| Representative city | Newcastle upon Tyne (54.97 N, 1.61 W) |
|---|---|
| PVGIS yearly output per 1 kWp | 945.77 kWh (35 degree pitch, south-facing, 14% losses) |
| Distribution network operator | Northern Powergrid (North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire) |
| G98 limit | 16 A per phase, which is 3.68 kW single phase or 11.04 kW three phase |
| VAT on installation | 0% until 31 March 2027, then 5% (Great Britain) |
What shapes a solar quote in the North East
Most quotes in the North East turn on three things. These are the output the installer promises, the grid paperwork they handle, and what the price actually includes. If you hold two or three quotes, check these first, because a gap in any one can change the real price. Then you can compare like with like.
This page is general guidance. It is not a price list, and we do not publish regional prices. Prices vary, so always get written quotes. Our guide to comparing solar quotes shows how to line them up.
Expected output: Newcastle as a worked example
We used Newcastle upon Tyne as the representative city. The European Commission’s PVGIS v5.2 tool models 945.77 kWh a year for each 1 kWp of panels there. The inputs were 54.97 N, 1.61 W, a 35 degree pitch, south-facing panels and 14% system losses.
On the same assumptions, a 4 kWp system would model at roughly 3,780 kWh a year. That is simple multiplication, so it is not a promise, because real roofs differ. Shade, a different pitch or a different direction will all change the figure.
Because of that, ask each installer for their yield estimate and the inputs behind it. Then, if one figure is far above the PVGIS result, ask why. Orientation matters as well, and our post on east-west versus south-facing panels explains the trade-off for roofs that do not face south.
Your network operator: Northern Powergrid
First, Northern Powergrid describes itself as serving the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. It owns the local wires, so it is the body your installer tells about your system, although it is not your electricity supplier.
Then the Energy Networks Association (ENA) sets the national rules. Under its G98 standard, a fully type-tested system of up to 16 A per phase can connect on a fit and inform basis. In practice that means 3.68 kW on a single-phase supply, while three phases allow 11.04 kW.
The installer must notify the operator within 28 days of commissioning, and the ENA guide calls this a legal requirement. Northern Powergrid provides a G98 form to download and an online application route.
However, anything above the G98 limit falls under G99. In that case the operator must approve the connection before you go live. Our post on G98 and G99 applications explained walks through both routes in plain English.
Also, when you compare quotes, check who files the paperwork. A good quote says that the installer will notify or apply for you, because notification is a legal requirement. It should say what happens if the operator asks for changes.
Planning permission in England
The Planning Portal says solar on homes in England may be permitted development, with important limits and conditions. In 2023 the government said homes with flat roofs would be able to install panels without planning permission. It added that these rights remain subject to conditions, including in conservation areas.
However, listed buildings and some conservation-area homes need extra care. So if your house is in one of those groups, ask the installer to confirm in writing whether permission is needed. Our post on planning permission for solar panels in the UK covers the common cases.
Funding and tax that apply in England
There is no single grant for all households. Instead, three things matter, so check each one.
- VAT. HMRC says the zero rate applies to installing energy-saving materials, including solar panels and batteries, until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the reduced rate of 5% returns. Also check that your quote shows VAT clearly.
- Warm Homes: Local Grant. GOV.UK says this is for low-income households in England with an EPC between D and G in privately owned homes. Local authorities deliver it, and eligible measures include solar panels.
- Loans and the wider plan. The government’s January 2026 Warm Homes Plan promises government-backed zero and low interest loans for solar panels. Terms may change, so check before you rely on them.
For more detail, our guide to solar panel grants and VAT explains each option in more detail. Earnings from exports are separate. For that, see how Smart Export Guarantee payments work.
How to compare quotes locally
First, ask for the same scope from every installer. That means panel count, inverter, scaffolding, grid notification and warranty. Then compare the cost per kWp and the modelled yield side by side.
Second, ask who will visit the roof. A site survey can catch surprises such as shading from chimneys or trees, because those are easy to miss on paper. Third, ask how long the job takes. Our post on how long installation takes is a useful guide.
Fourth, look past the first year and ask what the installer covers afterwards. Our upcoming guide to solar panel maintenance and cleaning explains what to expect.
If you want a hand, use the free quote form. We pass your enquiry to MCS-certified installers, although we are not an installer ourselves.
Neighbouring regions
Homes just south of the region have a different set of local facts, so see solar quotes in Yorkshire and the Humber and what to expect in the East Midlands if you live near a regional boundary.
Sources used on this page
Output figures come from PVGIS v5.2. The connection rules come from the ENA guide and Northern Powergrid. Planning, VAT and grant statements come from GOV.UK and HMRC. We have left out any figure we could not source.