The Myth About Northern Solar
There's a common assumption that solar panels only make sense in the south of England. While it's true that homes in London or Brighton get slightly more sun, the difference is much smaller than people think.
A typical solar installation in the North West generates around 850-900 kWh per kWp per year. In the South East, that figure is around 950-1,000 kWh. That's roughly a 10-15% difference - not the dramatic gap most people imagine.
Real Savings for North West Homes
A standard 4 kWp solar system on a home in Wirral, Liverpool, or Chester will typically generate 3,400-3,600 kWh of electricity per year. At current electricity rates, that translates to:
- Annual savings: £400-550 on your electricity bills
- Export income: £80-120 through the Smart Export Guarantee
- Total annual benefit: £480-670
- Payback period: 7-9 years
After the system has paid for itself, you're looking at 15-20 more years of virtually free electricity, since most panels are warrantied for 25 years.
North West Weather and Solar Output
Solar panels don't need direct sunshine to generate electricity - they work from daylight. On an overcast day, a solar panel still produces 25-40% of its rated output. Given that the North West has long summer days with light from 5am to 10pm, June and July output is often comparable to southern installations.
Winter is where the gap is slightly larger, but this is also when energy bills are highest - so every unit generated still counts.
What About Roof Direction?
Your roof orientation matters more than your postcode. A south-facing roof in Birkenhead will outperform a north-facing roof in Brighton every time. East-west facing roofs also work well, generating around 85% of a south-facing system's output.
The main requirements are:
- Minimal shading from trees or nearby buildings
- A roof in reasonable condition
- Sufficient space for the panels
Free Survey for North West Homes
We've installed solar panels on hundreds of homes across Wirral, Liverpool, Chester, and the surrounding areas. We know the local conditions and can give you realistic expectations based on your specific property.
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation survey and we'll show you exactly what solar could save you.