Solar panels in York: planning checks, output and grid

Start with planning in York

Planning is the first thing to settle, because it can shape the whole project. We begin there. York is in England, where the rules for solar on homes changed on 27 August 2026. The Planning Portal’s explanation says houses and blocks of flats now follow separate eligibility rules.

However, projects that no longer qualify under the new rules can use the earlier ones until 26 August 2027. Those earlier rules had firm limits for sensitive places. In a conservation area, you could not fit panels to a wall that fronts a highway. The right also did not cover buildings in the grounds of a listed building.

For blocks of flats, the new order adds a prior approval step for stand-alone solar. The local planning authority handles that step. Leasehold terms may add a separate consent from the freeholder.

The planning authority here is City of York Council. Ask the council before you order if your home is listed, in a conservation area or a flat, since extra limits apply. Our guide to planning permission for solar panels sets out the rules for England, Scotland and Wales side by side.

What a York roof can generate

The EU’s PVGIS tool models about 969 kWh a year per kWp for a south roof at 35 degrees. The best tilt is near 42 degrees, giving 974 kWh per kWp. As a result, roof pitch is a minor factor here. Both figures come from the PVGIS-SARAH3 satellite record.

Here is a worked example. A 4 kWp system is 4 x 969, or about 3,876 kWh a year. Treat this as a modelled estimate, because it is not a promise. Real output depends on shade, roof direction and the kit used.

York’s figure is lower than Brighton and Hove’s 1,156 kWh per kWp, by about 16%. Still, it is close to Nottingham’s 979 kWh per kWp, so the gap is modest. Ofgem’s typical medium household uses 2,500 kWh of electricity a year, which gives a sense of scale.

Grid connection through Northern Powergrid

Northern Powergrid runs the Yorkshire network that serves York. It is the distribution network operator, or DNO, and it must hear about every new generator. That includes solar panels and home batteries.

The route depends on size. The MCS standard says installs up to and including 16 A per phase follow G98, and bigger ones follow G99. Because the limit counts all generators together, a large battery can move a project into G99.

The MCS standard makes the MCS contractor responsible for the notification. Therefore you should not have to fill in the forms yourself. Ask your installer to say in writing which route applies.

Exporting spare power

Your home will not use every unit the panels make. The Smart Export Guarantee lets you sell the rest to a supplier. Ofgem says each tariff rate must be above zero, although suppliers choose the rate, so compare offers.

You apply to the supplier directly. You also need a meter that gives half-hourly export readings, which is typically a smart meter.

Choosing an installer

Check certification first, because it affects your export payments. MCS is the UK quality mark for small-scale renewables, and its tool lets you look up any business. Our post on MCS-certified solar installers explains what the mark covers and how to check it.

Protection for your deposit comes next, since a failed firm can leave you out of pocket. Members of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code must insure deposits and workmanship warranties, which helps if a firm stops trading. Ask any installer whether it belongs to the code.

Then compare quotes side by side. Each should give the system size in kWp, the expected yearly kWh and the panel and inverter makes. It should also say who sends the DNO notice and what the warranty covers. In addition, the MCS standard says a suitably competent person must check the roof structure, so ask how your installer did that.

Our overview of solar panel installation explains what a typical job involves, for example the survey and sign-off. The guide to solar panel costs helps you read each price. Leeds is nearby, so solar panels in Leeds offers a handy comparison.

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.