Solar panels in Leicester: yield, grid and planning rules

Where Leicester sits on the solar map

On the PVGIS numbers, Leicester sits level with its East Midlands neighbour Nottingham. The EU’s PVGIS model puts a south-facing roof at 35 degrees at about 981 kWh a year for every kWp. It draws on the PVGIS-SARAH3 satellite record, and it already allows a default 14% loss for cables, inverters and dirt.

The ideal tilt is about 41 degrees, which gives 984 kWh per kWp. In other words, tilting the panels to the perfect angle adds only three units a year per kWp. Most roofs are therefore close enough already.

For example, take a 5 kWp system. That is 5 x 981, or about 4,905 kWh a year. This is a modelled estimate, not a promise, and it is a total made, not a total used. Our guide on how many solar panels you need shows how to match a system to your own bills.

Direction and shade shape the real result. A roof that faces east or west will make less than a south roof. Meanwhile shade from a chimney or a tree can cut output at the times of day when it falls.

Network and grid connection

Leicester homes connect to the East Midlands network of National Grid Electricity Distribution. Anyone who adds a generator must tell this network operator, because it has to manage the local grid. That includes solar panels and home batteries.

There are two routes, and size decides between them. Systems up to 16 A per phase follow G98, and bigger ones follow G99. The limit adds up all generators, so a solar array with a large battery can tip a home into G99.

For G98, the operator asks to be told within 28 days of commissioning. Your installer normally handles this step. The MCS standard places the duty on the certified contractor.

Planning in Leicester

Leicester is in England. The government amended the permitted development order in August 2026. Read the Planning Portal’s summary of the changes before you assume a roof is covered. Houses and blocks of flats now follow separate rules.

Some homes need extra care. Conservation areas, listed buildings and flats all carry tighter limits. The old rules did not cover buildings in the grounds of a listed building, for example.

Leicester City Council is the planning authority. Contact it if you live in a protected area or in a flat, since those homes face extra limits. Our guide to planning permission for solar panels covers the rules for England, Scotland and Wales.

Batteries and exporting

If nobody is home during the day, your panels will make power while the house uses little. A battery can store some of it for the evening, but it costs extra and does not suit every home. Read whether solar batteries are worth it before you add one to a quote.

Power you do not use can earn money through the Smart Export Guarantee. Ofgem says every SEG tariff must pay above zero, but suppliers set the rate. Therefore it pays to compare.

How to pick an installer

Certification comes first, because SEG payments depend on it. The MCS installer search lets you check whether a business is certified. Our post on MCS-certified solar installers explains what the mark covers and why SEG needs it.

Also ask about the roof. The MCS standard says the installer must make sure a suitably competent person checks the roof structure can carry the load. A good surveyor will explain how they did that, for example by noting the rafters and the roof covering.

Next, look at consumer protection. Members of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code must insure deposits and workmanship warranties. That cover matters if a firm stops trading before the job is finished.

Then get more than one quote. Check that each states the system size in kWp, the expected yearly output and who files the network notification. Prices can look far apart because the kit differs. Our guide to solar panel costs shows what a quote should include.

Our page on solar panel installation shows what happens from survey to sign-off. Neighbouring cities share a network and a climate, so solar panels in Nottingham may help you compare figures. When you are ready, you can request quotes here. This site is an independent guide, and nobody contacts you unless you say so.