East or West Solar Panels: Leeds 2025 Guide

Not every Leeds home has a south-facing roof – but that doesn't mean you can't harness the power of the sun. Whether your roof faces east towards the morning light or west towards the evening sky, solar panels can still deliver serious energy savings and help Leeds lead the way in clean energy transformation.

Quick take: East and west solar panels produce roughly 80-85% of the energy that south-facing panels generate in the UK. The main difference? East panels capture morning sunlight, while west panels perform best from midday through early evening. Both orientations are viable, and many Leeds homes use both to maximise roof space. If you're ready to explore solar for your Leeds property, Solar Panels Leeds can help you make the most of whatever orientation your roof offers.

Why Solar Panel Orientation Matters

Solar panels generate electricity by capturing sunlight, so the direction they face has a real impact on performance. In the UK, panels produce the most energy when facing due south at an optimal tilt, since the sun's path is mostly to the south throughout the day. But that doesn't mean other orientations won't work – east and west solar panels can still generate significant amounts of electricity. In fact, an east or west solar panel array typically produces around 80-85% as much energy as a similarly sized south-facing system across Britain.

Orientation affects not only the total energy output but also when that energy is produced during the day. This matters because it influences how well the solar generation aligns with your household's energy usage pattern. For Leeds homeowners looking to reduce bills and carbon emissions, understanding these timing patterns can help you maximise the value from your solar investment and potentially improve your energy independence.

East-Facing vs West-Facing Panels: What's the Difference?

Production Timing: The primary difference between east and west solar panels is when they generate power. East-facing panels capture the morning sunlight, so they produce most of their electricity before midday. West-facing panels perform best from midday through the afternoon and early evening, coinciding with when many families return home and energy usage peaks.

An east-oriented array might cover your breakfast-time and morning appliance loads, whereas a west-oriented array will better support late-day needs – like cooking dinner or running evening electronics.

Total Energy Output: In terms of overall kWh produced, east and west solar panel setups are more similar than you might expect. Real-world data from one UK home showed a west-facing array generating only about 5% more energy over a year than an east-facing array – essentially negligible.

Both east and west roofs are viable for solar in Leeds. Whether you're in North Leeds, South Leeds, East Leeds, West Leeds, or the City Centre, your roof orientation doesn't have to stop you from joining Leeds' solar transformation.

How Much Energy Do East and West Panels Produce?

On a per-panel basis, an east or west solar panel in the UK will generate roughly 15-20% less electricity than the same panel oriented due south. In terms of light capture, an east-facing panel at a decent tilt can receive about 80-86% of the solar energy that a south-facing panel would, and a west-facing panel about 78-86%. For example, if a 4 kW south-facing system produces around 3,800 kWh per year, a 4 kW system facing west might produce on the order of 3,100-3,300 kWh under UK conditions.

However, many Leeds homes have roofs that face both east and west. By installing panels on both sides, you can often compensate for the per-panel loss in orientation. More panels spread across east and west roofs often generate more total energy than a smaller number of panels on a south roof – the increased panel count can offset the lower efficiency per panel. This is why solar installers in Leeds might recommend filling both roof faces: even though each east or west solar panel produces a bit less, the combined output can be higher overall.

When Does East or West Make More Sense?

The answer depends on your specific circumstances:

Morning vs Evening Consumption: If your household's electricity demand is higher in the morning, an east-facing array generates the most power during AM hours. If your peak usage is in the late afternoon or evening, west-facing panels will align better by producing more energy during that window.

Time-of-Use Energy Rates: Peak rates often occur in late afternoon and early evening. A west-facing system that's still generating around 4-7pm can offset expensive peak electricity from the grid. An east-facing system produces most energy by early afternoon – great for standard use, but less helpful during pricier peak hours.

Shading and Obstacles: Evaluate if one side of your roof gets more sun exposure. Tall trees, nearby buildings, or chimneys might shade one side more than the other. Favour the side with fewer shading issues during critical sun hours.

Roof Layout: Many UK homes have an east-west oriented roof ridge, giving you both faces to work with. You can install panels on both sides, creating a balanced generation profile that captures sunlight from early morning through late afternoon.

Dual Orientation Arrays: East and West Systems on Flat Roofs

When you have a flat roof, a popular approach is the east-west split array: panels mounted back-to-back in an A-frame configuration, with half facing east and half facing west (usually at a low tilt of around 10°).

With an east-west layout, panels can be placed without gaps between rows, covering the roof surface densely. This means you can fit significantly more panels. According to research, an east-west system can generate around 25-30% more annual solar energy than a south-facing system on the same size flat roof. The extra capacity makes up for the less-than-south orientation.

East-west arrays also produce a broader, flatter generation curve with more production in early morning and late afternoon. For Leeds households or businesses, this boosts self-consumption because you have solar power during more hours when you need electricity.

Location and Utility Rates

Geographic Location: For Leeds in West Yorkshire, you'll see good solar generation but slightly less than properties in southern England. However, the relative difference between south vs east and west holds fairly consistent. Some areas of Leeds might have clearer mornings (favouring east) or clearer late afternoons (favouring west).

Electricity Tariffs: Under time-of-use tariffs, electricity is most expensive during the early evening peak. If you have expensive peak rates, a west-facing array becomes attractive – generating power during those peak-priced hours. Under the Smart Export Guarantee, you get paid for exports regardless of orientation.

If you're considering adding solar battery storage in Leeds, you'll have flexibility to store excess energy from either orientation and use it during peak-price periods.

Government Incentives

0% VAT: The UK government currently charges no VAT on residential solar panel installations from 2022 until at least March 2027. This applies regardless of your system's orientation.

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG): The SEG ensures you get paid for surplus solar energy you export to the grid. You qualify regardless of which direction your panels face.

ECO4: This programme can fund solar panels (up to 100% of cost) for low-income households or those receiving certain benefits. These schemes are orientation-agnostic – if you qualify, it doesn't matter which way your roof faces.

Solar incentives in the UK do not depend on panel orientation. For more information, check out our about page or get in touch.

Final Thoughts: Should You Choose East or West?

Both east and west are viable and can be highly effective in Leeds. An east or west solar panel array will typically generate around 80-85% of the energy of an equivalent south-facing array, with only around 5% difference between the two orientations themselves.

The decision should boil down to your personal situation: your roof's characteristics and your energy usage habits. If your roof and budget allow it, a mix of both east and west panels can give the best of both worlds. If you only have one suitable roof face, don't be discouraged – an east or west-facing system will still significantly cut your electricity bills and carbon footprint.

Leeds has a proud history of leading the way. By installing solar panels – whether east-facing, west-facing, or both – you're helping Leeds lead the transformation towards cleaner, smarter energy. Visit our solar blog for more insights or reach out to discuss your options. Whether it's maintenance and repair or a brand new installation, we're here to support Leeds' solar transformation, one home and business at a time.

Solar Panel Orientation FAQs

Do solar panels need to face south to work effectively?

No. South-facing is optimal, but panels facing east or west can still produce plenty of electricity in the UK. East and west-facing panels will typically yield around 80%+ of the energy of a south-facing array. This means you can still save significantly on your bills. Don't write off solar just because you lack a south-facing roof.

Which is better, east-facing or west-facing solar panels?

Neither is dramatically "better" overall. West-facing panels may generate slightly more total energy over a year (around 5% difference), but this is small. The main difference is timing: east-facing panels produce more in the morning, west-facing panels produce more in the afternoon and early evening. "Better" depends on when you use most electricity.

What if my roof faces north?

Yes, you can install panels, though output will be lower. Panels facing true north in the UK might produce only around 50-60% as much energy as south-facing panels. If you have any east or west roof sections, those would be preferable. If north is the only option, the system can still work but may have a longer payback period.

Can I put solar panels on both the east and west sides of my roof?

Absolutely. If you have a pitched roof with one face east and the other west, you can split your solar array between both sides. Many Leeds homeowners do this when a south face isn't available. An east-west split system will have a balanced generation curve and can often yield higher total output than putting all panels on one side alone.

Does orientation affect my payments or incentives?

No. The Smart Export Guarantee will pay you for each unit of electricity you export, regardless of which direction your panels face. Similarly, the 0% VAT incentive and any grants don't depend on orientation. Choosing east or west won't lose you any available incentives.

Do I need more panels if they're east or west-facing?

Since east and west-facing panels produce a bit less than south-facing, you might add an extra panel or two if you have roof space. Many people install a few more panels across the east and west sides. Putting panels on both sides often means you have a larger system overall than if you only used one roof face, potentially ending up with higher total generation.