FIT-eligible modules went up at 16,000 homes and commercial properties across the country, according to electricity regulator Ofgem.

In comparison, just 4MW was put up in 2009 and 4.4MW in 2008. The UK had 32MW of cumulative capacity at the end of 2009.

The UK – long a solar-energy laggard – is still a miniscule market compared to countries like Germany, Italy and Spain.

But