Solar panels in Exeter: yield, grid connection and planning

How much power to expect

Exeter’s modelled yield is high for Britain. The European Commission’s PVGIS model gives about 1,053 kWh a year for each kWp on a south-facing roof at 35 degrees. It allows for its default 14% system losses.

A slightly steeper pitch does a touch better. At the model’s best tilt of 39 degrees, the figure rises to about 1,055 kWh per kWp. So you gain almost nothing from re-angling a normal roof.

For example, a 5 kWp system would make around 5 x 1,053, or 5,265 kWh a year. That is a modelled estimate, so treat it as a guide for comparing quotes, because weather and kit vary. Weather, kit and shading will move the real number. Our post on how many solar panels you need shows how to turn your bills into a system size.

Orientation changes the picture more than tilt does. A roof facing east or west makes less in total than a south roof. However, it can suit a home where people are out at noon and busy in the morning and evening. Our post on east-west facing solar panels covers when a split layout makes sense.

Shade is the other big factor, since a single tree can cut output across a string of panels. Ask your surveyor to check it in winter and summer, when the sun sits low. Also tell them about any plans to extend the house or fell a tree.

The grid connection

For the South West, our data names National Grid Electricity Distribution as the network operator. Every grid-tied system needs to tell the operator it exists. Under MCS rules, your installer does that work for you.

The route depends on size, so start there. MIS 3002 points installs up to 16 A per phase to G98 and larger ones to G99. The limit adds up every generator, so a battery counts too. For G98, the operator is told within 28 days of commissioning, according to a National Grid page.

G99 usually means more checks, so build in extra time. Because the delay can affect your start date, ask your installer to say in writing who files the paperwork.

Planning in Exeter

The planning authority is Exeter City Council. Its planning team can confirm whether your street has extra limits.

England changed its permitted development rules for home solar on 27 August 2026. According to the Planning Portal, houses and flats now follow separate rules. A project that no longer fits can still use the old rules until 26 August 2027.

Those older rules kept panels within 200mm of the roof surface and below the highest part of the roof. However, please confirm the current limits with the council rather than relying on that old figure.

Be careful if your home is in a conservation area, because older rules barred panels on a wall facing the highway. Listed buildings were left out of the permitted development right altogether. Flats need a closer look as well, since stand-alone solar now has a prior approval step. Ask the council first in all three cases.

Picking an installer

Start with MCS certification. It is the UK quality mark for small-scale renewables, and the government says you need it to claim Smart Export Guarantee payments. The MCS website lets you search for a business and check its status.

Also check for membership of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code. RECC members insure deposits, stage payments and workmanship warranties. As a result, you have some cover if the firm stops trading.

Get at least three quotes, then line them up side by side. Compare system size in kWp, panel make, inverter, warranty and the grid paperwork. Our guide to solar panel installation lists what a full quote should include. Our solar panel costs guide shows how government data prices a typical job.

Selling spare power matters as well. Under the Smart Export Guarantee, suppliers must offer a tariff but are free to set its terms, so rates vary. Ask each installer which meter you need to qualify, and compare tariffs once the system is live.

Roof care is part of the decision too, while it is easy to overlook. Our post on solar panel maintenance and cleaning explains monitoring, inspections and warranties.

If you live nearer the coast, you may want the same checks for solar panels in Plymouth. The council and the paperwork differ there. When you are ready, request quotes and, with your consent, we will pass your details to an MCS-certified installer.