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.
You don’t have to put solar panels on your roof if you don’t have enough space, a strong roof, or it’s not a south-facing roof. You can also put solar panels on the ground in your garden. They are normally attached to a metal frame and raised a little bit above the ground. This is how solar panels are installed on the big solar farms in the UK.
As long as your roof is pitched, has enough unshaded space, and doesn’t contain spray foam insulation underneath, it should be suitable for solar panels. The large majority of UK roofs are more than capable of supporting solar panels for as long as you need them to.
A roof pitch of 41 degrees facing due south with no shading is usually required to achieve 100% effectiveness. While most experts recommend south-facing solar panels for optimal performance, north-facing panels can still be viable. The challenges associated with north-facing roofs can be overcome with proper orientation and avoiding shade.
Flat roofs aren’t always suitable for solar, as drilling into them risks creating leaks, and the increased weight that comes from adding ballasts may be too much for them. Roofs that don’t have enough usable space, or which have loft spray insulation on the underside of the roof will also probably be unsuitable.
Your roof will need to be large enough to fit a suitable number of solar panels, as there’s rarely much point putting just two or three panels up there. The average solar panel takes up 2m², and your installer should leave around 40cm on each side of the array, as well as 3cm between every panel.