Newcastle upon Tyne sits in the lower half of the UK output range. PVGIS, the European Commission’s solar model, gives about 948 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 Newcastle roof can produce
A 4 kWp system is a common size for a house. At 948 kWh per kWp, it would make about 3,792 kWh a year. London gets about 1,019 kWh per kWp, so Newcastle produces about 7% less than the capital. Aberdeen gets about 893 kWh per kWp, so Newcastle produces about 6% more than the far north.
The UK spread is therefore narrow, even though Newcastle sits much further north than London. Check your own roof before you worry about the city.
Summer against winter
Newcastle’s best month is May, at 121.2 kWh per kWp. Its worst is December, at 27.5 kWh per kWp. May therefore delivers about 4.4 times the output of December.
For a 4 kWp system, that means roughly 485 kWh in May and 110 kWh in December. Because the winter dip is steep, a Newcastle home will buy most of its winter power from the grid.
Annual totals hide that swing, so compare the monthly figures with your own bills. If you use most of your power in the evening, a battery may matter more than a few extra panels. Our page on solar battery storage covers whether a battery can shift some summer surplus into the evening.
Tilt, direction and shade
PVGIS puts the best fixed tilt for Newcastle at 43 degrees. That gives 954 kWh per kWp, only a little above the 948 you get at 35 degrees. The gain from the steeper angle is small.
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%. Our guide to east-west solar panels shows when a split array makes sense.
Shade can cost more than direction. 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 Newcastle upon Tyne
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. Newcastle 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 Newcastle takes its power from Northern Powergrid. Since your postcode fixes the operator, use the Energy Networks Association 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.
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 York and the Leeds 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.