Solar Sweet Spots: Where are the best locations in the UK for solar energy?
Discover the best places in the UK for solar energy. Plus, solar myths debunked including how solar panels work all year round.
Whether you live in a new build or call a traditional detached house a home, installing solar panels on the roof of your property can save on both your wallet and your carbon footprint - and you don’t even have to live in a sunny spot to benefit. To help you out, we’ve researched the most suitable locations for solar panels across the whole of the UK.
To shine a light on the country’s ‘solar sweet spots’, we determined the suitability of solar panels using three factors. By comparing annual sunshine hours, the percentage of local homeowners, and the proportion of panel-suitable houses, there were some surprising results. We’ve then compared these insights against the areas with the highest uptake, highlighting the locations where solar energy is most popular.
Thinking about installing solar panels? Head to the Hive website to find out more about solar, including the potential savings and how to maintain your solar panels, as well busting common myths.
From the north-east to the south-west of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, scroll down to find out if you’re lucky enough to live in a ‘solar sweet spot’.
Where are the best places for solar energy in the UK?
We’ve crunched the numbers and analysed government data to find the best areas for the solar energy revolution – meaning energy self-sufficiency, greener energy and better choices for homeowners.
To identify solar potential, we analysed sunshine data and housing figures (including local homeowners and panel-suitable houses) from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to categorise local areas.
While our analysis covered all four countries of the UK, England emerged as the one with the most solar energy potential - a whopping 16 of the top 20 UK solar optimal locations are England, thanks to high levels of sunshine hours, homeownership and panel-suitable houses.
Leading the pack is Castle Point in Essex, a true solar hotspot that tops the table against more than 360 other local authorities. And it’s not the only part of Essex in the top five; Rochford ranks fourth. With above-average hours of sunlight and fewer cloud-covered days, the south-east region is certainly primed and ready for solar power.
But efficient solar energy isn’t limited to the south-east. All areas of the UK can benefit from the renewable energy generated by solar panels, including more northern locations (and even going as far north as the Orkney Islands in Scotland). The East Midlands prove to be particularly solar-suitable, with Lincolnshire in the top 20, largely due to its higher proportion of houses compared to flats - up to 95% in some areas. North Kesteven, West Lindsey and South Holland lead the charge in this county.
Daylight hours aren’t the only factor for optimal solar energy. Wales, for instance, takes four positions in the top 20 – making it the second-best nation across the UK for solar potential - even though it doesn’t have as many areas with high annual sunshine. Carmarthenshire, Isle of Anglesey, Flintshire and Bridgend have prime panel potential due to a higher percentage of homes suited for solar energy installations.
How does your area rank for solar panel efficiency? Browse through our breakdown below to find out.
Solar suitability throughout the UK
While England and Wales can claim the nation’s top solar spots, there are areas and regions all over the country with strong solar suitability where panels may be a surprisingly practical choice.
We’ve already seen the highest-ranked locations of Castle Point in England and Carmarthenshire in Wales boasting homeownership as high as 96% and top-ranking annual sunshine hours to make them both optimal. But solar opportunity doesn’t just stop here.
While Scotland may not stereotypically be associated with a lot of sun, many Scottish regions can easily make the most of solar energy. As well as Scotland’s sustainable energy projects, places like the Orkney Islands, Moray, and even the Shetland Islands reap the benefits of solar energy despite their northerly location – experiencing long daylight hours in summer and low levels of air pollution that allow for better production of solar energy.
In Northern Ireland, Newry, Mourne and Down thrives at the top with high rates of homeownership. Lisburn and Castlereagh show ample prospects for solar energy, with both coastal and upland areas offering a variety of solar panel orientations and maximum sunlight exposure.
Where have solar panels been installed the most in the UK?
Now that we’ve established the ideal locations for solar panels, how does it compare to where UK homeowners have actually installed them? Using 14 years of solar power installation data from gov.uk, we’ve identified the areas with the highest solar energy uptake across the country.
While suitability ranges across the country, most installations have been in the south-west of England. With a 9.2% uptake, close to one in ten households in this area is generating their low-carbon, green energy.
Scotland takes second place for solar installations, with 8.1% of homes now powered by panels. This is possibly surprising when compared to its solar suitability, as it ranks lower for sunshine hours and home ownership. However, it leads in sustainable alternatives and produces more green and renewable energy than it uses, so more households are adopting solar power at a record rate.
London has the lowest rate of uptake at only 3%. This is likely due having fewer homeowners and houses suitable for solar installations. In a city dominated by skyscrapers, flats, and renters, it’s perhaps not surprising that it’s less common to find homeowners and landlords looking to make the upgrade to eco-power.
Northern Ireland is also near the bottom of the table with only a 3.4% uptake. It’s clear there’s a huge untapped opportunity for alternative energy generation in these lower-ranking areas.
Solar panels: Everything you need to know
Think that solar energy is for those with south-facing roofs? Or that it’s just too expensive? Think again.
While location plays a role, solar panels can be a viable option for many homeowners in the UK. We’d like to bust a few solar panel myths - from how they work when it’s cloudy to how long they’ll last on your roof.
This is your guide to smart energy and will answer your questions and clear up any misconceptions about solar panels.
How do solar panels work?
Also known as photovoltaic (PV) panels, Solar panels transform sunlight into electricity. Within each panel are photovoltaic cells that generate electricity and turn it into direct current (DC). An inverter then turns this DC into alternating currents (AC) and this electric current can then be used to power your home. If that’s hard to wrap your head around, we’ve created a video on how solar panels work to make it even easier.
How can I sell my solar power?
Didn’t use all the energy your panels generated? You can sell the solar power you didn’t use back to the grid to make money from your green energy. Win-win.
We’ll pay you 15.1p per kWh of excess electricity you sell back to the grid when you sign up to the British Gas Export & Earn Plus SEG tariff. It’s easy to switch on the British Gas website so you can start save with your solar quickly.
Are solar panels expensive?
There is an upfront cost of installing the panels, but you can actually save money with solar because you’ll create your own energy from sunlight so you no longer need to pay for it, and earn by selling any spare.
The typical installation cost for an average two to three-bedroom house in London is £9,500, with 5.32kW of south-facing panels and a battery, but it’ll see energy bill savings in the long run.
With SEG earnings and our exclusive energy offer¹, this home can expect to save up to an estimated £820 in the first year of getting Hive solar– a huge 92.8%² -on its energy bills through the energy generated by panels.
Do solar panels work when it’s cloudy?
You might have more energy than you know what to do with when there’s a lot of sun, but you should still expect to generate electricity when it’s cloudy or overcast. Whilst panels work the best in the long daylight hours of summer, that doesn’t mean they stop working when it’s a darker day or in the winter when sunlight makes less frequent appearances.
It’s light rather than sunshine itself that solar panels generate energy from – which makes sense because the sun doesn’t stop radiating light when there are clouds in front of it. So, even on the cloudiest of days (as we’re all too familiar with here in the UK), you can still generate electricity.
How long do solar panels last?
Solar panels last a minimum of 25 years and come with a minimum 25-year performance guarantee 3 – so they’ll be good to go for decades after you’ve installed them. They need minimal maintenance too.
How many solar panels do I need?
Calculating this will depend on your electricity usage, your property, where you live and whether you choose to get a solar battery as well (so you can store any excess energy created during the day, for use at night). With Hive, you can get a free home survey where our partners will provide a personalised recommendation, including predicted solar generation.
How to maintain solar panels:
Solar panels are known to last around over 25 years, but you’ll still want to keep on top of usual maintenance – just like any other home feature. Make sure to have regular inspections and cleaning of your panels, to clear any debris and check for any visible damage.
Regular inspections are recommended but you’ll also want to consider getting your solar panels professionally checked every five to 10 years, for safety and quality checks.
If you see an exceptional decline in the amount of energy production from your solar panels, make sure to consult a specialist or professional.
Hive Home and Net Zero
At Hive Home, we’re not just dreaming of a greener future, we’re building it. Hive Home is committed to building greener and smarter solutions for every home. By harnessing solar energy, it’s more accessible than ever to have an environmentally friendly energy choice.
Susan Wells, Director of Solar and EV at Hive home, said:
“Hive is committed to providing simple and affordable net zero solutions for every home. There is a clear desire amongst homeowners to cut their energy bills and act more sustainably and solar panels & battery are a great way to do this. Not only can they help customers save on their electricity bills, but they can also get paid for any excess energy they sell back to the grid. Our Hive solar saver offer aims to provide a bigger financial incentive to make the decision to invest in the eco technology easier.”
We are proud to be at the forefront of this change, providing environmentally friendly home living options through solar, EV charging, heat pumps, and smart heating.
Sources & Methodology
The ‘Solar Sweet Spots’ index considers 368 local authorities in the UK, ranking them based on the suitability of homeowners to install solar panels, measured by:
The percentage of homeowners per local authority, with data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for England and Wales, gov.scot for Scotland and finance-ni for Northern Ireland. This data was analysed to understand who has the right to install solar panels easily, accessibly, and without third-party involvement, due to ownership of houses.
The proportion of houses vs. flats per local authority, with data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for England and Wales, gov.scot for Scotland and finance-ni for Northern Ireland. This data was analysed to understand the suitability of housing in each local authority, with installations primarily on owned houses, compared to flats or apartments.
Average annual sunshine hours, using Met Office data in each local authority. This data was analysed to understand which areas could achieve the most efficient solar energy intake, from the highest possible amounts of sunshine annually.
As well as this, regions across the UK have been analysed on their solar panel uptake data since 2010, with information obtained from gov.uk.
Unoccupied homes as well as flats, apartments, caravans, housing associations, and other non-house buildings were excluded from this analysis.
1 - Hive Solar Saver offer is available to customers who accept a quote for a Hive solar and/or battery installation from the 22nd May 2024. The offer is subject to availability and can be removed at any time. We will give at least one months’ advance notice of the offer ending on our website. To be eligible for the offer, installation must be completed within three months of the customer’s acceptance of the quote and customers must sign-up for Hive Solar Saver withing two weeks of receiving their invitation email. 25% discount applies for 12 months. Discount excludes standing charge. For time of use tariffs, discount applies to peak rate consumption only. Must be new energy platform, direct debit, customer. For full details please see the Hive Solar Saver Terms & Conditions on the British Gas website.
2 - Based on a medium demand (2,700 kWh) property in London, with south-facing 10 panel 4kW arrays and a battery providing 35% of the home’s electricity needs. Excess energy is sold back to the grid at 15.1p per kWh using the British Gas ‘Export & Earn Plus’ SEG tariff. Saving includes ‘Hive Solar Saver’ discount of 25% on electricity unit rate in first year and savings will vary after that. Typical bill calculated using national average October- December 24 price cap rates. Actual savings will depend on location, installation, aspect and electricity use.
3 - The solar panels installed by installers Effective Home and Forster come with a minimum 25-year performance lifetime guarantee for the manufacture of the modules and the performance of the solar cells.
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