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Solar Panels by Location: UK City, County, and Regional Guides

Updated 7 April 20265 min read

Solar performance, installer availability, and incentive schemes all vary across the UK. A system sized for Cornwall will behave very differently from one installed in Aberdeen. The irradiance your panels receive, the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) whose rules govern your grid connection, and any regional or devolved grant programmes are all location-specific.

These guides cover what matters for your specific area — not just a generic calculation, but the real-world context for where you live.

South East England

The South East receives the highest solar irradiance in the UK, typically 1,100–1,200 kWh/m²/year. DNO: UK Power Networks. Systems here tend to have the shortest payback periods in England.

South West England

The South West has strong irradiance — particularly along the coastal areas of Cornwall and Devon — and a large concentration of MCS-certified installers. DNO: Western Power Distribution (now part of National Grid Electricity Distribution).

Midlands

The Midlands sits in the mid-range for UK irradiance and benefits from a high density of installers thanks to its large population. DNO varies by sub-region: Western Power Distribution covers the West Midlands, UK Power Networks covers parts of the East Midlands.

North West England

Irradiance is moderate in the North West — similar to the Midlands on average, though with more cloud cover. DNO: Electricity North West. Installer competition is strong, particularly in the Manchester and Liverpool city regions.

North East England

The North East has lower average irradiance than southern England, though longer summer daylight hours partially offset this. DNO: Northern Powergrid. Electricity prices are similar to the national average, so savings on bills remain meaningful.

Yorkshire

Yorkshire benefits from a reasonable balance of irradiance and relatively affordable housing, which can make solar payback competitive despite being further north than southern England. DNO: Northern Powergrid.

East of England

The East of England receives strong irradiance — comparable to the South East in many areas — and the flat terrain makes ground-mounted systems practical in rural areas. DNO: UK Power Networks.

London

London's per-panel output is lower than the South East coast due to urban shading and air quality, but high electricity costs mean payback periods remain competitive. DNO: UK Power Networks. Permitted development rules apply as standard, though conservation areas and listed buildings require additional consideration.

Wales

Wales has moderate irradiance — broadly similar to the North West of England — with some variation between the sunnier south and the cloudier north. The devolved Nest scheme offers means-tested grants for eligible households. DNO: Western Power Distribution.

Scotland

Scotland receives less irradiance than England on average, but longer summer days mean annual generation figures are better than the raw sunshine data suggests. The devolved Warmer Homes Scotland scheme offers grant funding for eligible households. DNO varies: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) covers the north and islands, SP Energy Networks covers the south.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has similar irradiance levels to Scotland and operates under a separate regulatory and grid framework from Great Britain. DNO: NIE Networks. The energy market is structured differently, and some GB-only schemes (such as SEG) do not apply — the local guides cover what is available.

Solar panels in Belfast

Not sure where to start?

If you want to understand how irradiance affects system sizing before diving into a local guide, read how much electricity do solar panels generate? first. For costs, how much do solar panels cost? gives UK-wide figures you can then contextualise with your local guide.

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