Richard's story: Installing solar panels on a north-facing roof
Richard works for Good Energy as our Head of Business Development. He shares why he decided to install solar panels on his north-facing roof, and why he now encourages others to do the same.
Install as many solar panels as you can fit on your roof
I moved house in late 2022, I knew I wanted to power my house from the sun but I could only physically install seven panels on the south-facing roof. These panels were only capable of generating approximately 2500kWh per year.
I wanted to be able to generate as much power as possible, to provide a good baseline of power across the entire year, not just during the sunnier summer months. In my opinion, filling the available roof space held the key to unlocking the true potential of solar energy in the UK; and it’s more cost-effective to install multiple solar panels at the same time, rather than return for more panels at a later date. Therefore, I decided to install solar panels on both my south-facing and north-facing roofs.
South-East vs. North-West facing solar panels
Installing solar panels on a north-facing roof is not something typically recommended. During the winter months, my north-facing solar panels receive no direct sunlight, resulting in very low power output. But as the sun climbs higher in the sky during early spring into summer, these panels receive direct sunlight and, more importantly, capture the late afternoon and evening sunshine. This afternoon and evening sunlight is superb because that’s when I use power more frequently in the house.
Analyzing the performance of both orientations throughout the complete year of 2023 proved fascinating. As you can see from the screenshot, the seven panels facing South-East generated an average of 380kWh each, (with the ones closest to chimneys experiencing slight shading and reduced generation). As expected, the North West-facing panels produced less power compared to their South East counterparts, averaging approximately 220kWh per panel. However, considering they are installed on a roof typically deemed unfit for solar panels, their performance can be considered commendable.
Powering hot water and electric vehicles with solar panels
My intention was not only to generate solar power for electricity but also to utilize it for heating the hot water tank. To achieve this, I installed a smart hot water controller, directing excess solar power towards water heating. The result was astounding – my gas usage was reduced to zero for an impressive six months of the year.
The system worked so effectively that I completely turned off the boiler in May, only reactivating it in October when the need for heating arose. Furthermore, during those six months, I was able to power my eight-year-old electric vehicle, equipped with a small 23kWh battery, using the surplus solar energy harvested in the afternoon.
Get in touch today to discuss your solar design, and we’ll help you to understand whether north-facing solar panels would work for you, too.
