| Representative city | Manchester (53.48 N, 2.24 W) |
|---|---|
| PVGIS yearly output per 1 kWp | 886.23 kWh (35 degree pitch, south-facing, 14% losses) |
| Distribution network operator | Electricity North West (Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside); SP Energy Networks for Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales postcodes |
| G98 notification window | Within 28 days of commissioning |
| VAT on installation | 0% until 31 March 2027, then 5% (Great Britain) |
Why North West quotes need a closer look
People often mention rain first. However, what matters for a quote is the modelled yield and what the installer assumes. A glossy brochure number can hide a lot.
We checked Manchester with PVGIS v5.2, the European Commission’s solar tool. It models 886.23 kWh a year for each 1 kWp. The inputs were 53.48 N, 2.24 W, a 35 degree pitch, south-facing panels and 14% system losses.
That is the lowest figure of the English cities we checked for these region pages. Leeds, by comparison, gives 947.12 kWh on the same inputs. On those inputs a 4 kWp system in Manchester would model near 3,545 kWh a year, which is simple multiplication and not a promise.
Because the figure is lower, check each quote’s payback sums with care. If an installer claims a yield well above the PVGIS result, ask them to show how they reached it. Our guide to comparing solar quotes shows how to line quotes up. Prices vary, so always get written quotes.
Roof direction and layout
If your roof faces east and west rather than south, a split array can still work. Our post on east-west versus south-facing panels explains how the trade-off affects yield and daily timing.
Also ask who will survey the roof. Because shade from a neighbouring gable is easy to miss from the street, a written survey note is worth asking for.
Network operators in the North West
Electricity North West says it serves Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. However, the ENA guide also lists SP Energy Networks for Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales. So your postcode decides who holds your file, not the county name.
The ENA sets the national G98 and G99 rules. G98 covers fully type-tested systems up to 16 A per phase, which is 3.68 kW single phase or 11.04 kW three phase. Under it, the installer notifies the operator within 28 days of commissioning.
Electricity North West describes G98 as covering generation, including energy storage, at 16 amps or less per phase. It also runs a free pre-application team that gives guidance before you apply. That helps if your project is larger.
Above the G98 limit, G99 applies. You or your installer must then apply to the operator for approval before connecting. For a plain-English version of both routes, read our post on G98 and G99 applications explained.
When you compare quotes, look for a line that says who files the notification. Then check how long the installer expects the whole job to take. Our post on how long installation takes sets out the usual stages.
Planning 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 flat-roofed homes could fit panels without planning permission. It added that the rights still carry conditions, including in conservation areas.
So if you live in a conservation area, ask your installer to confirm the position in writing, because the rights still carry conditions there. That small step avoids trouble later.
Funding and tax in England
There is no grant for every household. Instead, check these three routes.
- VAT. HMRC says installations of energy-saving materials, including solar panels and batteries, carry a 0% rate until 31 March 2027. From 1 April 2027 the reduced rate of 5% returns.
- Warm Homes: Local Grant. GOV.UK says it is for low-income households in England with an EPC between D and G in privately owned homes. Local authorities deliver it.
- Loans. The January 2026 Warm Homes Plan promises government-backed zero and low interest loans for solar. Check the terms when they open.
For the detail, see our guide to solar panel grants and VAT. Export income is separate, and the guide to Smart Export Guarantee payments explains it.
Turning the yield into a sensible test
Take the PVGIS figure and compare it with the installer’s own estimate. If theirs is higher, ask what pitch, direction and losses they assumed. Also ask whether they allowed for shade, because shade can cut output. A written answer is better than a verbal one.
Next, look at how the quote treats your daytime use. Panels make power when the sun is up, so a home that is empty all day exports more, while a home with daytime use keeps more of it. That is why a battery comes up so often. We cover that choice in a later guide on adding a battery to existing panels.
A short checklist for local quotes
First, ask every installer for the same scope. Then compare the cost per kWp and the modelled yield side by side. Also ask what warranty covers the panels and the inverter after year one, because the two can differ.
Next, ask how performance is protected over time. Our upcoming post on panel degradation and performance warranties explains what to look for.
If you want help, use the free quote form. We pass your enquiry to MCS-certified installers, although we are not an installer ourselves.
Neighbouring regions
Living close to the border changes some details. See how solar quotes in the North East differ, or what East of England homeowners should check.
What we left out
We left out any regional price or installer count we could not source. Output comes from PVGIS, and the rules come from the ENA, Electricity North West, GOV.UK and HMRC.