Do Solar Panels Need to Face South?
No. South-facing panels produce the most electricity in the UK, but east and west-facing roofs generate around 85% of that output - and for some households, the east-west split actually works better in practice.
The direction your roof faces affects how much your system generates. It doesn't determine whether solar is worth installing.
What the Numbers Look Like
The UK sits in the northern hemisphere, so the sun tracks across the southern sky throughout the day. South-facing panels capture the most direct sunlight and produce the highest annual output. Every degree away from due south costs a small amount of generation:
| Orientation | Output vs south-facing |
| South | 100% |
| Southeast / Southwest | 95% |
| East / West | 85% |
| Northeast / Northwest | 65% |
| North | ~55% |
North-facing panels aren't recommended. At 55% of south-facing output, the system size required to generate meaningful savings pushes costs up to a point where other investments make more sense.
When East or West Works Better
A south-facing system peaks around midday. Most households don't use much electricity at midday - people are at work, appliances aren't running, and grid export rates may be lower than what you'd save using the electricity yourself.
An east-west split generates earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon, which aligns better with actual usage patterns in most homes. A household with two adults leaving for work at 8am and returning at 6pm captures more usable solar generation from an east-west system than from a south-facing one that peaks at 1pm.
East-west installations also tend to have higher self-consumption rates, which matters because using solar electricity saves you 24.5p/kWh (the current Ofgem rate) while exporting it earns 4-25p/kWh depending on your SEG tariff. The more you use directly, the better the return.
For homes on time-of-use tariffs like Octopus Agile, the spread of generation across more of the day has additional value.
Flat Roofs
A flat roof gives you complete freedom over orientation and tilt. Most installers default to south-facing at 30-35° on flat roofs, which delivers optimal annual output. An east-west array at a lower angle (10-15°) is increasingly common on larger flat roofs - two rows of panels facing opposite directions produce a broader generation curve, reduce wind loading on the mounting frames, and suit households that want consistent generation from morning to evening rather than a midday peak.
Making a Non-South Roof Work
Size the system appropriately. If east or west-facing panels produce 85% of south-facing output, installing a slightly larger system (5kW instead of 4kW, for example) closes most of that gap. The cost difference between a 4kW and 5kW system is typically £1,200-£1,800 - less than the lifetime generation difference justifies.
Add battery storage. A battery captures surplus generation regardless of when it occurs, which is especially useful on east-facing roofs that peak in the morning before household demand picks up.View our battery storage service.
Use power optimisers. On a single-string inverter, one shaded or poorly oriented panel drags down the whole string. Optimisers let each panel operate independently, which matters more on east-west installations where different panels may be in shadow at different times of day.
Use both roof faces. A split array with panels on the east and west slopes of a roof ridge combines both advantages: higher total capacity and a spread-out generation profile. A single hybrid inverter can manage both strings.
Shading Matters More Than Orientation
A south-facing roof with significant shading from a neighbouring building or mature trees will underperform a lightly shaded east-facing roof. Shade in the morning or evening hours cuts proportionally less generation than shade during the peak midday hours - but any consistent shading that reduces a string's output needs to be factored into system design.
Before focusing on orientation, identify any shading that will affect the panels throughout the day and across seasons. Winter sun is much lower in the sky than summer sun, so a tree that casts no shadow in July may shade panels significantly from October to March. A thorough survey before installation catches this; a quote based on a satellite image or brief site visit may not.
FAQ
My roof faces southeast. Is it worth installing panels? A southeast-facing roof at a standard pitch produces around 95% of south-facing output. The difference over a 4kW system's lifetime is around £2,000-£3,000 in reduced generation - significant, but not a reason to avoid solar. Most homeowners with southeast-facing roofs see payback periods of 8-11 years, which is financially sound at current electricity prices.
Can I put panels on both sides of my roof? Yes, and it's often the best configuration for semi-detached and detached houses. East and west slopes used together generate more total electricity than either side alone, and the generation profile is better spread across the day. A good hybrid inverter handles both strings without issue.
Will a west-facing system work if I mostly charge an EV in the evening? West-facing panels suit evening EV charging better than south-facing ones. Generation peaks in the afternoon and continues into early evening, which overlaps with when most people return home and plug in. Combined with a battery, you can capture what the panels generate in the afternoon and use it to charge the car at 7-8pm.
Does orientation affect SEG payments? SEG pays per kWh exported at the same rate regardless of your roof's orientation. You'll export less from an east or west-facing system (lower total generation, potentially higher self-consumption) but the rate per unit stays the same. Best fixed rates in 2026: 25p/kWh (Good Energy), 24p/kWh (EDF).
What if planning restrictions mean I can only use a non-south-facing roof? Conservation areas and listed buildings sometimes restrict panels on street-facing slopes, which may rule out the south-facing side. In those cases, rear-of-property installation on a non-optimal facing is usually permitted and still generates worthwhile output. An east or west-facing rear roof at 85% of optimal is a better outcome than no system at all.
CRG Direct surveys every roof before recommending a system configuration - orientation, shading, pitch, and roof condition all go into the assessment. MCS Certified, HIES Accredited.
Contact us for a free site survey and quote. We'll respond within one working day.