The UK is forecast to be the largest PV market in Europe this year as a result of the rapid growth of solar farms, according to a new report.

It claims more than 120 large-scale solar projects have received planning approval, with many of them expected to be completed within the next 12 months.

China, Japan and the US were the top three solar markets in 2013, with Germany fourth and the UK rounding up the top five.

But more than 325 solar farms in the megawatt (MW) class will be completed in the UK by April next year, with more than 60 different sites having an installed capacity of more than 10MW, market research analyst NPD Solarbuzz said.

Another 444 large-scale ground-mounted solar farms are also at various stages of planning in the UK, with 124 having received approval, its latest UK Deal Tracker report shows. Many of these will be targeting connection before support under the Renewable Obligation (RO) scheme falls in April 2015, it said.

Finlay Colville, Vice President at NPD Solarbuzz said: “With the UK projected to be the largest solar PV market in Europe in 2014, global component suppliers and project developers need to quickly understand the dynamics of the UK solar PV industry. Aligning with suitable partners and choosing the most attractive PV projects in the pipeline will ultimately determine the winners and losers over the next 12 months.”