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Are north-facing solar panels worth it?

Short answer

Sometimes. On a shallow north roof panels can make around 70% of a south roof's output, falling to under half on steep roofs. Winter output is close to nil. With cheap panels they can make sense when added to an existing system, but the Energy Saving Trust does not recommend north-facing roofs in general.

Last checked 24 September 2026 · 1 source

In more detail

  • PVGIS London north: 15 deg 713, 30 deg 586, 45 deg 461 kWh/kWp/yr vs south 30 deg 1,014.
  • North 30 deg December: ~8 kWh/kWp vs ~34 south.
  • Panel price is a small share of the cost; scaffold, inverter capacity and roof works dominate, so north panels are most economic when added while scaffold is up.

The facts, dated

  1. 01
    PVGIS London north 30 degrees December yield — 8 kWh/kWp

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

What we saw in the field

[QA review 2026-09-24] H-2 AGREES. I-4 AGREES at ~30 deg only; 35 deg 52-54%, 45 deg 44-46%, 15 deg 75-76% (MCS zones 3-4). | Earlier notes: Homeowner: the four north-east panels only help in summer - consistent with PVGIS. Customer 2 used a north string with DC oversizing.

Sources

Last checked: 24 September 2026