Solar by place

We modelled solar generation at the postcode centroid of 1,356 UK places — 995 towns and 361 local authority areas — using PVGIS, one run each. The spread from the sunniest to the least sunny is about 54%, which is less than most people expect and much less than roof orientation.

Most “solar panels in [town]” pages are a template with a name dropped into it. These are not: each one carries a PVGIS run for that place’s own postcode centroid, its own monthly profile, its rank against every other place we model, and the installed cost published for its own region.

The finding that matters is the one that undermines the format. From the sunniest place we model to the least sunny is about 54%. Facing a roof north instead of south costs far more than moving from one end of the country to the other. If you are deciding whether solar suits your house, your roof is the question — not your postcode.

How to use these pages

Take the generation figure as a starting point for your own roof, not as a promise. Then use the calculator with your orientation, pitch and consumption, and check any quote against the national cost benchmark.

Every figure is reproducible: the modelling parameters are on each page, and the scripts that generate them are in the repository.

Most people start here

The sunniest and least sunny places we model

The full league table, 1,356 places ranked by modelled output per kWp — with the honest caveat that the spread is narrower than the marketing suggests.

Generation by region

The 25-location reference dataset behind our calculators, published as an open CSV.

In this section

Sources

  1. PVGIS 5.3 European Commission, Joint Research Centre · Accessed 20 August 2026 One model run per place at its own postcode centroid. Contains modified Joint Research Centre data.
  2. ONS Postcode Directory and statistical geographies Office for National Statistics · Accessed 20 August 2026 · OGL v3.0

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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