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Solar panel cost in Bradford (BD16)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for BD16 (Bradford) 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
11.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£731
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,141
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 Yorkshire, the current unit rate is 25.31p/kWh with a 64.38p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 907 kWh/kW — 22 below the regional median (929).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 907 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
64.4p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
907 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: £731, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 11.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1814 kWh 726 kWh 1088 kWh £184 £109 £292 £3,256 11.1 yrs £2,594
3 kW 2721 kWh 1088 kWh 1632 kWh £275 £163 £439 £4,883 11.1 yrs £3,891
4 kW 3628 kWh 1451 kWh 2177 kWh £367 £218 £585 £6,511 11.1 yrs £5,188
5 kW 4535 kWh 1814 kWh 2721 kWh £459 £272 £731 £8,139 11.1 yrs £6,485
6 kW 5442 kWh 2177 kWh 3265 kWh £551 £326 £877 £9,767 11.1 yrs £7,782
7 kW 6349 kWh 2539 kWh 3809 kWh £643 £381 £1,024 £11,394 11.1 yrs £9,079
8 kW 7256 kWh 2902 kWh 4353 kWh £735 £435 £1,170 £13,022 11.1 yrs £10,376

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £870, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 11.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1814 kWh 1088 kWh 726 kWh £275 £73 £348 £5,356 15.4 yrs £1,605
3 kW 2721 kWh 1632 kWh 1088 kWh £413 £109 £522 £6,983 13.4 yrs £3,457
4 kW 3628 kWh 2177 kWh 1451 kWh £551 £145 £696 £8,611 12.4 yrs £5,309
5 kW 4535 kWh 2721 kWh 1814 kWh £689 £181 £870 £10,239 11.8 yrs £7,162
6 kW 5442 kWh 3265 kWh 2177 kWh £826 £218 £1,044 £11,867 11.4 yrs £9,014
7 kW 6349 kWh 3809 kWh 2539 kWh £964 £254 £1,218 £13,494 11.1 yrs £10,866
8 kW 7256 kWh 4353 kWh 2902 kWh £1,102 £290 £1,392 £15,122 10.9 yrs £12,719

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £939, Upfront: £11,639, 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 1814 kWh 1270 kWh 544 kWh £321 £54 £376 £6,756 18.0 yrs £760
3 kW 2721 kWh 1905 kWh 816 kWh £482 £82 £564 £8,383 14.9 yrs £2,890
4 kW 3628 kWh 2539 kWh 1088 kWh £643 £109 £752 £10,011 13.3 yrs £5,020
5 kW 4535 kWh 3174 kWh 1360 kWh £803 £136 £939 £11,639 12.4 yrs £7,150
6 kW 5442 kWh 3809 kWh 1632 kWh £964 £163 £1,127 £13,267 11.8 yrs £9,280
7 kW 6349 kWh 4444 kWh 1905 kWh £1,125 £190 £1,315 £14,894 11.3 yrs £11,410
8 kW 7256 kWh 5079 kWh 2177 kWh £1,285 £218 £1,503 £16,522 11.0 yrs £13,540

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £960, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1814 kWh 1324 kWh 490 kWh £335 £49 £384 £8,506 22.1 yrs £-823
3 kW 2721 kWh 1986 kWh 735 kWh £503 £73 £576 £10,133 17.6 yrs £1,390
4 kW 3628 kWh 2648 kWh 979 kWh £670 £98 £768 £11,761 15.3 yrs £3,603
5 kW 4535 kWh 3310 kWh 1224 kWh £838 £122 £960 £13,389 13.9 yrs £5,817
6 kW 5442 kWh 3972 kWh 1469 kWh £1,005 £147 £1,152 £15,017 13.0 yrs £8,030
7 kW 6349 kWh 4634 kWh 1714 kWh £1,173 £171 £1,344 £16,644 12.4 yrs £10,244
8 kW 7256 kWh 5297 kWh 1959 kWh £1,341 £196 £1,536 £18,272 11.9 yrs £12,457

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £974, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1814 kWh 1360 kWh 453 kWh £344 £45 £390 £10,256 26.3 yrs £-2,462
3 kW 2721 kWh 2041 kWh 680 kWh £516 £68 £585 £11,883 20.3 yrs £-193
4 kW 3628 kWh 2721 kWh 907 kWh £689 £91 £779 £13,511 17.3 yrs £2,076
5 kW 4535 kWh 3401 kWh 1134 kWh £861 £113 £974 £15,139 15.5 yrs £4,345
6 kW 5442 kWh 4081 kWh 1360 kWh £1,033 £136 £1,169 £16,767 14.3 yrs £6,613
7 kW 6349 kWh 4761 kWh 1587 kWh £1,205 £159 £1,364 £18,394 13.5 yrs £8,882
8 kW 7256 kWh 5442 kWh 1814 kWh £1,377 £181 £1,559 £20,022 12.8 yrs £11,151

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £988, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 17.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1814 kWh 1397 kWh 417 kWh £354 £42 £395 £12,706 32.1 yrs £-4,801
3 kW 2721 kWh 2095 kWh 626 kWh £530 £63 £593 £14,333 24.2 yrs £-2,477
4 kW 3628 kWh 2793 kWh 834 kWh £707 £83 £790 £15,961 20.2 yrs £-152
5 kW 4535 kWh 3492 kWh 1043 kWh £884 £104 £988 £17,589 17.8 yrs £2,172
6 kW 5442 kWh 4190 kWh 1252 kWh £1,061 £125 £1,186 £19,217 16.2 yrs £4,497
7 kW 6349 kWh 4888 kWh 1460 kWh £1,237 £146 £1,383 £20,844 15.1 yrs £6,821
8 kW 7256 kWh 5587 kWh 1669 kWh £1,414 £167 £1,581 £22,472 14.2 yrs £9,146

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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 Bradford

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.

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Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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Insights for BD16

Figures below are tailored to BD16 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1618 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2053 of 2996
11.1 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£731 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2438 of 2996
32.1% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£235 fixed • ~£731 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.9% West −20.2%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in BD16

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 32 Jan 47 Feb 80 Mar 104 Apr 114 May 109 Jun 112 Jul 103 Aug 83 Sep 56 Oct 38 Nov 28 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 47.2% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: May / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 36 kWh per month; the average month produces around 76 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 143 kWh in winter, or 302 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.31p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
64.38p/day
Local Sunshine
907kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~907 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 64% • Flats: 28% • Bungalows: 6% Based on 6,999 properties

Coverage

Bradford (100%)

Areas Covered

Bingley, Bingley Rural, Bolton and Undercliffe, Heaton, Baildon, Keighley East, Shipley, Toller

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 Yorkshire

BD97 (Bradford)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~905 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD16
BD17 (Bradford)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~906 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD16
BD18 (Bradford)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~907 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BD16
BD15 (Bradford)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~904 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD16
BD9 (Bradford)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~906 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD16
BD21 (Bradford)
≈5.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~889 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BD16

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL60 (Isle of Anglesey)
~907 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD16
NE42 (Northumberland)
~907 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BD16
WA5 (Warrington)
~907 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD16