Sunshine Hours Map UK 2025 (Solar Radiation Map)

Are you considering installing solar panels and wondering about the sunshine hours in your area? The sunshine hours map UK can help you understand your local sunshine exposure and the amount of power your panels will generate annually.

Many UK households are still experiencing the cost-of-living crisis. Statistics show that 80% of those who reported increases in their cost of living in April 2025 attributed it to high electricity and gas bills.

With energy prices putting pressure on household budgets, more Brits are turning to solar power. Solar panels are helping thousands of homeowners slash their electricity bills and take control of rising living costs.

However, how much you save depends on one crucial factor: how much sunshine your region gets. The annual sunlight in your area could mean the difference between a modest dent in your bill and a dramatic drop. It can also help you determine how long it will take to pay back the initial investment of having your solar panels installed.

This guide breaks down the latest UK sunshine hours map, updated for 2025, to help you see exactly how much solar potential your area holds.

Sunshine Hours Map UK Quick Takeaways:

Spring 2025 was one of the sunniest on record, with most UK regions seeing 5–25% more sunshine than average
Solar panels are now worth it across every part of the UK, even in cloudier regions like Scotland and Northern Ireland
Break-even times range from 7 to 13 years, depending on your location, system size, and whether you use battery storage
South-facing roofs and sunny regions break even faster, but smart usage and export tariffs boost ROI everywhere
Free tools, grants, and interest-free loans (like Home Energy Scotland) are available to lower the upfront cost
Adding a battery can increase your solar savings by letting you use more of your own energy
Have a professional solar installer assess your property’s suitability for solar energy and advise you on the best options for your needs

Sunshine Hours Map UK (Spring 2025 Update)

According to the latest Met Office data, the UK saw a brighter-than-average spring in 2025, with large areas recording up to 25% more sunshine than the 30-year average. That’s good news if you’re considering solar panels—because more sun means more energy, faster payback, and bigger savings on your electricity bills.

The map below shows how sunshine duration in spring 2025 compares to long-term norms (1991–2020 average):

Source: Met Office – Sunshine Duration for Spring 2025 across the UK as a percentage of the 1991–2020 average

What the Colours Mean:

The orange and yellow areas show above-average sunshine for spring.
The darker the orange, the higher the sunshine compared to the long-term average.
The grey tones (not seen much here) would show below-average sunshine.

Key Insights from the Sunshine Hours UK Map:

The Met Office notes that 2025 had the sunniest Spring on record in the UK. The country recorded 630 hours of sunshine from 1 March until 27 May. This beats its previous sunniest spring in 2020 by 4 hours, in a series which dates back to 1910.

Key insights from the map include:

Much of the UK experienced sunnier-than-average conditions in Spring 2025, particularly Southern England, Southwest Wales, Eastern Scotland, and parts of Northern Ireland

Region	% of 30-Year Average	Spring 2025 Sun Trend
South West England	115–125%	Exceptionally sunny
South East England	110–120%	Well above average
East Anglia	105–120%	Consistently sunny
Midlands	105–115%	Powerful performance
Wales	105–115%	Boosted solar potential
North West England	100–110%	Slightly above average
Eastern Scotland	115–125%	Very strong performance
Western Scotland	95–110%	Mixed but generally good
Northern Ireland	105–120%	Bright, suitable for solar

Most regions are in the 105% to 125% range, meaning they received 5–25% more sunshine than usual.
Very few areas dipped below 95%, indicating a very bright spring nationwide.

Why This Matters for Solar:

Solar panels perform best with direct sunlight, and 2025’s sunnier spring means:
- Higher energy production than expected
- Faster return on investment since you save more and hit break-even faster, especially if you’re on a smart export tariff
- More motivation for households to go solar while conditions are favourable

Break-Even Estimates by Region

According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can save up to £650 annually with solar panels in London if you live in a gas-heated, 4-bedroom detached property and are home all day, based on fuel prices as of July 2025.

If the higher-than-average sunlight hours like those experienced in Spring 2025 continue, many UK households can expect shorter solar panel payback periods than in previous years. More sunshine = more energy = more savings.

The table below shows the estimated solar panel payback period with export payments based on fuel prices as of July 2025 in England, Scotland, and Wales, and November 2024 in Northern Ireland:

Home all day	Home in the afternoons	Out all day until 4 pm	Out all day until 6 pm	Out all day until 6pm
London	10 years	11 years	11 years	12 years
Manchester	11 years	12 years	12 years	13 years
Aberystwyth	11 years	12 years	12 years	13 years
Stirling	12 years	13 years	13 years	14 years
Belfast	13 years	15 years	16 years	20 years

What Affects Your Solar ROI? (It’s Not Just the Sunshine)

While your local sunshine hours play a big role in how much electricity your panels generate, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Here are the most important factors that determine how quickly you’ll break even—and how much you’ll save long-term:

1. Roof Orientation & Angle

South-facing roofs are ideal in the UK, but east- and west-facing roofs can still be effective.
A 30–40° pitch angle tends to capture the most sunlight year-round.

Flat roofs or awkward angles? You can use tilt frames or adjust panel placement to optimise performance.

2. Shading

Trees, chimneys, or neighbouring buildings can block sunlight and reduce your system’s output.
Even partial shading during part of the day can impact your annual generation by 10–30%.

3. System Size and Panel Efficiency

A standard UK system is around 4kW, which covers most households.
Higher-efficiency panels cost more but generate more electricity per square metre—great for small or shaded roofs.

4. Battery Storage

Without a battery, you might only use 30–50% of the electricity your panels produce.
With a battery, you could use 70–90%, massively increasing savings. It reduces the need to import and pay for electricity from the grid during peak times. The Energy Saving Trust notes that for every unit of electricity stored in a battery and used at night, it will save you around 14p.
Typical battery system costs can range from £1,500–£10,000, but shorten the break-even time in high-use households.

5. Your Energy Habits

If you’re home during the day (e.g., work-from-home, retired), you’ll use more of your solar electricity as it’s being generated.
Households that shift usage to daylight hours (e.g., running appliances midday) see faster savings.

6. Export Tariff Type

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays you for unused electricity sent to the grid. Although there are no set SEG rates, the requirement is that the tariff must always be greater than zero.
Energy suppliers decide what tariffs to offer their customers and can provide premium export rates if you also buy your electricity from them.

To get the fastest payback, combine high-efficiency panels with a good battery, optimise your daytime usage, and switch to an energy supplier with a competitive export rate.

Are Solar Panels Worth It in Every Part of the UK?

Yes — but the return on investment (ROI) varies by region and household.

Thanks to modern solar panel efficiency and rising energy costs, solar panels are now financially worthwhile across most of the UK, even in cloudier areas like Scotland and Northern Ireland. But the speed at which they pay for themselves depends on your location, your energy habits, and whether you use tools like battery storage or smart export tariffs.

In High-Sun Regions (e.g., South East, South West, East Anglia):

You’ll generate more solar electricity year-round.
Most households can break even in 7–10 years, especially with a battery.
Over 25 years, potential savings can exceed £12,000–£16,000.

In Moderate-to-Low Sun Regions (e.g., Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland):

You’ll still save money, just at a slower rate.
Break-even is usually around 10–13 years, but still within the panel’s lifespan.
With rising electricity prices, the lifetime savings still stack up—often £8,000+.

Even in cloudy regions, solar panels still work—they just generate less per hour. Germany (with less sunlight than much of the UK) has long been a solar leader.

The Bottom Line?

Region Type	Are Solar Panels Worth It?	Average Payback	Best Way to Boost ROI
High Sunlight (e.g., South)	Definitely	7–10 years	Battery + smart export
Moderate Sunlight (e.g., Midlands)	Likely	9–11 years	Shift usage to daylight
Lower Sunlight (e.g., Highlands)	Worthwhile, but slower	11–13 years	High-efficiency panels

Even in traditionally lower-yield regions, the above-average sunshine hours like those of Spring 2025 can help improve solar performance across the board. If current patterns continue, areas that were once considered marginal could see much faster returns than previously expected.

Try the Solar Savings Calculator

Wondering how much solar panels could save you based on your location and energy usage? Use the Energy Saving Trust’s free calculator to get a personalised estimate in under 60 seconds.

Try the Solar Savings Calculator

Grants and Support to Help You Get Started with Solar in 2025

If you’re thinking about going solar, you don’t have to go it alone. While there’s no single UK-wide “free solar” grant in 2025, there are still plenty of schemes and support options that can reduce your upfront costs—or boost your long-term return.

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)

The Smart Export Guarantee scheme is a legal requirement for UK energy suppliers to pay you for excess solar energy you export back to the grid. It allows you to earn money for exporting stored electricity you don’t use to the national grid.

Export tariffs depend on the supplier tariff and the area of the country you reside in, but the best tariffs can be as high as 15p per kWh, so make sure you shop around. To qualify, you must use a certified installer and have a smart meter.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can get around £220 a year in Great Britain if you sign up to the SEG.

VAT Reduction Scheme

The UK government reduced VAT on the installation of energy-saving materials in residential accommodations from 5% to 0%. The zero rate applies until April 2027 and covers energy-saving materials like solar panels, smart diverters, and batteries for storing energy.

It covers the photovoltaic (PV) panels with cabling, control panel, and AC/DC inverter, and the retrofitting of a battery for storing electricity generated by the solar panels. This means you’ll pay less for the entire installation.

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) Scheme

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) mandates energy suppliers to offer efficiency improvements to eligible vulnerable and low-income households across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The ECO4 Delivery Guidance notes that you can qualify to get solar panels installed under the scheme if your property is already heated via a heat pump or electric heating system with a 0.8 or higher Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) responsiveness rating.

SAP is a system used in the UK to assess the energy performance of dwellings. It provides a numerical rating (SAP rating) on a scale of 1 to 100+, indicating how energy-efficient a property is. The higher the SAP rating, the more energy-efficient the property is, resulting in lower running costs.

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Local Authority & Regional Solar Schemes

Many councils run their own bulk-buy like Solar Together programmes that offer group buying discounts for solar PV and battery storage systems. Through the power of group-buying, you can get a competitive price, high-quality products & installations, and an easy process.

Group-buying allows a better deal for everyone. Solar Together notes that in previous years, they’ve secured average savings of 10-25% against the typical market price. You can register for the Solar Together scheme for free and without any obligation. Simply check your council or local authority for availability.

Warm Homes: Local Grant

Through the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme, the UK government has partnered with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to deliver insulation
measures and other improvements such as solar panels and PV batteries.

It targets low-income households living in the worst quality, privately owned homes in England. It aims to cut bills for families, slash fuel poverty, and reduce carbon emissions in support of net-zero 2050 targets.

There are three eligibility pathways, including living in eligible postcodes, receiving a specified means-tested benefit, or having a household gross annual income below the scheme’s household income threshold (£36,000).

Home Energy Scotland 0% Interest-Free Loan

Home Energy Scotland Loan is an interest-free loan designed to help finance various energy efficiency initiatives and renewable systems like solar panels and solar batteries.

You can get a loan of up to £5,000 for a hybrid solar PV and water heating (PV-T) system, and £6,000 for a solar battery storage system. The hybrid system combines photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar thermal collectors to generate both electricity and heat from solar energy.

The repayment period is between 5-10 years, depending on the installation. For specific eligibility criteria, you can visit the Home Energy Scotland website.

Summary: Sunshine Hours Map UK 2025

Solar panels are proving to be a smart investment for households across the UK in 2025—not just in sunny southern counties, but even in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Thanks to an unusually bright Spring 2025, many regions are already seeing above-average solar performance, boosting shorter payback periods and bigger savings.

Local sunshine hours, your roof orientation, and the use of battery storage all play a role in how much you can save—and how quickly you’ll break even. Break-even estimates vary by region. You can get support to install solar panels and batteries through the Smart Export Guarantee, 0% VAT, ECO4, local authority and regional solar schemes, the Warm Homes Local Grant, and interest-free loans available in Scotland.

Whether you’re motivated by rising energy bills, environmental benefits, or long-term financial freedom, the numbers in 2025 speak clearly: Solar panels are no longer just worth it—they’re one of the most effective home upgrades you can make.

FAQ: Sunshine Hours Map UK 2025

Are Solar Panels Worth It in Every Part of the UK?

Yes. Solar panels can provide a solid return across the UK. While southern regions break even faster due to more sunshine, even northern areas like Scotland and Northern Ireland can see significant savings, especially with rising energy prices and smart export tariffs.

How Does Regional Variation Affect Solar Panel Generation?

Solar output varies widely by region. A 4kW system in the South West might produce 30% more electricity than the same system in the far North. That’s due to differences in sunshine hours as shown in the sunshine hours UK map, with southern areas often seeing more sunshine hours annually, compared to the Highlands.

What Are Typical UK Annual Sunshine Hours?

Across the UK, the average is around 1,340 sunshine hours per year. The sunniest areas—like the South East and South West—often receive 1,700–1,900 hours, while northern and inland regions usually get less. You can get more insight from the sunshine hours map UK.

What Are “Peak Sun Hours” and How Many Does the UK Get?

“Peak sun hours” refer to the number of hours each day when solar irradiance reaches 1,000 W/m². The UK averages about 2.5 peak sun hours per day, or roughly 900–1,100 hours per year, depending on the region.

Do Solar Panels Still Work in Cloudy or Overcast Conditions?

Yes! Solar panels work with daylight, not just direct sun. While output is lower on cloudy days, panels still generate electricity. This is why solar performs well even in cloudy countries like the UK and Germany.