Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BH21 (Dorset)

See if solar pays off for you in Dorset — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

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
11.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,066
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,442
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 Southern, the current unit rate is 26.48p/kWh with a 44.62p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1071 kWh/kW — 69 above the regional median (1001).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1071 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
44.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1071 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: £888, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2142 kWh 857 kWh 1285 kWh £227 £128 £355 £4,069 11.5 yrs £3,037
3 kW 3212 kWh 1285 kWh 1927 kWh £340 £193 £533 £6,104 11.5 yrs £4,556
4 kW 4283 kWh 1713 kWh 2570 kWh £454 £257 £711 £8,138 11.5 yrs £6,075
5 kW 5354 kWh 2142 kWh 3212 kWh £567 £321 £888 £10,173 11.5 yrs £7,593
6 kW 6424 kWh 2570 kWh 3855 kWh £680 £385 £1,066 £12,207 11.5 yrs £9,112
7 kW 7495 kWh 2998 kWh 4497 kWh £794 £450 £1,244 £14,242 11.5 yrs £10,631
8 kW 8566 kWh 3426 kWh 5140 kWh £907 £514 £1,421 £16,276 11.5 yrs £12,149

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: £1,065, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2142 kWh 1285 kWh 857 kWh £340 £86 £426 £6,169 14.5 yrs £2,349
3 kW 3212 kWh 1927 kWh 1285 kWh £510 £128 £639 £8,204 12.8 yrs £4,574
4 kW 4283 kWh 2570 kWh 1713 kWh £680 £171 £852 £10,238 12.0 yrs £6,798
5 kW 5354 kWh 3212 kWh 2142 kWh £851 £214 £1,065 £12,273 11.5 yrs £9,023
6 kW 6424 kWh 3855 kWh 2570 kWh £1,021 £257 £1,278 £14,307 11.2 yrs £11,247
7 kW 7495 kWh 4497 kWh 2998 kWh £1,191 £300 £1,491 £16,342 11.0 yrs £13,472
8 kW 8566 kWh 5140 kWh 3426 kWh £1,361 £343 £1,704 £18,376 10.8 yrs £15,696

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: £1,153, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2142 kWh 1499 kWh 642 kWh £397 £64 £461 £7,569 16.4 yrs £1,655
3 kW 3212 kWh 2249 kWh 964 kWh £595 £96 £692 £9,604 13.9 yrs £4,232
4 kW 4283 kWh 2998 kWh 1285 kWh £794 £128 £922 £11,638 12.6 yrs £6,810
5 kW 5354 kWh 3748 kWh 1606 kWh £992 £161 £1,153 £13,673 11.9 yrs £9,387
6 kW 6424 kWh 4497 kWh 1927 kWh £1,191 £193 £1,384 £15,707 11.4 yrs £11,965
7 kW 7495 kWh 5247 kWh 2249 kWh £1,389 £225 £1,614 £17,742 11.0 yrs £14,542
8 kW 8566 kWh 5996 kWh 2570 kWh £1,588 £257 £1,845 £19,776 10.7 yrs £17,119

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: £1,179, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2142 kWh 1563 kWh 578 kWh £414 £58 £472 £9,319 19.8 yrs £117
3 kW 3212 kWh 2345 kWh 867 kWh £621 £87 £708 £11,354 16.0 yrs £2,800
4 kW 4283 kWh 3127 kWh 1156 kWh £828 £116 £944 £13,388 14.2 yrs £5,483
5 kW 5354 kWh 3908 kWh 1446 kWh £1,035 £145 £1,179 £15,423 13.1 yrs £8,167
6 kW 6424 kWh 4690 kWh 1735 kWh £1,242 £173 £1,415 £17,457 12.3 yrs £10,850
7 kW 7495 kWh 5472 kWh 2024 kWh £1,449 £202 £1,651 £19,492 11.8 yrs £13,533
8 kW 8566 kWh 6253 kWh 2313 kWh £1,656 £231 £1,887 £21,526 11.4 yrs £16,216

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: £1,197, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2142 kWh 1606 kWh 535 kWh £425 £54 £479 £11,069 23.1 yrs £-1,492
3 kW 3212 kWh 2409 kWh 803 kWh £638 £80 £718 £13,104 18.2 yrs £1,262
4 kW 4283 kWh 3212 kWh 1071 kWh £851 £107 £958 £15,138 15.8 yrs £4,016
5 kW 5354 kWh 4015 kWh 1338 kWh £1,063 £134 £1,197 £17,173 14.3 yrs £6,769
6 kW 6424 kWh 4818 kWh 1606 kWh £1,276 £161 £1,437 £19,207 13.4 yrs £9,523
7 kW 7495 kWh 5621 kWh 1874 kWh £1,489 £187 £1,676 £21,242 12.7 yrs £12,277
8 kW 8566 kWh 6424 kWh 2142 kWh £1,701 £214 £1,915 £23,276 12.2 yrs £15,031

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: £1,215, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2142 kWh 1649 kWh 493 kWh £437 £49 £486 £13,519 27.8 yrs £-3,801
3 kW 3212 kWh 2473 kWh 739 kWh £655 £74 £729 £15,554 21.3 yrs £-977
4 kW 4283 kWh 3298 kWh 985 kWh £873 £99 £972 £17,588 18.1 yrs £1,848
5 kW 5354 kWh 4122 kWh 1231 kWh £1,092 £123 £1,215 £19,623 16.2 yrs £4,672
6 kW 6424 kWh 4947 kWh 1478 kWh £1,310 £148 £1,458 £21,657 14.9 yrs £7,497
7 kW 7495 kWh 5771 kWh 1724 kWh £1,528 £172 £1,701 £23,692 13.9 yrs £10,321
8 kW 8566 kWh 6596 kWh 1970 kWh £1,747 £197 £1,944 £25,726 13.2 yrs £13,146

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 BH21

Figures below are tailored to BH21 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #370 of 2182
5.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #176 of 2997
10.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,225 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #38 of 2997
13.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£163 fixed • ~£1,225 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.48p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
44.62p/day
Local Sunshine
1071kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1071 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 60% • Flats: 18% • Bungalows: 21% Based on 11,144 properties

Coverage

Dorset (94%)|Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (6%)

Areas Covered

Wimborne Minster, Colehill & Wimborne Minster East, Corfe Mullen, Stour & Allen Vale, Verwood, Bearwood & Merley, Ferndown North, Cranborne & Alderholt + 4 more

Data Sources & Assumptions

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

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q4 2025

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 Southern

BH18 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,074 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BH21
BH22 (Dorset)
≈6.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BH21
BH11 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,081 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BH21
BH17 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
≈6.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,074 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BH21
BH10 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
≈7.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,075 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BH21
BH12 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
≈8.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,075 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BH21

Similar sunshine across the UK

CT10 (Thanet)
~1,071 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BH21
CO11 (Tendring)
~1,070 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BH21
PL10 (Cornwall)
~1,072 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BH21