1,583 MW. This figure includes 22 battery storage projects with an estimated capacity of 843 MW and two pumped hydro projects with an estimated capacity of 740 MW.

Government figures add there are 426 electricity storage projects covering an estimated 41.8 GW in the pipeline.

There are 3 GW of battery storage projects under construction in Scotland, a further 19.1 GW awaiting construction and 10.7 GW in the early stages of planning. An additional 4.8 GW of pumped hydro projects are under construction, with applications submitted for a further 4.2 GW.

The government places Scotland’s total renewables pipeline, encompassing both storage and electricity generation projects, at 1,236 projects with an estimated capacity of 85.4 GW. From this figure, 6.2 GW are currently under construction.

In May, UK energy company Drax announced the completion of its first PV project at one of its hydropower stations in Scotland as part of plans to deploy solar arrays at eight of its hydro sites.

The UK’s total solar capacity reached 22.3 GW by the end of April 2026, with more than two million solar installations now registered across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.