Solar Panels in Greater Manchester
Solar yields in Greater Manchester vary by about 9% between the sunniest and the cloudiest parts of the county. Warrington and Wigan in the west produce the most, and Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham against the Pennines the least. Every borough still gives a 4kWp system roughly 3,400–3,750 kWh a year, enough to cover most of a typical household's use. Compare your borough below, then open its page for local grants, costs and payback.
Compare every borough
| Council page | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrington | 938 | 3,752 | £738 | 9.2 | — |
| Wigan | 935 | 3,740 | £735 | 9.2 | — |
| Trafford | 924 | 3,696 | £727 | 9.4 | — |
| Bolton | 904 | 3,616 | £711 | 9.6 | Bolton council page |
| Salford | 897 | 3,588 | £705 | 9.6 | — |
| Manchester | 888 | 3,552 | £698 | 9.7 | Manchester council page |
| Bury | 888 | 3,552 | £698 | 9.7 | — |
| Stockport | 883 | 3,532 | £694 | 9.8 | Stockport council page |
| Oldham | 866 | 3,464 | £681 | 10 | — |
| Rochdale | 865 | 3,460 | £680 | 10 | Rochdale council page |
| Tameside | 861 | 3,444 | £677 | 10 | Tameside council page |
Borough guides
Solar panels in Manchester
888 kWh/kWp9.7 yr payback
Solar panels in Bolton
904 kWh/kWp9.6 yr payback
Solar panels in Wigan
935 kWh/kWp9.2 yr payback
Solar panels in Warrington
938 kWh/kWp9.2 yr payback
Solar panels in Stockport
883 kWh/kWp9.8 yr payback
Solar panels in Oldham
866 kWh/kWp10 yr payback
Solar panels in Rochdale
865 kWh/kWp10 yr payback
Solar panels in Tameside
861 kWh/kWp10 yr payback
Solar panels in Trafford
924 kWh/kWp9.4 yr payback
Solar panels in Bury
888 kWh/kWp9.7 yr payback
Solar panels in Salford
897 kWh/kWp9.6 yr payback
Greater Manchester solar schemes
- Solar Together Greater Manchester
GMCA and all ten Greater Manchester councils with iChoosr (group-buying)
Registration opens in rounds. Check whether a round is currently open before relying on it.
- GMCA ECO4 flexible eligibility
For lower-income households or homes with poor EPC ratings.
- GMCA Retrofit Portal
Greater Manchester solar FAQs
Which part of Greater Manchester is best for solar?
The western boroughs. Warrington (938 kWh/kWp) and Wigan (935) have the highest PVGIS yields, and Tameside (861), Rochdale (865) and Oldham (866) the lowest. The difference is about 9%, so roof direction and shading matter more than which borough you live in.
Is solar worth it in Manchester's climate?
Yes. Solar panels work on daylight, not heat. A 4kWp system in Greater Manchester produces about 3,400–3,750 kWh a year, and pays back in roughly 9–11 years on current UK benchmark prices against a 25–30 year panel life.
Are there solar grants in Greater Manchester?
The main routes are Solar Together Greater Manchester, a council-backed group-buy, ECO4 funding through GMCA for eligible households, and 0% VAT on solar and batteries until 31 March 2027. See the grants guide for details by council.