Where you live changes what solar panels are worth by a quarter or more. A south-facing roof in Essex generates about 1,061 kWh per kWp a year on the EU's PVGIS model, against about 850 in Glasgow, and the price you save on each unit you use runs from 25.36p to 27.86p across these areas.
Solar output and value by area
The table ranks each area by modelled output for a south-facing 1kWp system at 35 degrees, and shows what that output would be worth if you used all of it at your region's price cap rate. Real homes export some of what they generate, so treat the last column as a ceiling for comparison, not a saving.
| Area | Output per kWp a year | Price cap rate (Oct to Dec 2026) | Value per kWp if all used | Network operator | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorset | 1,119 kWh | 26.47p | £296 | SSEN | England |
| Essex | 1,061 kWh | 26.61p | £282 | UK Power Networks | England |
| Kent | 1,056 kWh | 26.88p | £284 | UK Power Networks | England |
| Cornwall | 1,053 kWh | 26.58p | £280 | National Grid Electricity Distribution | England |
| Hampshire | 1,038 kWh | 26.47p | £275 | SSEN | England |
| Cambridge | 1,037 kWh | 26.61p | £276 | UK Power Networks | England |
| Norfolk | 1,033 kWh | 26.61p | £275 | UK Power Networks | England |
| Cardiff | 1,029 kWh | 26.55p | £273 | National Grid Electricity Distribution | Wales |
| London | 1,025 kWh | 26.60p | £273 | UK Power Networks | England |
| Bristol | 1,022 kWh | 26.58p | £272 | National Grid Electricity Distribution | England |
| Leicester | 994 kWh | 25.36p | £252 | National Grid Electricity Distribution | England |
| Nottingham | 978 kWh | 25.36p | £248 | National Grid Electricity Distribution | England |
| Birmingham | 969 kWh | 25.60p | £248 | National Grid Electricity Distribution | England |
| Liverpool | 967 kWh | 27.86p | £269 | SP Energy Networks | England |
| York | 961 kWh | 25.60p | £246 | Northern Powergrid | England |
| Leeds | 947 kWh | 25.60p | £242 | Northern Powergrid | England |
| Sheffield | 943 kWh | 25.60p | £241 | Northern Powergrid | England |
| Edinburgh | 915 kWh | 26.11p | £239 | SP Energy Networks | Scotland |
| Manchester | 886 kWh | 26.49p | £235 | SP Electricity North West | England |
| Glasgow | 850 kWh | 26.11p | £222 | SP Energy Networks | Scotland |
Output: PVGIS 5.2, EU Joint Research Centre, unshaded roof, 14% system losses. PVGIS runs higher than the MCS method installers use for your written estimate. Prices: Ofgem price cap, direct debit, single rate. Checked 10 October 2026.
What changes from area to area
- Sunshine. The south of England generates the most. Scotland generates less but still enough for solar to pay back. See how much electricity solar panels produce.
- Electricity prices. Each Ofgem region has its own price cap rate, so the same unit of solar saves you a different amount.
- Your network operator. Your installer notifies the local distribution network operator under G98 or G99.
- Planning rules. Each nation has its own permitted development rules. In a Scottish conservation area, for example, panels can go on a rear roof but not the principal elevation, and Scotland's rules cover flats as well as houses. See permitted development for solar panels.
- Grants. Warm Homes: Local Grant delivery is run council by council in England, with different partners and waiting lists. In Wales the Nest scheme can fund solar panels for eligible households, while Home Energy Scotland's grant and loan does not cover standard solar panels. See solar panel grants.
We match quote requests with MCS-certified installers across the UK, not just the areas above.
Get a Solar Quote →Solar panels by area: frequently asked questions
Where in the UK is best for solar panels?
On the EU's PVGIS model, the south of England generates the most: of the areas we cover, Dorset (1,119 kWh per kWp a year), Essex (1,061 kWh per kWp a year) and Kent (1,056 kWh per kWp a year) lead for a south-facing roof, against about 850 in Glasgow. Every part of the UK generates enough for solar to pay back, but the payback is quicker in the south.
Do electricity prices differ by region in the UK?
Yes. The Ofgem price cap sets a different unit rate for each region. For direct debit customers from 1 October to 31 December 2026 it runs from 25.36p per kWh in the East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and North Wales, against a Great Britain average of 26.32p.
Do solar planning rules differ across the UK?
Yes. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own permitted development rules. In Scotland, panels in a conservation area are permitted development on a rear elevation but not the principal elevation, and the rules cover flats as well as houses. In England, the limits differ for houses and blocks of flats. World Heritage Sites, such as Edinburgh's Old and New Towns, need planning permission in Scotland.