Contrary to popular belief, solar panels are more than suitable for the UK’s climate. They can generate significant amounts of electricity even on overcast days, and exceedingly high temperatures in other countries interfere with the chemical process inside the solar cells, reducing the electric output.
Solar panels don’t need much to operate beyond plenty of natural light. That being said, you’ll want to check your home meets the following requirements to make sure that they’re suitable.
Roof
Size: The size of your solar array (several solar panels set up in one installation) will depend on your electricity consumption, so it’s a good idea to find this out first by having a look at your electricity bills.
A current 400-Watt (W) solar panel is roughly 1.75m x 0.9m x 50mm in size and can weigh between 15-30 kilograms. As a typical 25-inch TV needs roughly 150W, you’ll need several solar panels working together to cut your electricity bills.
This table should give you an idea of how much roof space is needed to meet various electricity demands.
| Size | Panels | Weight | Space m2 | Cost Approx £k | Output kWh | Annual System Benefits (savings and SEG)* |
| 2.4kW | 6 | 180kg | 9 | 4.5 | 2040 | 309.06 |
| 3.2kW | 8 | 240kg | 12 | 5.1 | 2720 | 412.08 |
| 4kW | 10 | 300kg | 15 | 5.7 | 3400 | 515.1 |
| 4.8kW | 12 | 360kg | 18 | 6.5 | 4080 | 618.12 |
| 5.6kW | 14 | 420kg | 21 | 7.3 | 4760 | 721.14 |
*assumes 35% consumption and 65% export. Elec = 34p ; SEG = 5p
Space in the loft: There should be a small amount of room made available in your attic for the inverter, which is roughly the size of a microwave.
Structure: Depending on how old your house is, you may also want to check that your roof is structurally sound before fitting 500 kilograms of solar panels onto it! Most installers will have access to a structural engineer for calculating the wind load should your roof show any signs of distress.
Aspect: Ideally, your roof would be facing true south to generate the most electricity, but it’s still worth installing solar panels on east or west-facing roofs, as the loss in output is only minor. Solar panels may not be the best choice for those with a north-facing roof, or if your house is largely shaded from the sun.
Pitch: The ideal angle of your roof would be between 35o and 40o, however anywhere from 10 – 60o is suitable. For those with a flat roof, it’s possible to fit the solar panels onto an angled mount to improve efficiency.
Planning Permission
Planning permission isn’t required in most cases, providing your home isn’t a listed building, isn’t located within a conservation area, and the solar panels don’t hang off the side of your roof. Your installer can help you with this if you are unsure.
Thinking about installing solar panels?
With energy prices at record levels, there has never been a better time to invest in Solar Panel and Battery Storage solutions. We offer Solar Panels, Battery Storage solutions and a combination of both. Whatever your requirements we’ll have a solution that’s right for you and your home.
We are currently experiencing high levels of demand for these solutions so don’t delay. Give us a call on 0161 768 1143 and speak with one of our friendly experts or click here to find out more.
