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Solar · Advice

Do solar panels have to face south?

Short answer

No. South is best per panel, but east and west roofs still produce about 80% as much and spread generation across the day. Even a shallow north roof can reach around 70%. The right answer depends on roof space, shading, pitch and when you use electricity, which a proper MCS performance estimate accounts for.

Last checked 24 September 2026 · 1 source

In more detail

  • PVGIS London: east 30 deg 82%, west 30 deg 79%, north 15 deg 70% of south 30 deg.

The facts, dated

  1. 01
    PVGIS London west 30 degrees as share of south — 79 %

    market_data · England · checked 24 September 2026 · PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre)

What we saw in the field

[QA review 2026-09-24] C1-1, C2-1 AGREE. | Earlier notes: Consistent with Customer 1 (east-west) and Customer 2 (south+north+garage).

Sources

Last checked: 24 September 2026