Short answer: on a north-facing railing a 920 Wp kit makes about 186 kWh a year in London, 27% of what it would make facing south [calc]. Even if you used 80% of it at home, that is about £39 a year at 26.32p [calc]: the cheapest two-panel kit we found (£456) would take about 12 years to pay back. East and west are a different story.
All directions, 920 Wp
| Panels face | London, vertical | London, 35° | Manchester, vertical | Glasgow, vertical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South | 683 | 937 | 595 | 582 |
| South-east | 643 | 891 | 557 | 531 |
| South-west | 616 | 871 | 541 | 537 |
| East | 480 | 752 | 422 | 395 |
| West | 459 | 724 | 408 | 400 |
| North | 186 | 498 | 178 | 173 |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
kWh in a typical year, PVGIS v5.3, 14% losses, 800 W cap [calc].
What you can do instead
- Use another side: an east or west wall makes about 70% of a south wall in London [calc], and its morning or evening output often matches when people are home.
- Lay the panels flatter on a ground stand or flat roof, if you can, away from the building's shade: direction matters much less at 10°.
- One panel, not two: a smaller kit loses less money if output disappoints. See one panel or two.
Try your own town in the generation calculator, then the payback, and see the kits.
Frequently asked questions
Do solar panels work facing north in the UK?
They produce, but little: about 186 kWh a year for 920 Wp vertical in London, against 683 kWh facing south [calc].
Is it better to lay panels flat if my balcony faces north?
Yes, if you have the space and the panels can sit clear of the balcony's shade: almost flat (10°) in London, a 920 Wp kit makes about 694 kWh facing north, against 847 kWh facing south [calc].