What should your solar panel be angled at based on your UK postcode and region? Here we explain how to optimise your solar panel based on your location in the UK.
Most homes in the UK will be unable to get the perfect angle and dead south position needed for the maximum amount of sunlight in the UK with the roof space that they have.
So what percentage of sunlight will you get with what you have and what is the perfect angle for your solar panels?
What is the best angle for solar panels in the UK?
The best all-year-round angle for PV (photovoltaic) solar panels in the UK is 35-40 degrees.
The best angle for each region within the UK will vary slightly within this.
For seasonal changes, the best angle for summertime is 20 degrees and 50 degrees in winter.
See below for the optimum angle for each UK region.
Seasonal changes in solar panel tilt
If you have a solar system that can move with the seasons, whether manually or automatically, you will need to calculate the tilt according to the time of year.
For example, you will want your panels to be more vertical in the winter, to make the most of the low winter sun and have a lower tilt in the summer months when the sun is higher in the sky.
The calculation for the winter tilt of solar panels
For winter work out your solar panel tilt by adding 15 to your latitude.
So, if your latitude is 34. 34 + 15 = 49. Your solar panels need a 49-degree tilt.
The calculation for the summer tilt of solar panels
For summer you can do this by subtracting 15.
For example, 34 -15 = 19. You would want a 19-degree tilt.
Can I have solar panels on a flat roof?
Having a completely flat solar panel array will still get a good amount of sunlight to generate energy.
However, it is worth considering the fact that the flatter they are the less efficient they are at self-cleaning which will affect their efficiency when dirt builds up on them.
In this case, it would be better if they were easy to access for cleaning.
Solar Panel Angle By Postcode UK
Below, we have listed the solar panel angle roughly by segmenting each region of the UK, which you can roughly use based on your UK postcode.
The exact tilt for your postcode may vary within the region you live in but very marginally.
See below for the optimum angle for each region in the UK:
South-East, England:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 35.9° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 35.9°
- Summer: 20.9°
- Fall: 35.9°
- Winter: 50.9°
North-West, England:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 36.8° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 36.8°
- Summer: 21.8°
- Fall: 36.8°
- Winter: 51.8°
East of England:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 36.4° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 36.4°
- Summer: 21.4°
- Fall: 36.4°
- Winter: 51.4°
North-East, England:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 37.2° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 37.2°
- Summer: 22.2°
- Fall: 37.2°
- Winter: 52.2°
East Midlands, England:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 36.6° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 36.6°
- Summer: 21.6°
- Fall: 36.6°
- Winter: 51.6°
South-West, England:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 35.8° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 35.8°
- Summer: 20.8°
- Fall: 35.8°
- Winter: 50.8°
Yorkshire and the Humber, England:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 36.9° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 36.9°
- Summer: 21.9°
- Fall: 36.9°
- Winter: 51.9°
West-Midlands:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 36.4° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
Spring: 36.4°
Summer: 21.4°
Fall: 36.4°
Winter: 51.4°
Greater London, England:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 36° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 36°
- Summer: 21°
- Fall: 36°
- Winter: 51°
Scotland:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 37.8° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 37.8°
- Summer: 22.8°
- Fall: 37.8°
- Winter: 52.8°
Wales:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 36.3° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 36.3°
- Summer: 21.3°
- Fall: 36.3°
- Winter: 51.3°
Northern Ireland:
Optimal year-round tilt angle: 37.2° from horizontal
Your optimal tilt angles by season:
- Spring: 37.2°
- Summer: 22.2°
- Fall: 37.2°
- Winter: 52.2°
You can look up your exact postcode using the calculator tool on The Footprint Hero.
How much sunlight will non-south-facing panels receive?
Panels that are dead south with a 35–40-degree angle will receive 100% sunlight. Panels facing southwest or southeast at this tilt with receive 95% sunlight.
Dead west or dead south will receive 80% sunlight but even north-facing panels at the same angle can receive 60% sunlight.
As solar panels come down in price, it is becoming more viable to place them on north-facing roofs, using more panels to increase efficiency.
In the grid below you will see the percentage of sunlight a panel would get depending on the angle and the orientation of the panel.
This will allow you to understand the amount of sunlight you will receive if you are unable to achieve the optimum angle with the space that you have.
For example, a panel with 0% tilt would only get 84% sunlight. Whereas, on a completely south-facing wall with a 90% tilt it would only get 71%.
