With the growing demand for solar energy, many homeowners are beginning to ask the question of whether or not solar panels can be installed on a north-facing roof. While it is not the standard recommendation, it is possible to install solar panels on a north-facing roof and still receive the financial and environmental benefits of solar energy.
As the UK is in the northern hemisphere, south-facing panels will receive the most sun exposure throughout the day and, therefore, will produce more solar energy. However, this doesn’t mean that north-facing solar panels are fruitless.
There is an obvious difference between north and south facing solar panels in the UK, with south-facing solar panels between a 20 and 50 degree angle being the most preferable position. Again, this doesn’t mean that solar panels in a northern orientation are obsolete, but they will not produce as much solar energy as those that face south.
For a typical 3kWp solar photovoltaic (PV) system, north-facing panels will produce approximately 1,145 kWh of electricity per year, compared to, say, 1,361 kWh for a south-facing installation. So, north-facing panels don’t produce zero energy, but it is considerably less.
North-facing solar panels can still make some energy in the UK, but not as much as south-facing solar panels. You might need to install more solar panels to get the same amount of solar energy. It will also take longer for your solar PV system to pay for itself, about four years more, compared to south-facing solar panels.
Your solar panels should face north, because that is where the equator is. This way, they can get more sunlight during the day. Before you get a solar PV system, you need to know the basics of how solar panels work and how to make them work best.