Solar Panel Output in 24 UK Cities: PVGIS Yield Table

A south-facing solar system in the UK makes about 850 to 1,150 kWh a year for each kilowatt of panels. Brighton and Hove tops our table and Glasgow comes last. However, your own roof’s direction, shade and tilt can move your figure up or down.

How we measured output

The figures below come from PVGIS, the free solar tool from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. We asked it for a 1 kWp system in each town, tilted at 35 degrees and facing due south.

PVGIS used its PVGIS-SARAH3 satellite database, which covers Europe from 2005 to 2023. It also applies a default 14% loss for cables, inverters, dirt, snow and ageing. Each number is therefore a modelled yearly average, not a promise.

A “kWp” is the rated peak power of the panels. A 4 kWp system makes four times the 1 kWp figure in the table. For example, that is about 4,080 kWh a year in London.

Output in 24 towns, ranked

We sorted the table from the highest yield to the lowest. Each town name links to our page for that area, because local rules differ. The “best tilt” column shows the angle that PVGIS found gives the most power over a year.

Town	kWh per kWp a year (35°, south)	Best tilt	Network operator
solar panels in Brighton and Hove	1,156	40°	UK Power Networks
solar panels in Plymouth	1,121	39°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Southampton	1,064	39°	Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN Distribution)
solar panels in Exeter	1,053	39°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Cardiff	1,042	39°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Norwich	1,030	41°	UK Power Networks
solar panels in Bristol	1,025	39°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Reading	1,021	40°	Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN Distribution)
solar panels in London	1,020	40°	UK Power Networks
solar panels in Swansea	1,014	39°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Milton Keynes	1,008	40°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Coventry	987	40°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Leicester	981	41°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Nottingham	979	41°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in York	969	42°	Northern Powergrid
solar panels in Birmingham	968	40°	National Grid Electricity Distribution
solar panels in Liverpool	965	40°	SP Energy Networks
solar panels in Leeds	952	41°	Northern Powergrid
solar panels in Newcastle upon Tyne	950	43°	Northern Powergrid
solar panels in Sheffield	947	41°	Northern Powergrid
solar panels in Edinburgh	903	42°	SP Energy Networks
solar panels in Manchester	896	40°	SP Electricity North West
solar panels in Aberdeen	892	43°	Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN Distribution)
solar panels in Glasgow	853	41°	SP Energy Networks

What causes the gap

Glasgow makes 853 kWh per kWp, while Brighton and Hove makes 1,156 kWh. That is a gap of about 35%. Two things drive most of it.

The first is sunshine. For example, the southern coast leads the table, with Brighton and Hove, Plymouth and Southampton in the top three. Glasgow, Aberdeen and Manchester sit at the bottom.

The second is local weather. Manchester is further south than Edinburgh, yet it scores a little lower. Cloud and hills matter as much as latitude. This is why we use modelled data rather than a simple north-south rule.

The gap matters less than you might think. A system in Glasgow still makes a useful amount of power across a year. Your roof and your daytime use decide how much of it cuts your bill.

Why your roof will differ

The table assumes a perfect south-facing roof. Most homes are not perfect, so here is what moves your own number.

• Direction. East and west roofs make less than south. They spread power across the morning and evening, which can suit some households.
• Tilt. The best tilt in our table runs from 39 to 43 degrees. Many UK roofs sit close to that, so tilt is rarely the problem.
• Shade. A chimney, tree or neighbouring wall can cut output sharply. Ask any installer to check shading on your roof.
• Losses. Dirt, snow and ageing all trim output. PVGIS already allows 14% for these.

Tilt changes the result only a little. For example, in London, moving from 35 to 40 degrees lifts output from 1,020 to 1,024 kWh. Do not rule out a roof over a few degrees of slope.

Using the numbers

Multiply the table figure by the size of the system you are considering. Then compare the result with your yearly use, because that shows how much solar could cover. Ofgem’s typical medium home uses 2,500 kWh a year from 1 July 2026. Our guide on how many solar panels you need takes you through that sizing step by step.

Output is only half the story, since you are paid for surplus power that you send to the grid. Read how the Smart Export Guarantee works before you pick a tariff.

Some jobs also need paperwork before you start, because rules vary by area. Check whether solar panels need planning permission where you live. The last column of the table names your network operator. Your installer must tell them about the system, as our G98 and G99 grid connection guide explains.

Next steps

Use your town’s figure as a sanity check on any quote. If an installer promises far more than the table suggests, ask for the calculation behind it. Our page on solar panel installation explains what a good survey and quote should include.

When you are ready, you can ask for quotes from MCS-certified installers. Nobody is contacted automatically, because your enquiry is first stored in a central dashboard.