The best position for solar panels is usually a south-facing roof with little or no shade.
In simple terms, that’s the answer. Thanks for reading!
But the truth is, we don’t live in a perfect world, where all our homes have nice, large, simple, obstacle-free south-facing roofs. And so, the answer becomes a bit more nuanced.
Even if you don’t have a south-facing roof or your home is shaded by trees, chimneys or nearby buildings, you can likely still benefit from solar panels.
The key is to design the system around your home, not around a perfect textbook example. And that’s where our team at Electrical Innovations comes in.
The best direction for solar panels in the UK
In the UK, south-facing solar panels usually produce the most electricity, because of the way the sun moves through the sky. The sun rises in the east, moves across the southern part of the sky, and sets in the west. That means the strongest and most useful sunlight usually comes from the south.
Solar panels work best when sunlight hits them directly. So, when your panels face south, they are pointed towards the sun for more of the day. This normally helps them produce more electricity, especially around the middle of the day when the sun is higher and stronger.
That’s why, on the flip side, homes in the southern hemisphere usually put solar panels on north-facing roof sections instead.
However, this doesn’t mean every solar panel system must face south. South-east and south-west-facing roofs can also work well. East-facing roofs produce more electricity in the morning, while west-facing roofs produce more later in the day.
In some cases, panels can be placed across more than one roof section. For example, some panels may face east and some may face west. This can help spread your solar generation across more of the day.
What if there are trees or shade?
Trees, chimneys, nearby buildings, aerials, roof windows and other obstacles can all block sunlight at certain times of the day.
This doesn’t mean solar panels are impossible. It just means the system needs to be planned carefully around those obstacles.
It’s important to plan for the whole year. For instance, if you’re installing your panels in winter, the surrounding trees might be bare, having lost all their leaves. When they fill back in during summer, they may prevent sunlight from reaching your panels at certain times of the day.
During a home inspection before your solar panel installation, your installer may suggest:
- Using a different part of the roof
- Changing the panel layout
- Using optimisers or microinverters where suitable
- Managing or even removing shade-causing items (e.g., trimming trees)
- Placing panels on a garage, extension, or outbuilding
The roof angle must also be considered
The angle of your roof affects how much sunlight your panels receive. A good roof pitch helps the panels catch more light during the year. But again, your roof doesn’t need to be perfect.
Solar panels can even be installed on flat roofs. The installer attaches the solar panels to a mounting system, which holds the panels at a better angle for capturing sunlight. In some cases, this can make flat roofs surprisingly effective for solar, as long as there’s enough space and limited shading.
If your roof isn’t suitable, ground-mounted solar panels may be another option. These are allowed in the UK and sometimes fall under permitted development, but they may need planning permission depending on their size, location and property type. We can help you check with your local authority to see if these are an option.
In most cases, roof-mounted solar makes more sense.
Can most homes still benefit from solar panels?
Most homes can benefit from solar panels and see a decent return on investment, even if the roof isn’t perfectly oriented.
Just because you have a chimney in the way, or you’re surrounded by protected trees, doesn’t mean solar panels are out of the question. You might not get quite as much sunlight as you would otherwise, but you’ll still get some.
With the right design, many households can still reduce their electricity bills, use more of their own power, and see a return on their investment over time.
The exact return will depend on your home, your system, your energy use and your installation. But for most properties, we’ve found that solar panels are proven to be a smart long-term choice.
Finding the best position for your home
That’s why the best position for solar panels is different for every individual home. During your assessment, your installer will look at:
- Which direction your roof faces
- How much shade your roof gets
- The angle of the roof
- How much roof space is available
- How much electricity you use (or plan to use)
- When you use the most electricity
- Whether battery storage will help
- What return on investment you can expect
- What can be done to minimise shade and maximise array size
The goal isn’t always to fit as many panels as possible. The goal is to fit the right system in the right place, so you get good performance, useful savings and a sensible return over time.
Get the best solar panel position for your home
So, what have we learned? A roof that looks unsuitable may still have good solar potential. A roof that looks perfect may need careful planning around shade, pitch or available space.
Don’t judge your solar plans or performance by your friend’s or your neighbour’s. What do you need from your panels?
That’s where Electrical Innovations comes in. Our qualified, certified and insured team will assess your roof, explain your options, then design and install a solar panel system around your home, your energy use, and your expected return on investment. We’ll offer realistic expectations and day-to-day considerations so you know exactly what to expect. Contact us today to arrange a free, no obligation consultation.
