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Solar panel cost in Bradford (BD17)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for BD17 (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
£730
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,117
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 906 kWh/kW — 23 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 906 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)
906 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: £730, 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 1812 kWh 725 kWh 1087 kWh £183 £109 £292 £3,256 11.1 yrs £2,586
3 kW 2717 kWh 1087 kWh 1630 kWh £275 £163 £438 £4,883 11.1 yrs £3,880
4 kW 3623 kWh 1449 kWh 2174 kWh £367 £217 £584 £6,511 11.1 yrs £5,173
5 kW 4529 kWh 1812 kWh 2717 kWh £459 £272 £730 £8,139 11.1 yrs £6,466
6 kW 5435 kWh 2174 kWh 3261 kWh £550 £326 £876 £9,767 11.1 yrs £7,759
7 kW 6341 kWh 2536 kWh 3804 kWh £642 £380 £1,022 £11,394 11.1 yrs £9,053
8 kW 7246 kWh 2899 kWh 4348 kWh £734 £435 £1,168 £13,022 11.1 yrs £10,346

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: £869, 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 1812 kWh 1087 kWh 725 kWh £275 £72 £348 £5,356 15.4 yrs £1,596
3 kW 2717 kWh 1630 kWh 1087 kWh £413 £109 £521 £6,983 13.4 yrs £3,444
4 kW 3623 kWh 2174 kWh 1449 kWh £550 £145 £695 £8,611 12.4 yrs £5,292
5 kW 4529 kWh 2717 kWh 1812 kWh £688 £181 £869 £10,239 11.8 yrs £7,140
6 kW 5435 kWh 3261 kWh 2174 kWh £825 £217 £1,043 £11,867 11.4 yrs £8,988
7 kW 6341 kWh 3804 kWh 2536 kWh £963 £254 £1,216 £13,494 11.1 yrs £10,836
8 kW 7246 kWh 4348 kWh 2899 kWh £1,100 £290 £1,390 £15,122 10.9 yrs £12,683

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: £938, 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 1812 kWh 1268 kWh 543 kWh £321 £54 £375 £6,756 18.0 yrs £751
3 kW 2717 kWh 1902 kWh 815 kWh £481 £82 £563 £8,383 14.9 yrs £2,876
4 kW 3623 kWh 2536 kWh 1087 kWh £642 £109 £751 £10,011 13.3 yrs £5,001
5 kW 4529 kWh 3170 kWh 1359 kWh £802 £136 £938 £11,639 12.4 yrs £7,126
6 kW 5435 kWh 3804 kWh 1630 kWh £963 £163 £1,126 £13,267 11.8 yrs £9,252
7 kW 6341 kWh 4438 kWh 1902 kWh £1,123 £190 £1,314 £14,894 11.3 yrs £11,377
8 kW 7246 kWh 5072 kWh 2174 kWh £1,284 £217 £1,501 £16,522 11.0 yrs £13,502

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: £959, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1812 kWh 1322 kWh 489 kWh £335 £49 £384 £8,506 22.2 yrs £-833
3 kW 2717 kWh 1984 kWh 734 kWh £502 £73 £575 £10,133 17.6 yrs £1,375
4 kW 3623 kWh 2645 kWh 978 kWh £669 £98 £767 £11,761 15.3 yrs £3,584
5 kW 4529 kWh 3306 kWh 1223 kWh £837 £122 £959 £13,389 14.0 yrs £5,792
6 kW 5435 kWh 3967 kWh 1467 kWh £1,004 £147 £1,151 £15,017 13.0 yrs £8,001
7 kW 6341 kWh 4629 kWh 1712 kWh £1,171 £171 £1,343 £16,644 12.4 yrs £10,209
8 kW 7246 kWh 5290 kWh 1957 kWh £1,339 £196 £1,535 £18,272 11.9 yrs £12,418

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: £973, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1812 kWh 1359 kWh 453 kWh £344 £45 £389 £10,256 26.4 yrs £-2,472
3 kW 2717 kWh 2038 kWh 679 kWh £516 £68 £584 £11,883 20.4 yrs £-208
4 kW 3623 kWh 2717 kWh 906 kWh £688 £91 £778 £13,511 17.4 yrs £2,056
5 kW 4529 kWh 3397 kWh 1132 kWh £860 £113 £973 £15,139 15.6 yrs £4,320
6 kW 5435 kWh 4076 kWh 1359 kWh £1,032 £136 £1,168 £16,767 14.4 yrs £6,584
7 kW 6341 kWh 4755 kWh 1585 kWh £1,204 £159 £1,362 £18,394 13.5 yrs £8,848
8 kW 7246 kWh 5435 kWh 1812 kWh £1,376 £181 £1,557 £20,022 12.9 yrs £11,112

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: £987, 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 1812 kWh 1395 kWh 417 kWh £353 £42 £395 £12,706 32.2 yrs £-4,811
3 kW 2717 kWh 2092 kWh 625 kWh £530 £62 £592 £14,333 24.2 yrs £-2,492
4 kW 3623 kWh 2790 kWh 833 kWh £706 £83 £789 £15,961 20.2 yrs £-172
5 kW 4529 kWh 3487 kWh 1042 kWh £883 £104 £987 £17,589 17.8 yrs £2,147
6 kW 5435 kWh 4185 kWh 1250 kWh £1,059 £125 £1,184 £19,217 16.2 yrs £4,467
7 kW 6341 kWh 4882 kWh 1458 kWh £1,236 £146 £1,382 £20,844 15.1 yrs £6,786
8 kW 7246 kWh 5580 kWh 1667 kWh £1,412 £167 £1,579 £22,472 14.2 yrs £9,105

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 BD17

Figures below are tailored to BD17 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1619 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2054 of 2996
11.1 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£730 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2456 of 2996
32.2% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£235 fixed • ~£730 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.6% West −20.2%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in BD17

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 31 Jan 47 Feb 79 Mar 104 Apr 115 May 109 Jun 113 Jul 103 Aug 83 Sep 57 Oct 37 Nov 28 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 46.5% 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 35 kWh per month; the average month produces around 75 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 141 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
906kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~906 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: 56% • Flats: 34% • Bungalows: 9% Based on 5,023 properties

Coverage

Bradford (100%)

Areas Covered

Baildon, Shipley, Bolton and Undercliffe, Bingley, Idle and Thackley, Windhill and Wrose

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

BD18 (Bradford)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~907 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BD17
BD97 (Bradford)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~905 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD17
BD10 (Bradford)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~911 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BD17
BD98 (Bradford)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~905 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD17
BD9 (Bradford)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~906 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BD17
BD16 (Bradford)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~907 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BD17

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL32 (Conwy)
~906 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD17
DG12 (Dumfries and Galloway)
~906 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD17
WA2 (Warrington)
~905 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BD17