How Much Electricity Do Solar Panels Generate on Hayling Island?Figures by roof direction, from PVGIS
Hayling Island is one of the sunniest places we cover, but the direction your roof faces changes the numbers more than anything else. We ran the European Commission’s PVGIS model for a 4 kW array on the island in seven orientations.
- South at 35°: 4,526 kWh a year (PVGIS, 2005–2023 satellite data)
- South-west 4,269 and south-east 4,219 kWh — about 6–7% less
- West 3,555 and east 3,491 kWh — about 21–23% less over a year
- In December an east-facing array models at 64 kWh against 151 kWh facing south
- Pitch matters less: 45° gives 4,523 kWh and a shallow 10° roof 4,083 kWh
How We Got These Figures
Every figure here comes from PVGIS 5.3, the photovoltaic model run by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, using its SARAH3 satellite irradiance record for 2005 to 2023. We modelled a 4 kW crystalline-silicon array at 50.788°N, 0.973°W — the middle of the island — with 14% system losses and PVGIS’s default free-standing mounting.
These are long-term averages, not a promise for any one year. Cloudier years produce less, sunnier years more, and shading from trees, chimneys or a neighbour’s extension is not in the model — a survey has to look at that on the roof itself.
Output by Roof Direction
| Array (4 kW) | kWh a year | vs south, 35° | June kWh | December kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South, 35° | 4,526 | 100% | 562 | 151 |
| South-west, 35° | 4,269 | 94% | 564 | 124 |
| South-east, 35° | 4,219 | 93% | 550 | 121 |
| West, 35° | 3,555 | 79% | 532 | 65 |
| East, 35° | 3,491 | 77% | 510 | 64 |
| South, 10° (low pitch) | 4,083 | 90% | 583 | 90 |
| South, 45° (steep) | 4,523 | 100% | 534 | 167 |
Source: PVGIS 5.3 (EU JRC), PVGIS-SARAH3, queried 16 September 2026.
A south-facing roof at a normal pitch is the benchmark, at 4,526 kWh a year. Turn the array 45° either way and it gives up about 6–7%. Face it due east or due west and the annual loss is 21–23%. Pitch matters much less: at 45° the south-facing array is effectively unchanged, and even a shallow 10° roof keeps 90% of the output.
Why the Winter Gap Matters
The annual totals hide how the loss is spread. In June an east-facing array models at 510 kWh against 562 kWh facing south — 91% of the benchmark. In December it models at 64 kWh against 151 kWh: 42%. East- and west-facing panels lose little in summer and a great deal in winter.
That matters because winter is when a household uses the most electricity and when prices tend to bite. It also means the gap between roof directions is smaller than the annual figures suggest if most of your use is in the long summer days — and west-facing panels generate later in the afternoon, when many households are home.
Split East-West Roofs
Plenty of island homes have one roof slope facing east and the other west. Splitting a 4 kW array evenly across both models at about 3,523 kWh a year — roughly the average of the two — with output spread from morning to late afternoon rather than peaking at midday.
What the Numbers Are Worth
At the October to December 2026 price cap of 26.32p/kWh for electricity you use, and 12p/kWh on Outgoing Octopus for electricity you export, the three most common roofs compare like this:
| Array (4 kW) | kWh a year | Worth at 30% self-use | Worth at 60% self-use |
|---|---|---|---|
| South, 35° | 4,526 | £738 | £932 |
| West, 35° | 3,555 | £579 | £732 |
| East, 35° | 3,491 | £569 | £719 |
Import 26.32p/kWh (Ofgem cap, Oct–Dec 2026); export 12p/kWh (Outgoing Octopus, since 1 March 2026).
An east- or west-facing roof is still worth doing on Hayling; it simply takes longer to pay back, and a battery that moves daytime output into the evening narrows the gap.
Island Practicalities
The output is only half of an island installation. Everything comes over the A3023 and Langstone Bridge, seafront roofs need a fixing layout calculated for their exposure, and coastal air rewards stainless fixings and panels tested to IEC 61701 for salt-mist corrosion. Our page for solar installers on Hayling Island covers planning, access and costs on the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do solar panels work on an east-facing roof on Hayling Island?
Yes. PVGIS models a 4 kW east-facing array on Hayling at 3,491 kWh a year, about 77% of a south-facing one. Most of the shortfall is in winter: in June it produces 91% of the south-facing figure.
What is the best roof pitch for solar panels on Hayling Island?
Pitch matters less than direction. A south-facing 4 kW array models at 4,526 kWh at 35°, 4,523 kWh at 45° and 4,083 kWh at a shallow 10°.
How much does a 4 kW solar system generate on Hayling Island in winter?
Facing south at 35°, PVGIS models about 151 kWh in December, against 562 kWh in June. An east-facing array models at about 64 kWh in December.
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