North East England
Solar Panels in County Durham
We connect homeowners across County Durham with MCS-certified solar installers. A mix of former colliery towns and Durham Dales countryside, with generally open, low-rise housing that suits south-facing roof arrays well.
Solar generation in County Durham
Using PVGIS irradiance data for North East England, a 4 kWp south-facing array in County Durham produces roughly 3,680 kWh per year. At the April 2026 Ofgem price cap of 24.50p/kWh, that covers £902 of electricity you would otherwise buy from the grid.
On top of bill savings, surplus energy exported to the grid earns Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments — typically 4–6p/kWh with the main suppliers, or up to 15p/kWh with specialist tariffs like Octopus Outgoing.
A typical 4 kWp system with a 5 kWh battery costs £7,000–£11,000 installed across County Durham. At current energy prices, most homeowners break even within 9–11 years.
Local grid: Northern Powergrid (Northeast)
Anywhere in County Durham, the grid connection for a new system goes via Northern Powergrid (Northeast). Smaller systems (up to 3.68 kW) just need a G98 notification, while bigger ones need G99 approval — allow up to 45 working days for that. Either way, it's your MCS-certified installer's job, not an added fee.
About County Durham
The county's shift from coal mining to services and logistics has left plenty of former colliery-town terraced housing with straightforward, unobstructed roof pitches. Durham's cathedral rises above the River Wear at one end of the county, while the Durham Dales climb into open Pennine moorland at the other.
Towns and cities we cover in County Durham
We also cover Durham, Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street and Consett — and everywhere else in County Durham — even though those don't have a dedicated page yet.
Frequently asked questions — County Durham
What parts of County Durham does your installer network reach?+
We're a matching service covering the whole of County Durham, including Durham, Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street and Consett — plus every smaller town and village in between. We connect you with MCS-certified installers who work across the county, whether or not your specific town already has its own dedicated page on this site.
How much electricity will solar panels generate in County Durham?+
A 4 kWp south-facing system in County Durham generates roughly 3,680 kWh a year, based on PVGIS irradiance data for North East England — worth roughly £902 at the April 2026 Ofgem price cap of 24.50p/kWh. A mix of former colliery towns and Durham Dales countryside, with generally open, low-rise housing that suits south-facing roof arrays well.
Who is the electricity network operator in County Durham?+
County Durham sits on the Northern Powergrid (Northeast) network. Smaller systems (up to 3.68 kW) only need a G98 notification; larger ones need G99 approval, which can take up to 45 working days — your installer takes care of the paperwork either way, at no extra cost.
How long is the payback period for solar in County Durham?+
A typical 4 kWp system with a 5 kWh battery costs £7,000–£11,000 installed. On County Durham's 920 kWh-per-kWp yield and current energy prices, most homeowners break even within 9–11 years, and Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments on surplus exported energy reduce that further.