Solar panels in Brighton and Hove: output, grid and planning

What the sun gives Brighton and Hove

The south coast pays off in the data. The EU’s PVGIS model gives about 1,156 kWh a year per kWp for a south roof at 35 degrees. The best tilt is near 40 degrees, where the figure is 1,159 kWh per kWp. For comparison, the same model gives York 969 kWh on the same terms.

Let us turn that into a sum, since a figure per kWp is hard to picture. A 4 kWp system is 4 x 1,156, which is about 4,624 kWh a year. Remember that this is a modelled estimate. It uses a default 14% loss for wiring, inverters and dirt, and your roof may behave differently.

Three factors do most of the moving. Orientation matters, since a south roof makes the most. Shade from trees, chimneys or taller buildings can cut output, and a steeper or shallower pitch shifts the total slightly. Our table of solar output across 24 UK cities shows how places compare and why.

Homes with east-west roofs

Not every roof faces south, and your own may face east or west. That does not rule out solar.

An east-west layout makes less per panel over a year. However, it spreads the power across the morning and the evening. Our guide to east-west facing solar panels explains the trade-off and how installers size these systems. Ask for a quote that models both roof faces.

Using and selling the power

A higher yield means more spare power in summer. Under the Smart Export Guarantee, suppliers pay you for what you export, and Ofgem says every tariff must be above zero. Rates vary, so compare offers before you pick one.

Also remember that the payment depends on a meter that gives half-hourly export readings. A smart meter usually does this job. A battery can help you use more of your own power, but it adds to the price, so weigh both sides.

Grid connection through UK Power Networks

Brighton and Hove sits in the South Eastern Power Networks area run by UK Power Networks. This company is the distribution network operator, or DNO. It must be told about every new solar system.

There are two routes. The MCS standard says G98 applies up to and including 16 A per phase, and G99 applies above that. Because the limit adds up all generators, a solar array with a large battery can be pushed into G99.

You should not have to fill in the forms. According to the MCS standard, the MCS contractor must notify the DNO. Still, ask the installer to confirm which route they will use and when.

Planning rules for Brighton and Hove

The planning authority is Brighton and Hove City Council. English permitted development rules for solar changed on 27 August 2026, and the Planning Portal sets out the changes. Houses and blocks of flats now follow separate rules.

Meanwhile, schemes that no longer qualify can use the earlier rules until 26 August 2027. Under those, panels in a conservation area could not be fitted to a wall that fronts a highway. The right also did not reach buildings in the grounds of a listed building.

If you live in a flat, a listed building or a conservation area, speak to the council before you order. We have not checked local conservation area boundaries here, so do not assume either way. Our guide to planning permission for solar panels covers the rules for each nation.

Finding a good installer

Check certification first. MCS is the UK quality mark for small-scale renewables, and its tool lets you check whether a business is certified. This also matters for the Smart Export Guarantee, which asks you to show an MCS-certified installation and installer.

Next, look at your protection. Members of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code must insure deposits and workmanship warranties. That cover helps if a firm stops trading before it finishes your job.

Then compare quotes on the same basis, because kit and scope differ. Look for the system size in kWp, the expected yearly kWh and the roof faces used. Also check who files the DNO notice.

Our overview of solar panel installation explains what a typical job involves, for example the survey. The guide to solar panel costs helps you read the price.

If you want a second reference point, solar panels in London covers the capital’s figures on the same footing. When you are ready, you can request quotes through this site. We are an independent guide, not an installer, and nobody contacts you unless you agree.