Solar Panel Orientation Comparison - Edinburgh

Thinking about solar panels for your Edinburgh home but not sure which way they should face? Panel orientation genuinely affects how much energy you generate and money you save. While south-facing panels are the gold standard in the UK, east, west, and even north-facing systems can still deliver solid results with the right approach.

Quick take: South-facing panels generate the most energy in Edinburgh, particularly valuable given our northerly latitude at 56°N. East and west orientations produce around 80-85% of south-facing output. The best direction for you depends on your roof layout, energy usage patterns, and local shading, not just the compass.

How Roof Orientation Affects Solar Panels

Solar panels work by absorbing sunlight and converting it into electricity, so the direction they face makes a real difference. In the UK, we're in the northern hemisphere, which means the sun travels across the southern half of the sky throughout the day. This is why panels south get the longest, most direct exposure and typically generate the most electricity.

Panels on east or west roofs still produce substantial energy, typically around 80-85% of south-facing output. East-facing panels produce more in the morning, west-facing ones ramp up in the afternoon, and south-facing panels deliver steady output all day. In Edinburgh, where our northerly position at 56°N gives us around 1,340 hours of sunshine annually—and those gloriously long summer days with nearly 18 hours of daylight—optimizing your panel direction helps you capture every bit of available light.

Understanding Solar Panel Orientations (South, East/West and North)

South-facing panels point directly toward the sun's path across our sky. A 4 kW system on a south-facing Edinburgh roof might generate around 3,600-3,700 kWh per year, enough to cover a significant chunk of a typical home's electricity needs.

East and west-facing panels capture the sun during different parts of the day. East-facing panels produce most energy before midday, while west-facing panels generate power from late morning through sunset. Both typically produce about 15-20% less than south-facing panels over the year, but that's still 80-85% of optimal output—and they often match when people actually use electricity.

North-facing panels are the trickiest option. Since the sun's path is predominantly southern, a north roof receives mostly indirect and diffuse light. These panels might only produce 50-70% of what an identical south-facing system would generate.

South-Facing Solar: The Gold Standard

There's a reason installers get excited about south-facing roofs: they simply deliver the best performance. A south solar panel system will typically outperform any other orientation by a clear margin. Where an east or west array might generate around 2,900-3,200 kWh annually from a 4 kW system, that same setup facing south could produce 3,600-3,700 kWh: several hundred extra kilowatt-hours each year.

South-facing panels deliver a smooth, consistent power curve throughout the day. This is particularly valuable in Edinburgh, where our northerly latitude means the sun sits lower in the sky compared to southern England. Winter performance is another area where south-facing panels excel—when days are short, they're positioned to capture those limited hours more effectively than any other orientation. From a financial perspective, south-facing installations typically offer the fastest payback periods, around 7-9 years in Edinburgh.

East- and West-Facing Solar: Underrated All-Rounders

East and west-facing solar panels perform far better than most people expect. An east solar panel or west solar panel array typically generates around 80-85% of what an equivalent south-facing system would produce. A 4 kW system on an east or west roof in Edinburgh could produce around 2,900-3,200 kWh annually, more than enough to make a real dent in your electricity bills.

The real advantage is when they generate power. East-facing panels produce most electricity in the morning, perfect if you're running appliances before heading out. West-facing panels generate peak output in the late afternoon and early evening, exactly when many Edinburgh families return home. During those long summer evenings when daylight stretches past 10pm, west-facing panels can keep generating well into what would be evening darkness elsewhere in the UK.

Many Edinburgh homes have dual-pitch roofs with one face pointing east and the other west. By splitting arrays across both orientations, you extend your production window throughout the day. For areas like Leith or Stockbridge, where housing includes plenty of Victorian terraces with east-west roof layouts, these orientations are absolutely viable.

North-Facing Solar: When (and When Not) It Makes Sense

North solar panels are the most challenging orientation in the UK. A north-facing system might only produce around 50-70% of what an identical south-facing array would generate in Edinburgh. That's a significant reduction, and it means you need to think carefully about whether it makes financial sense.

When north-facing makes sense: If your roof faces north-west or north-east rather than true north, you'll catch some morning or evening sun during those long summer days. Shallow-pitched roofs also fare better when facing north—a roof angled at 15 degrees catches more overhead light than one at 45 degrees. If your South Edinburgh or East Edinburgh property has a low-pitch north roof, it might perform better than expected.

When north-facing doesn't make sense: If your roof is steeply pitched and faces due north, you're looking at potentially 12-15 year payback periods. In conservation areas like New Town or Old Town, where planning restrictions might limit your options anyway, a poorly oriented north roof might not be worth pursuing.

Other Factors That Matter as Much as Orientation

Shading is crucial. Even a south-facing roof will underperform if it's sitting in shadow for several hours a day. Trees, chimneys, neighbouring buildings—anything that blocks sunlight during peak hours—can seriously reduce your generation. In built-up areas like the tenements of Leith or the terraced streets of West Edinburgh, shading from surrounding structures is a real consideration. Edinburgh's hilly topography can also create unexpected shading patterns as the sun moves lower across the southern sky.

Roof pitch influences how directly sunlight hits your panels. The ideal angle in Edinburgh is around 30-40 degrees, which matches many residential roof pitches.

Available roof space determines how many panels you can fit.

Your energy usage patterns can determine which orientation works best. Pairing your system with battery storage can help bridge timing gaps, storing excess generation from those long summer days for use during darker winter months.

What's Best for You? A Simple Decision Guide

If you have a south-facing roof with minimal shading: You'll get maximum generation, fastest payback (typically 7-9 years), and the strongest long-term returns.

If you have east or west-facing roofs: Expect around 80-85% of south-facing output, which still delivers substantial savings. Payback might extend to 9-11 years, but over a 25-year panel life, that's still a strong investment.

If you have multiple roof orientations: Use them. A combination system can maximize your total generation and spread production throughout the day.

If you only have a north-facing roof: Get a detailed assessment that models your specific roof's pitch, angle, and shading. If you're looking at 50-70% output, consider alternatives like ground-mounted panels if you have garden space.

If you're unsure: Get a professional survey. At Solar Panels Edinburgh, we'll assess your specific property and give you projected outputs for different configurations.

Government and Local Incentives

Installing solar panels in the UK has become more financially attractive thanks to government incentives that apply regardless of your panel orientation.

0% VAT on Solar Installations: The UK government currently charges no VAT on residential solar panel installations and batteries until at least March 2027. For a typical £6,000 system in Edinburgh, that's a £300 saving straight away.

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG): The SEG ensures you get paid for any surplus solar energy you export to the grid. All major energy suppliers must offer an export tariff, typically ranging from 4-15p per kWh. Given Edinburgh's long summer days, you might find yourself exporting more during June and July than homes further south.

Energy Company Obligation (ECO4): The ECO4 programme can fund solar panels (up to 100% of cost) for low-income households or those receiving certain benefits. These schemes are orientation-agnostic—if you qualify, it doesn't matter which way your roof faces.

Final Thoughts: What is the Best Orientation?

South-facing panels generate the most electricity in Edinburgh and offer the fastest payback. But the best orientation is the one that actually exists on your property and can be designed properly. East and west-facing systems still deliver around 80-85% of south-facing output, which is substantial.

What matters more than hitting some theoretical ideal is making sure your system is well-designed for your roof's actual characteristics: pitch, available space, shading, and structural condition. With energy incentives and electricity prices where they are, even modest generation translates to meaningful savings.

Ready to find out what your roof can do? Get in touch for a no-obligation quote. Whether your roof faces south, east, west, or somewhere in between, we'll design a system that makes the most of what you've got.

Solar Panel Orientation FAQs

Do solar panels have to face south to work properly?

No. South-facing is optimal, but panels facing east or west still generate around 80-85% of the electricity a south-facing system would produce. Many Edinburgh homes have solar on east or west roofs and see excellent results.

How much less energy will I get from east or west-facing panels?

Roughly 15-20% less annual energy compared to a south-facing system. Where a south-facing 4 kW system might generate 3,600-3,700 kWh per year in Edinburgh, an east or west-facing one would produce around 2,900-3,200 kWh.

Can I install panels on a north-facing roof?

You can, but it's the least ideal orientation. North-facing panels might only generate 50-70% of what south-facing ones would produce. However, if your roof is north-west or north-east rather than true north, you'll catch some angled sun and perform better.

What if I can use multiple roof faces?

That's often excellent. Splitting panels between two orientations extends your generation window across more of the day and can increase total output by letting you fit more panels overall.

What about panels on flat roofs?

Flat roofs are brilliant for solar because you're not limited by the building's orientation. We can use mounting frames to tilt panels south at an optimal angle, essentially creating an ideal setup regardless of your property's direction.

Will conservation area restrictions affect my options?

Potentially. Parts of Edinburgh, particularly New Town and Old Town, have strict planning requirements. We can advise on what's permissible and work with you to find solutions that respect heritage guidelines whilst maximizing your solar potential. Proper installation and sympathetic design are key.

How do I know what'll work for my specific property?

Get a professional site survey. We'll assess your roof's orientation, pitch, shading patterns, structural condition, and available space, then run modelling software using Edinburgh's climate data. Contact us to arrange one.