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Solar panel cost in Birmingham (B35)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for B35 (Birmingham) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

Solar Calculator

Change the settings below to see how costs and savings work for your situation.

System Size

Roof Direction

Battery Storage

Export Value

Your Numbers

Break-even
12.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£7,307
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£608
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,886
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

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How we calculate this

Solar generation: Based on typical south-facing roof at 35° angle. We account for weather, dirt, and system losses (14%).

How much you'll use directly:

  • Without battery: You'll use about 40% of what you generate. The rest gets sold back to the grid.
  • With 5 kWh battery: You'll use about 70% (battery stores extra for evening use).
  • With 10 kWh battery: You'll use about 75% (more storage means less exported).
  • Panel-only payback: The official cost per kW is lower above 4 kW, so a 5–6 kW system can pay back a little faster than a 3–4 kW system on otherwise identical assumptions.
  • Battery & payback: Batteries raise self-use and cut bills, but added hardware cost often lengthens break-even at typical UK rates.
  • When a battery can still make sense:
    • Evening-heavy usage patterns
    • Time-of-use tariffs / cheap night rates
    • Low export rate vs. high unit rate
    • Heat pump or EV charging synergy
    • Optional backup/resilience (system-dependent)
    • Lower evening-hour CO₂ vs. grid

Panel costs: Uses March 2026 TIC mean installation costs: £1,827/kW up to 4 kW and £1,628/kW above 4 kW.

Other costs: Battery prices are modelled at £700 per kWh. Export tariffs vary by supplier (usually 5–15p per kWh).

Grid connection: Systems up to about 3.7 kW typically need just a notification (G98). Larger systems may need permission (G99).

These are typical values based on average usage patterns. Your actual results will vary based on your roof, shading, and how you use electricity.

Your area in context

In Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.33p/kWh with a 59.71p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 942 kWh/kW — 0 below the regional median (942).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 942 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.3p/kWh
Standing charge
59.7p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
942 kWh/kW
Export price (baseline)
10p/kWh

Browse the scenarios below. Each battery size has its own expand — open the one that matches your plan (or just explore). For each system size (2–8 kW) we show annual output, how much you use directly, what gets exported, annual benefit, upfront cost, break-even, and a 20-year net. Negative numbers are possible — that’s the honest trade-off when adding more battery than your usage profile justifies.

No battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £760, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 753 kWh 1130 kWh £191 £113 £304 £3,654 12.0 yrs £2,424
3 kW 2825 kWh 1130 kWh 1695 kWh £286 £170 £456 £5,481 12.0 yrs £3,635
4 kW 3767 kWh 1507 kWh 2260 kWh £382 £226 £608 £7,307 12.0 yrs £4,847
5 kW 4709 kWh 1884 kWh 2825 kWh £477 £283 £760 £9,134 12.0 yrs £6,059
6 kW 5651 kWh 2260 kWh 3391 kWh £573 £339 £912 £10,961 12.0 yrs £7,271
7 kW 6593 kWh 2637 kWh 3956 kWh £668 £396 £1,064 £12,788 12.0 yrs £8,483
8 kW 7534 kWh 3014 kWh 4521 kWh £763 £452 £1,215 £14,615 12.0 yrs £9,695

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £904, Upfront: £11,234, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1130 kWh 753 kWh £286 £75 £362 £5,754 15.9 yrs £1,479
3 kW 2825 kWh 1695 kWh 1130 kWh £429 £113 £542 £7,581 14.0 yrs £3,268
4 kW 3767 kWh 2260 kWh 1507 kWh £573 £151 £723 £9,407 13.0 yrs £5,057
5 kW 4709 kWh 2825 kWh 1884 kWh £716 £188 £904 £11,234 12.4 yrs £6,847
6 kW 5651 kWh 3391 kWh 2260 kWh £859 £226 £1,085 £13,061 12.0 yrs £8,636
7 kW 6593 kWh 3956 kWh 2637 kWh £1,002 £264 £1,266 £14,888 11.8 yrs £10,425
8 kW 7534 kWh 4521 kWh 3014 kWh £1,145 £301 £1,446 £16,715 11.6 yrs £12,215

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £976, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1319 kWh 565 kWh £334 £57 £390 £7,154 18.3 yrs £656
3 kW 2825 kWh 1978 kWh 848 kWh £501 £85 £586 £8,981 15.3 yrs £2,734
4 kW 3767 kWh 2637 kWh 1130 kWh £668 £113 £781 £10,807 13.8 yrs £4,812
5 kW 4709 kWh 3296 kWh 1413 kWh £835 £141 £976 £12,634 12.9 yrs £6,890
6 kW 5651 kWh 3956 kWh 1695 kWh £1,002 £170 £1,171 £14,461 12.3 yrs £8,969
7 kW 6593 kWh 4615 kWh 1978 kWh £1,169 £198 £1,367 £16,288 11.9 yrs £11,047
8 kW 7534 kWh 5274 kWh 2260 kWh £1,336 £226 £1,562 £18,115 11.6 yrs £13,125

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £998, Upfront: £14,384, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1375 kWh 509 kWh £348 £51 £399 £8,904 22.3 yrs £-921
3 kW 2825 kWh 2063 kWh 763 kWh £522 £76 £599 £10,731 17.9 yrs £1,244
4 kW 3767 kWh 2750 kWh 1017 kWh £697 £102 £798 £12,557 15.7 yrs £3,409
5 kW 4709 kWh 3438 kWh 1271 kWh £871 £127 £998 £14,384 14.4 yrs £5,574
6 kW 5651 kWh 4125 kWh 1526 kWh £1,045 £153 £1,197 £16,211 13.5 yrs £7,738
7 kW 6593 kWh 4813 kWh 1780 kWh £1,219 £178 £1,397 £18,038 12.9 yrs £9,903
8 kW 7534 kWh 5500 kWh 2034 kWh £1,393 £203 £1,597 £19,865 12.4 yrs £12,068

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,012, Upfront: £16,134, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1413 kWh 471 kWh £358 £47 £405 £10,654 26.3 yrs £-2,555
3 kW 2825 kWh 2119 kWh 706 kWh £537 £71 £607 £12,481 20.5 yrs £-333
4 kW 3767 kWh 2825 kWh 942 kWh £716 £94 £810 £14,307 17.7 yrs £1,890
5 kW 4709 kWh 3532 kWh 1177 kWh £895 £118 £1,012 £16,134 15.9 yrs £4,112
6 kW 5651 kWh 4238 kWh 1413 kWh £1,074 £141 £1,215 £17,961 14.8 yrs £6,335
7 kW 6593 kWh 4945 kWh 1648 kWh £1,252 £165 £1,417 £19,788 14.0 yrs £8,557
8 kW 7534 kWh 5651 kWh 1884 kWh £1,431 £188 £1,620 £21,615 13.3 yrs £10,780

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,027, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 18.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1450 kWh 433 kWh £367 £43 £411 £13,104 31.9 yrs £-4,890
3 kW 2825 kWh 2176 kWh 650 kWh £551 £65 £616 £14,931 24.2 yrs £-2,609
4 kW 3767 kWh 2901 kWh 866 kWh £735 £87 £821 £16,757 20.4 yrs £-329
5 kW 4709 kWh 3626 kWh 1083 kWh £918 £108 £1,027 £18,584 18.1 yrs £1,951
6 kW 5651 kWh 4351 kWh 1300 kWh £1,102 £130 £1,232 £20,411 16.6 yrs £4,231
7 kW 6593 kWh 5076 kWh 1516 kWh £1,286 £152 £1,437 £22,238 15.5 yrs £6,512
8 kW 7534 kWh 5802 kWh 1733 kWh £1,470 £173 £1,643 £24,065 14.6 yrs £8,792

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

Figures are illustrative and use the same method as the calculator above. For exact results, adjust your roof direction, tariff, and usage in the calculator.

Before you request quotes in Birmingham

Use the numbers above to sanity-check installer quotes. The main things to compare are system size, battery assumptions, payback claims, MCS certification, DNO paperwork and export assumptions.

Compare solar quotes before you sign

Check what MCS certification means

Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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Share the first part of your postcode and a few basics. We’ll help you check whether system size, battery, export and paperwork assumptions look sensible before you commit to installer conversations.

This is a practical sanity-check request, not an instant quote promise. The Blue Ape quote route above remains available if you already want installer introductions.

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Insights for B35

Figures below are tailored to B35 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1570 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2498 of 2996
12.0 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£608 /yr • £7,307 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2630 of 2996
35.9% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£218 fixed • ~£608 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −21.5% West −19.5%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in B35

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 37 Jan 51 Feb 82 Mar 105 Apr 114 May 113 Jun 114 Jul 103 Aug 88 Sep 61 Oct 42 Nov 34 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 51.4% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: Jul / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 40 kWh per month; the average month produces around 78 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 161 kWh in winter, or 314 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.33p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.71p/day
Local Sunshine
942kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~942 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 62% • Flats: 32% • Bungalows: 3% Based on 3,113 properties

Coverage

Birmingham (100%)

Areas Covered

Castle Vale, Pype Hayes

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q3 2026

Installation costs: DESNZ/MCS data, March 2026 (TIC)

Property data: EPC open data (Open Government Licence), aggregated

All estimates are typical values. Actual results vary based on your specific situation, roof characteristics, and usage patterns.

Compare nearby areas

Nearby in Midlands

B36 (Solihull)
≈1.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~946 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B35
B34 (Birmingham)
≈2.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~943 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B35
B76 (Birmingham)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~948 kWh/kWp · +1% vs B35
B24 (Birmingham)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~942 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B35
B23 (Birmingham)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~942 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B35
B33 (Birmingham)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~949 kWh/kWp · +1% vs B35

Similar sunshine across the UK

NG7 (Nottingham)
~942 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B35
CH4 (Cheshire West and Chester)
~942 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B35
NG8 (Nottingham)
~942 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B35