A U.K. homeowner feared something was wrong with a new solar setup installed in early October after eight north-facing panels generated just 104 watts while the south-facing side was producing 2 kilowatts.
It's normal for north-facing panels to produce less in the Northern Hemisphere since they do not face the sun as well, but the disparity went beyond expectations, though an overcast reading from a bit later in the month suggested the system was not failing at all.
According to a Reddit post, the array included eight panels on each roof side split across two strings. After the homeowner raised concerns, the installer checked the system again, tested the inverter, and ruled out clipping (when the power exceeds what the inverter can handle), but a sunny 11 a.m. reading still showed the same disparity.
One commenter explained: "On a clear day, there is no sun shining on your north facing panels, and there is nothing to scatter the light. During winter they are useful only on overcast days."
A user who shared a north/south production graph said the yearly outlook is far less severe, with a March 2025 array expected to have the north side produce roughly 70% of the south side over 12 months. Even so, they added that "this part of the year, October – Feb, is awful for north facing panels – the sun is barely ever at the right position to get good generation going."
For households considering a setup like this, going solar is one of the best ways to save money on home energy, and solar leases in particular can deliver hundreds of dollars in monthly savings without any upfront costs. Readers can use EasyHome's free explorer tool to see their potential savings from vetted installers in their area.
The homeowner's cloudy-day numbers helped illustrate the issue. On Oct. 12, under overcast skies, the south-facing panels produced 307 W while the north-facing panels actually reached 724 W at one point. That was the opposite of what they saw on clear days.
Because a north-facing roof may get little to no direct sun in October and the winter months, several commenters said scattered light likely explains the result.
One commenter with two north-facing garage panels wrote that they "perform better when it's sunny but cloudy" because "light bounces around more so the panels generate more power."
The discussion highlighted the value of month-by-month production estimates rather than relying only on real-time figures against expected annual totals.
To check whether the results were within a normal range, one reply suggested using the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System. In a quick example from the Reddit thread, that commenter said October output might come in at around 260 kilowatt-hours per month for south-facing panels and 84 kWh for north-facing panels.
Some commenters framed the issue as a planning trade-off. Others argued that it can still make sense to maximize roof space while scaffolding is in place, even if winter output from the north side is limited.
"Wait until the end of March, you'll see things get much better," a commenter reassured the original poster.
For scenarios like this, EasyHome's free explorer tool can be especially useful, since it helps homeowners compare vetted installers and see what a realistic setup could save. EasyHome can also help readers explore backup battery storage options; pairing solar with a battery can maximize savings and let homeowners power their home with solar when the grid goes down.
The homeowner's winter numbers remind us that solar output can vary widely by season and roof layout.
• An industry insider used real-world winter data to show solar keeps producing.
• Common rooftop myths about solar energy still keep some homeowners from cutting bills.
• At EnergySage, installation costs vary with roof design, equipment, labor, and incentives.
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