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Solar panel cost in Brighton and Hove (BN2)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for BN2 (Brighton and Hove) 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
9.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£5,481
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£560
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,523
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 South East, the current unit rate is 26.67p/kWh with a 54.45p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1120 kWh/kW — 91 above the regional median (1029).

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 1120 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.7p/kWh
Standing charge
54.5p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1120 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: £934, Upfront: £9,134, 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 2240 kWh 896 kWh 1344 kWh £239 £134 £373 £3,654 9.8 yrs £3,815
3 kW 3361 kWh 1344 kWh 2016 kWh £359 £202 £560 £5,481 9.8 yrs £5,722
4 kW 4481 kWh 1792 kWh 2689 kWh £478 £269 £747 £7,307 9.8 yrs £7,630
5 kW 5601 kWh 2240 kWh 3361 kWh £598 £336 £934 £9,134 9.8 yrs £9,537
6 kW 6721 kWh 2689 kWh 4033 kWh £717 £403 £1,120 £10,961 9.8 yrs £11,445
7 kW 7841 kWh 3137 kWh 4705 kWh £837 £470 £1,307 £12,788 9.8 yrs £13,352
8 kW 8962 kWh 3585 kWh 5377 kWh £956 £538 £1,494 £14,615 9.8 yrs £15,260

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,120, Upfront: £11,234, Break-even: 10.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1344 kWh 896 kWh £359 £90 £448 £5,754 12.8 yrs £3,209
3 kW 3361 kWh 2016 kWh 1344 kWh £538 £134 £672 £7,581 11.3 yrs £5,863
4 kW 4481 kWh 2689 kWh 1792 kWh £717 £179 £896 £9,407 10.5 yrs £8,518
5 kW 5601 kWh 3361 kWh 2240 kWh £896 £224 £1,120 £11,234 10.0 yrs £11,172
6 kW 6721 kWh 4033 kWh 2689 kWh £1,076 £269 £1,344 £13,061 9.7 yrs £13,827
7 kW 7841 kWh 4705 kWh 3137 kWh £1,255 £314 £1,568 £14,888 9.5 yrs £16,481
8 kW 8962 kWh 5377 kWh 3585 kWh £1,434 £358 £1,793 £16,715 9.3 yrs £19,136

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,214, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 10.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1568 kWh 672 kWh £418 £67 £485 £7,154 14.7 yrs £2,556
3 kW 3361 kWh 2352 kWh 1008 kWh £627 £101 £728 £8,981 12.3 yrs £5,584
4 kW 4481 kWh 3137 kWh 1344 kWh £837 £134 £971 £10,807 11.1 yrs £8,612
5 kW 5601 kWh 3921 kWh 1680 kWh £1,046 £168 £1,214 £12,634 10.4 yrs £11,640
6 kW 6721 kWh 4705 kWh 2016 kWh £1,255 £202 £1,456 £14,461 9.9 yrs £14,668
7 kW 7841 kWh 5489 kWh 2352 kWh £1,464 £235 £1,699 £16,288 9.6 yrs £17,695
8 kW 8962 kWh 6273 kWh 2689 kWh £1,673 £269 £1,942 £18,115 9.3 yrs £20,723

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,242, Upfront: £14,384, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1636 kWh 605 kWh £436 £60 £497 £8,904 17.9 yrs £1,030
3 kW 3361 kWh 2453 kWh 907 kWh £654 £91 £745 £10,731 14.4 yrs £4,170
4 kW 4481 kWh 3271 kWh 1210 kWh £872 £121 £993 £12,557 12.6 yrs £7,310
5 kW 5601 kWh 4089 kWh 1512 kWh £1,090 £151 £1,242 £14,384 11.6 yrs £10,450
6 kW 6721 kWh 4907 kWh 1815 kWh £1,309 £181 £1,490 £16,211 10.9 yrs £13,590
7 kW 7841 kWh 5724 kWh 2117 kWh £1,527 £212 £1,738 £18,038 10.4 yrs £16,730
8 kW 8962 kWh 6542 kWh 2420 kWh £1,745 £242 £1,987 £19,865 10.0 yrs £19,870

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,260, Upfront: £16,134, 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 2240 kWh 1680 kWh 560 kWh £448 £56 £504 £10,654 21.1 yrs £-571
3 kW 3361 kWh 2520 kWh 840 kWh £672 £84 £756 £12,481 16.5 yrs £2,644
4 kW 4481 kWh 3361 kWh 1120 kWh £896 £112 £1,008 £14,307 14.2 yrs £5,859
5 kW 5601 kWh 4201 kWh 1400 kWh £1,120 £140 £1,260 £16,134 12.8 yrs £9,073
6 kW 6721 kWh 5041 kWh 1680 kWh £1,344 £168 £1,512 £17,961 11.9 yrs £12,288
7 kW 7841 kWh 5881 kWh 1960 kWh £1,568 £196 £1,765 £19,788 11.2 yrs £15,503
8 kW 8962 kWh 6721 kWh 2240 kWh £1,793 £224 £2,017 £21,615 10.7 yrs £18,717

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,279, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1725 kWh 515 kWh £460 £52 £512 £13,104 25.6 yrs £-2,871
3 kW 3361 kWh 2588 kWh 773 kWh £690 £77 £767 £14,931 19.5 yrs £418
4 kW 4481 kWh 3450 kWh 1031 kWh £920 £103 £1,023 £16,757 16.4 yrs £3,707
5 kW 5601 kWh 4313 kWh 1288 kWh £1,150 £129 £1,279 £18,584 14.5 yrs £6,997
6 kW 6721 kWh 5175 kWh 1546 kWh £1,380 £155 £1,535 £20,411 13.3 yrs £10,286
7 kW 7841 kWh 6038 kWh 1804 kWh £1,610 £180 £1,791 £22,238 12.4 yrs £13,576
8 kW 8962 kWh 6900 kWh 2061 kWh £1,840 £206 £2,046 £24,065 11.8 yrs £16,865

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, 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 Brighton and Hove

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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Check what MCS certification means

Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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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.

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Insights for BN2

Figures below are tailored to BN2 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1862 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #20 of 2996
8.7 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£933 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #755 of 2996
21.3% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£199 fixed • ~£933 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −21.1% West −23.0%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in BN2

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 42 Jan 58 Feb 96 Mar 128 Apr 135 May 138 Jun 140 Jul 123 Aug 103 Sep 71 Oct 48 Nov 38 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 49.4% 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 46 kWh per month; the average month produces around 93 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 184 kWh in winter, or 373 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.67p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.45p/day
Local Sunshine
1120kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1120 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For houses & bungalows 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: 38% • Flats: 50% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 29,361 properties

Coverage

Brighton and Hove (98%)|Lewes (2%)

Areas Covered

Queen's Park, Rottingdean & West Saltdean, Hanover & Elm Grove, West Hill & North Laine, Kemptown, Whitehawk & Marina, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Woodingdean + 4 more

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 South East

BN50 (Brighton and Hove)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,118 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN2
BN88 (Brighton and Hove)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,120 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN2
BN1 (Brighton and Hove)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,118 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN2
BN52 (Brighton and Hove)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,113 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BN2
BN3 (Brighton and Hove)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,113 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BN2
BN51 (Brighton and Hove)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,137 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BN2

Similar sunshine across the UK

PO20 (Chichester)
~1,122 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN2
TQ7 (South Hams)
~1,123 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN2
PO38 (Isle of Wight)
~1,125 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN2