Birmingham sits in the middle of the UK output range. PVGIS, the European Commission’s solar model, gives about 968 kWh per kWp a year for a south-facing roof at 35 degrees. That figure assumes no shade and a clear view of the sky. Your own roof will differ, so use it as a starting point.
What a Birmingham roof can produce
A 4 kWp system is a common size for a house. At 968 kWh per kWp, it would make about 3,872 kWh a year. London gets about 1,019 kWh per kWp, so Birmingham produces about 5% less than the capital. Aberdeen gets about 893 kWh per kWp, so Birmingham produces about 8% more than the far north.
The spread across the UK is therefore narrower than many people expect. A good Birmingham roof beats a poor London one. Shade, direction and tilt move the result more than the postcode does.
Summer against winter
Birmingham’s best month is July, at 118.1 kWh per kWp. Its worst is December, at 33.2 kWh per kWp. July therefore delivers about 3.6 times the output of December.
For a 4 kWp system, that means roughly 472 kWh in July and 133 kWh in December. Because most homes use more power in winter, expect to export in summer and to buy from the grid in winter. A battery can store some of the summer surplus, and our page on solar battery storage explains how to size one.
Tilt, direction and shade
PVGIS puts the best fixed tilt for Birmingham at 40 degrees. That gives 971 kWh per kWp, barely above the 968 you get at 35 degrees. Most pitched roofs already sit near that range.
Direction matters more. Our London run shows an east-facing roof at 35 degrees loses about 20% against south, and a west-facing one loses about 23%. Some homes split panels across both sides, and our guide to east-west solar panels shows when that pays off.
Shade can cost more than direction. A chimney or a neighbour’s tree can cut a whole string of panels. Read our post on shading and optimisers before you choose equipment. If your only free roof faces away from the sun, our note on north-facing solar panels may help.
Planning in Birmingham
In England, panels on a house roof are normally permitted development. Their limit is 200mm out from the roof slope, and they must stay below the highest part of the roof. The Planning Portal sets out the full rules.
Listed buildings need planning permission and listed building consent. In a conservation area, however, panels cannot go on a wall or roof section that fronts a highway. Birmingham City Council is the planning authority, and it can tell you whether an Article 4 direction applies to your street.
The grid connection
Most of Birmingham takes its power from National Grid Electricity Distribution. Your postcode fixes the operator, and the Energy Networks Association runs a lookup if you are unsure.
A system up to 16A per phase, about 3.68kW on a single-phase supply, falls under rule G98. Your installer tells the network operator within 28 days of commissioning. Larger systems fall under G99, which needs approval before installation, as MCS explains. A large inverter or battery can tip a 4 kWp home into G99, so ask your installer which route they plan.
Getting quotes
Solar Yield is an independent estimator and referral service. It does not install panels. It passes your enquiry to MCS-certified installers, and you can check any installer on the MCS register.
Read our guide to solar panel installation before you compare offers. MCS rules say an estimate is guidance, not a guarantee, so treat any promise of a fixed output with care.
You may also want a comparison with nearby areas. See solar output in Leicester and the Nottingham estimate for neighbouring figures. While the numbers sit close together, your roof details still decide the result.
Next steps
Use the Solar Yield calculator to estimate output for your own roof. Then send your details through our quote form to receive offers from MCS-certified installers. Estimate openly, then check it against the installer’s figures.