Will my roof generate solar energy?

Realistically, your roof’s solar generation potential will be less than that. It’ll likely still exceed your typical household energy needs, but real-world constraints like roof space, sunlight exposure, and equipment specifications play a huge role in your panels’ actual generation.

Can rooftop solar panels meet our energy needs?

We have published research by the UCL Energy Institute into the true potential for meeting our energy needs if we made full use of the rooftop space available for solar panels across the country.

Do solar panels generate electricity?

That said, the rate at which solar panels generate electricity varies depending on the amount of direct sunlight and the quality, size, number and location of panels in use. Even in winter, solar panel technology is still effective; at one point in February 2022, solar was providing more than 20% of the UK’s electricity.1

Should solar panels be installed on a south-facing roof?

Ideally, your solar panels will be installed on a south-facing roof at an angle of about 30°. These are the optimal conditions for solar panel production. The closer you get to this, the more electricity your panels produce. Solar panels with a larger power-to-size ratio will produce more electricity per square foot.

Will solar panels generate enough electricity year-round?

Whether they'll generate enough electricity for your home year-round will depend on: if your solar panel system works in a power cut. It may be more realistic to think about whether you can be self-sufficient for the brighter parts of the year, and then top up your energy use from the grid at other times.

How much solar power does a roof use a year?

Truthfully, way more than you probably need. According to our calculations, the average roof can produce about 35,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of solar electricity annually—more than three times the amount of electricity the average U.S. home uses annually.