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Solar panel cost in Birmingham (B5)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for B5 (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
12.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£6,104
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£472
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£5,684
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: Bigger systems don’t shorten payback—cost and savings rise together per kW.
  • 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

Costs: Battery prices are typically £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 26.99p/kWh with a 54.08p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 936 kWh/kW — 6 below the regional median (942).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 936 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.0p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.0p/kWh
Standing charge
54.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
936 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: £786, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1871 kWh 749 kWh 1123 kWh £202 £112 £314 £4,069 12.9 yrs £2,218
3 kW 2807 kWh 1123 kWh 1684 kWh £303 £168 £472 £6,104 12.9 yrs £3,326
4 kW 3743 kWh 1497 kWh 2246 kWh £404 £225 £629 £8,138 12.9 yrs £4,435
5 kW 4679 kWh 1871 kWh 2807 kWh £505 £281 £786 £10,173 12.9 yrs £5,544
6 kW 5614 kWh 2246 kWh 3369 kWh £606 £337 £943 £12,207 12.9 yrs £6,653
7 kW 6550 kWh 2620 kWh 3930 kWh £707 £393 £1,100 £14,242 12.9 yrs £7,762
8 kW 7486 kWh 2994 kWh 4492 kWh £808 £449 £1,257 £16,276 12.9 yrs £8,871

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £945, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1871 kWh 1123 kWh 749 kWh £303 £75 £378 £6,169 16.3 yrs £1,390
3 kW 2807 kWh 1684 kWh 1123 kWh £455 £112 £567 £8,204 14.5 yrs £3,134
4 kW 3743 kWh 2246 kWh 1497 kWh £606 £150 £756 £10,238 13.5 yrs £4,879
5 kW 4679 kWh 2807 kWh 1871 kWh £758 £187 £945 £12,273 13.0 yrs £6,624
6 kW 5614 kWh 3369 kWh 2246 kWh £909 £225 £1,134 £14,307 12.6 yrs £8,369
7 kW 6550 kWh 3930 kWh 2620 kWh £1,061 £262 £1,323 £16,342 12.4 yrs £10,113
8 kW 7486 kWh 4492 kWh 2994 kWh £1,212 £299 £1,512 £18,376 12.2 yrs £11,858

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,024, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1871 kWh 1310 kWh 561 kWh £354 £56 £410 £7,569 18.5 yrs £625
3 kW 2807 kWh 1965 kWh 842 kWh £530 £84 £615 £9,604 15.6 yrs £2,688
4 kW 3743 kWh 2620 kWh 1123 kWh £707 £112 £819 £11,638 14.2 yrs £4,751
5 kW 4679 kWh 3275 kWh 1404 kWh £884 £140 £1,024 £13,673 13.3 yrs £6,814
6 kW 5614 kWh 3930 kWh 1684 kWh £1,061 £168 £1,229 £15,707 12.8 yrs £8,876
7 kW 6550 kWh 4585 kWh 1965 kWh £1,238 £197 £1,434 £17,742 12.4 yrs £10,939
8 kW 7486 kWh 5240 kWh 2246 kWh £1,414 £225 £1,639 £19,776 12.1 yrs £13,002

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,048, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1871 kWh 1366 kWh 505 kWh £369 £51 £419 £9,319 22.2 yrs £-934
3 kW 2807 kWh 2049 kWh 758 kWh £553 £76 £629 £11,354 18.1 yrs £1,224
4 kW 3743 kWh 2732 kWh 1011 kWh £737 £101 £839 £13,388 16.0 yrs £3,382
5 kW 4679 kWh 3415 kWh 1263 kWh £922 £126 £1,048 £15,423 14.7 yrs £5,541
6 kW 5614 kWh 4099 kWh 1516 kWh £1,106 £152 £1,258 £17,457 13.9 yrs £7,699
7 kW 6550 kWh 4782 kWh 1769 kWh £1,291 £177 £1,467 £19,492 13.3 yrs £9,857
8 kW 7486 kWh 5465 kWh 2021 kWh £1,475 £202 £1,677 £21,526 12.8 yrs £12,015

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,064, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1871 kWh 1404 kWh 468 kWh £379 £47 £426 £11,069 26.0 yrs £-2,557
3 kW 2807 kWh 2105 kWh 702 kWh £568 £70 £638 £13,104 20.5 yrs £-335
4 kW 3743 kWh 2807 kWh 936 kWh £758 £94 £851 £15,138 17.8 yrs £1,887
5 kW 4679 kWh 3509 kWh 1170 kWh £947 £117 £1,064 £17,173 16.1 yrs £4,109
6 kW 5614 kWh 4211 kWh 1404 kWh £1,137 £140 £1,277 £19,207 15.0 yrs £6,330
7 kW 6550 kWh 4913 kWh 1638 kWh £1,326 £164 £1,490 £21,242 14.3 yrs £8,552
8 kW 7486 kWh 5614 kWh 1871 kWh £1,515 £187 £1,702 £23,276 13.7 yrs £10,774

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,080, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1871 kWh 1441 kWh 430 kWh £389 £43 £432 £13,519 31.3 yrs £-4,879
3 kW 2807 kWh 2162 kWh 646 kWh £583 £65 £648 £15,554 24.0 yrs £-2,594
4 kW 3743 kWh 2882 kWh 861 kWh £778 £86 £864 £17,588 20.4 yrs £-309
5 kW 4679 kWh 3603 kWh 1076 kWh £972 £108 £1,080 £19,623 18.2 yrs £1,976
6 kW 5614 kWh 4323 kWh 1291 kWh £1,167 £129 £1,296 £21,657 16.7 yrs £4,262
7 kW 6550 kWh 5044 kWh 1507 kWh £1,361 £151 £1,512 £23,692 15.7 yrs £6,547
8 kW 7486 kWh 5764 kWh 1722 kWh £1,556 £172 £1,728 £25,726 14.9 yrs £8,832

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, 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.

Insights for B5

Figures below are tailored to B5 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #1881 of 2997
12.9 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£786 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1949 of 2997
25.1% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£786 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −21.5% West −19.3%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.99p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.08p/day
Local Sunshine
936kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~936 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For eligible homes in this area

⚠️ This area is predominantly flats. Many residents require freeholder approval for solar installations. System size shown reflects houses and bungalows only.

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 12% • Flats: 85% • Bungalows: 0% Based on 9,457 properties

Coverage

Birmingham (100%)

Areas Covered

Bordesley & Highgate, Ladywood, Edgbaston, Balsall Heath West, Nechells, Newtown

Data Sources & Assumptions

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

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q1 2026

Installation costs: MCS certified installer data, March 2025

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

B2 (Birmingham)
≈0.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~940 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B5
B1 (Birmingham)
≈0.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~935 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B5
B3 (Birmingham)
≈0.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~935 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B5
B4 (Birmingham)
≈1.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~940 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B5
B15 (Birmingham)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~938 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B5
B12 (Birmingham)
≈2.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~939 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B5

Similar sunshine across the UK

YO60 (North Yorkshire)
~936 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B5
S43 (Chesterfield)
~935 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B5
SA41 (Pembrokeshire)
~935 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B5