Independent solar numbers for your postcode using official UK data
Home Regions Guides Compare quotes Solar assistant
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag Roof Direction Penalty Winter Solar Reality Seasonal Solar Output

Solar panel cost in New Forest (BH24)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for BH24 (New Forest) 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
9.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£9,767
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,050
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£16,476
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: 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 Southern, the current unit rate is 26.42p/kWh with a 49.70p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1056 kWh/kW — 55 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 1056 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.4p/kWh
Standing charge
49.7p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1056 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: £875, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 9.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2112 kWh 845 kWh 1267 kWh £223 £127 £350 £3,256 9.3 yrs £3,743
3 kW 3168 kWh 1267 kWh 1901 kWh £335 £190 £525 £4,883 9.3 yrs £5,614
4 kW 4224 kWh 1690 kWh 2534 kWh £446 £253 £700 £6,511 9.3 yrs £7,485
5 kW 5280 kWh 2112 kWh 3168 kWh £558 £317 £875 £8,139 9.3 yrs £9,357
6 kW 6336 kWh 2534 kWh 3801 kWh £670 £380 £1,050 £9,767 9.3 yrs £11,228
7 kW 7392 kWh 2957 kWh 4435 kWh £781 £444 £1,225 £11,394 9.3 yrs £13,099
8 kW 8448 kWh 3379 kWh 5069 kWh £893 £507 £1,400 £13,022 9.3 yrs £14,970

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: £1,048, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 9.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2112 kWh 1267 kWh 845 kWh £335 £84 £419 £5,356 12.8 yrs £3,030
3 kW 3168 kWh 1901 kWh 1267 kWh £502 £127 £629 £6,983 11.1 yrs £5,595
4 kW 4224 kWh 2534 kWh 1690 kWh £670 £169 £839 £8,611 10.3 yrs £8,159
5 kW 5280 kWh 3168 kWh 2112 kWh £837 £211 £1,048 £10,239 9.8 yrs £10,724
6 kW 6336 kWh 3801 kWh 2534 kWh £1,004 £253 £1,258 £11,867 9.4 yrs £13,289
7 kW 7392 kWh 4435 kWh 2957 kWh £1,172 £296 £1,467 £13,494 9.2 yrs £15,854
8 kW 8448 kWh 5069 kWh 3379 kWh £1,339 £338 £1,677 £15,122 9.0 yrs £18,419

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: £1,135, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 10.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2112 kWh 1478 kWh 634 kWh £391 £63 £454 £6,756 14.9 yrs £2,323
3 kW 3168 kWh 2218 kWh 950 kWh £586 £95 £681 £8,383 12.3 yrs £5,235
4 kW 4224 kWh 2957 kWh 1267 kWh £781 £127 £908 £10,011 11.0 yrs £8,147
5 kW 5280 kWh 3696 kWh 1584 kWh £976 £158 £1,135 £11,639 10.3 yrs £11,058
6 kW 6336 kWh 4435 kWh 1901 kWh £1,172 £190 £1,362 £13,267 9.7 yrs £13,970
7 kW 7392 kWh 5174 kWh 2218 kWh £1,367 £222 £1,589 £14,894 9.4 yrs £16,882
8 kW 8448 kWh 5913 kWh 2534 kWh £1,562 £253 £1,816 £16,522 9.1 yrs £19,793

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: £1,161, Upfront: £13,389, 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 2112 kWh 1542 kWh 570 kWh £407 £57 £464 £8,506 18.3 yrs £781
3 kW 3168 kWh 2313 kWh 855 kWh £611 £86 £697 £10,133 14.5 yrs £3,797
4 kW 4224 kWh 3083 kWh 1140 kWh £815 £114 £929 £11,761 12.7 yrs £6,813
5 kW 5280 kWh 3854 kWh 1426 kWh £1,018 £143 £1,161 £13,389 11.5 yrs £9,828
6 kW 6336 kWh 4625 kWh 1711 kWh £1,222 £171 £1,393 £15,017 10.8 yrs £12,844
7 kW 7392 kWh 5396 kWh 1996 kWh £1,426 £200 £1,625 £16,644 10.2 yrs £15,860
8 kW 8448 kWh 6167 kWh 2281 kWh £1,629 £228 £1,857 £18,272 9.8 yrs £18,875

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: £1,178, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2112 kWh 1584 kWh 528 kWh £418 £53 £471 £10,256 21.8 yrs £-830
3 kW 3168 kWh 2376 kWh 792 kWh £628 £79 £707 £11,883 16.8 yrs £2,255
4 kW 4224 kWh 3168 kWh 1056 kWh £837 £106 £943 £13,511 14.3 yrs £5,340
5 kW 5280 kWh 3960 kWh 1320 kWh £1,046 £132 £1,178 £15,139 12.8 yrs £8,425
6 kW 6336 kWh 4752 kWh 1584 kWh £1,255 £158 £1,414 £16,767 11.9 yrs £11,510
7 kW 7392 kWh 5544 kWh 1848 kWh £1,465 £185 £1,649 £18,394 11.2 yrs £14,595
8 kW 8448 kWh 6336 kWh 2112 kWh £1,674 £211 £1,885 £20,022 10.6 yrs £17,680

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: £1,196, Upfront: £17,589, 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 2112 kWh 1626 kWh 486 kWh £430 £49 £478 £12,706 26.6 yrs £-3,141
3 kW 3168 kWh 2439 kWh 729 kWh £644 £73 £717 £14,333 20.0 yrs £13
4 kW 4224 kWh 3252 kWh 971 kWh £859 £97 £956 £15,961 16.7 yrs £3,168
5 kW 5280 kWh 4065 kWh 1214 kWh £1,074 £121 £1,196 £17,589 14.7 yrs £6,322
6 kW 6336 kWh 4879 kWh 1457 kWh £1,289 £146 £1,435 £19,217 13.4 yrs £9,476
7 kW 7392 kWh 5692 kWh 1700 kWh £1,504 £170 £1,674 £20,844 12.5 yrs £12,631
8 kW 8448 kWh 6505 kWh 1943 kWh £1,719 £194 £1,913 £22,472 11.7 yrs £15,785

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 New Forest

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

New quote check

Want a quote sanity check for BH24?

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.

Request a quote sanity check →

Insights for BH24

Figures below are tailored to BH24 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #173 of 2182
6.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~13 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #187 of 2996
9.3 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£1,050 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #167 of 2996
17.2% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£181 fixed • ~£1,050 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.9% West −20.4%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in BH24

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 42 Jan 56 Feb 91 Mar 119 Apr 126 May 128 Jun 128 Jul 114 Aug 97 Sep 68 Oct 49 Nov 36 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 50.7% 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 45 kWh per month; the average month produces around 88 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 178 kWh in winter, or 352 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.42p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.70p/day
Local Sunshine
1056kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1056 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: 56% • Flats: 16% • Bungalows: 27% Based on 6,184 properties

Coverage

New Forest (77%)|Dorset (23%)

Areas Covered

Ringwood North & Ellingham, Ringwood South, St Leonards & St Ives, Bransgore, Burley, Sopley & Ringwood East, Commons

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 Southern

BH31 (Dorset)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,030 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BH24
BH22 (Dorset)
≈8.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BH24
SP6 (New Forest)
≈9.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,013 kWh/kWp · -4% vs BH24
BH23 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
≈11.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,089 kWh/kWp · +3% vs BH24
BH10 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
≈12.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,075 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BH24
BH9 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
≈12.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,087 kWh/kWp · +3% vs BH24

Similar sunshine across the UK

TN12 (Tunbridge Wells)
~1,056 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BH24
SS0 (Southend-on-Sea)
~1,056 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BH24
IP13 (East Suffolk)
~1,056 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BH24