A south-facing roof in Kent generates about 1,056 kWh per kWp a year on the EU's PVGIS model, and every unit you use saves 26.88p at the South Eastern England price cap rate, the highest in the south of England. A typical 4.5kWp system would make about 4,752 kWh a year.
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Get a Solar Quote →How much electricity solar panels make in Kent
A south-facing 1kWp system at 35 degrees in Maidstone generates about 1,056 kWh a year, according to the EU's PVGIS model. That ranks 3 of the 20 areas we cover, which run from 850 kWh in Glasgow to 1,119 kWh in Dorset. East and west roofs still work, at roughly a fifth less.
| Roof direction (35° pitch) | Per kWp a year | June | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| South-facing | 1,056 kWh | 127 kWh | 38 kWh |
| East-facing | 833 kWh | 120 kWh | 16 kWh |
| West-facing | 834 kWh | 122 kWh | 16 kWh |
PVGIS is a modelled figure for an unshaded roof with 14% system losses, and it runs higher than the MCS method installers must use for your written estimate, which gives roughly 800 to 950 kWh per kWp for a well-oriented UK roof. Use PVGIS to compare places and the installer's MCS estimate to plan your budget. Our guides to which direction panels should face and how much electricity solar panels produce go further.
What that electricity is worth in Kent
Every unit you use yourself saves 26.88p, the Ofgem price cap rate for direct debit customers in the South Eastern England region from 1 October to 31 December 2026. The Great Britain average is 26.32p. Every unit you export earns whatever your Smart Export Guarantee tariff pays, which the Energy Saving Trust puts at around 12p typically.
Take the Energy Saving Trust's typical 4.5kWp home system. On the PVGIS figure for Kent it would generate about 4,752 kWh a year. If you used all of it, that would be worth about £1,277. If you exported all of it, about £570. Real homes sit between the two, and a battery or daytime use pushes you towards the higher figure. The Energy Saving Trust prices that typical system at around £7,600. See our solar panel cost guide and current export rates.
How much solar Kent already has
Kent is above the UK average for rooftop solar and sits in the region that installs the most. At the end of 2025 Kent's 12 districts had 46,462 solar installations, about 72 per 1,000 households by our count from the government's local authority table, against about 69 across the UK. Adding Medway takes the county to 50,619. Maidstone (5,715) and Canterbury (5,057) have the most.
Government figures put the South East top of the UK, with 22,628 new installations in 2026 up to July and 305,101 in total. Kent is also home to Cleve Hill Solar Park near Faversham, a 373 MW solar farm that the government lists as the largest in the UK. It is a ground-mounted farm feeding the grid, so it does not change anything for your roof, but it is a measure of how much sun the north Kent coast gets.
Warm Homes grant in Kent
Kent's Warm Homes: Local Grant is run district by district, and solar panels can be funded, but some districts insulate first. In Dartford, for example, the scheme is delivered by Dartford Borough Council with Dover District Council. Solar PV is an eligible measure, but the council takes a fabric-first approach, so insulation is prioritised before renewables. The scheme opened on 1 April 2025 and runs for three years.
Check your own district council's page for its delivery partner and eligibility. Our guide to solar panel grants in the UK covers the national schemes.
Planning: a third of Kent is National Landscape
The Kent Downs and High Weald National Landscapes together cover 33% of Kent's land area. Being inside one does not remove the permitted development rights that cover most rooftop panels, but it is worth checking with your district planning team, particularly for anything visible from a road or on a listed building.
Kent County Council's own guidance says rooftop solar is usually permitted development, but planning permission may be needed in conservation areas and on listed buildings, and it points residents to their district planning department. Our guide to permitted development for solar panels has the national rules.
Your network operator in Kent
Kent is on UK Power Networks' South East network, and your installer notifies it within 28 days of fitting your system. UK Power Networks says systems exporting under 5kW are approved automatically, with no charge unless your supply needs upgrading. See our G98 and G99 guide. Neighbouring areas are covered in our guides to solar panels in London and solar panels in Essex.
Getting solar quotes in Kent
Get at least three written quotes from MCS-certified installers, each with a performance estimate for your roof and a full breakdown of what is supplied. That is the Renewable Energy Consumer Code's advice. Never pay more than 25% up front, and walk away from anyone offering a discount to sign on the day. Our guide to choosing a solar installer covers what to check.
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Get a Solar Quote →Solar panels in Kent: frequently asked questions
Are solar panels worth it in Kent?
For a house with a reasonable roof, usually yes. Kent generates about 1,056 kWh per kWp a year on the PVGIS model, and electricity in the South Eastern England region costs 26.88p per kWh under the October to December 2026 price cap, the highest in the south of England, so every unit you use yourself is worth more.
Is there a solar panel grant in Kent?
The Warm Homes: Local Grant can fund solar panels for eligible lower-income households, delivered by district councils. Some, such as Dartford, prioritise insulation before renewables. Check your district council's page for eligibility and its delivery partner.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels in Kent?
Usually not for rooftop panels on a house, which are normally permitted development in England. Conservation areas and listed buildings can need permission. The Kent Downs and High Weald National Landscapes cover a third of Kent, so check with your district planning team if your home is inside one.
Who is the network operator for solar in Kent?
UK Power Networks runs the electricity network in Kent. Your installer notifies it within 28 days, and systems exporting under 5kW are approved automatically.
Sources for this page
Local sources checked on 10 October 2026. Solar yields: PVGIS 5.2, EU Joint Research Centre, modelled 10 October 2026. Electricity prices: Ofgem price cap by region. System cost and export rate: Energy Saving Trust. Local sources:
- DESNZ: Renewable electricity by local authority, 2014 to 2025
- DESNZ: first regional solar breakdown, 27 August 2026
- DESNZ: Regional renewable electricity in 2025
- Dartford Borough Council: Warm Homes scheme
- Kent Downs National Landscape: about us
- UK Power Networks: solar and storage, cost, time and what's involved