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Solar Panels in BS98 (Bristol, City of)

See if solar pays off for you in Bristol, City of — 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
12.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£995
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,678
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: 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 Western, the current unit rate is 26.82p/kWh with a 54.03p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 992 kWh/kW — 22 below the regional median (1013).

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 992 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.8p/kWh
Standing charge
54.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
992 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: £830, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1984 kWh 793 kWh 1190 kWh £213 £119 £332 £4,069 12.3 yrs £2,567
3 kW 2975 kWh 1190 kWh 1785 kWh £319 £179 £498 £6,104 12.3 yrs £3,851
4 kW 3967 kWh 1587 kWh 2380 kWh £426 £238 £664 £8,138 12.3 yrs £5,134
5 kW 4959 kWh 1984 kWh 2975 kWh £532 £298 £830 £10,173 12.3 yrs £6,418
6 kW 5951 kWh 2380 kWh 3570 kWh £638 £357 £995 £12,207 12.3 yrs £7,701
7 kW 6942 kWh 2777 kWh 4165 kWh £745 £417 £1,161 £14,242 12.3 yrs £8,985
8 kW 7934 kWh 3174 kWh 4760 kWh £851 £476 £1,327 £16,276 12.3 yrs £10,268

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: £996, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1984 kWh 1190 kWh 793 kWh £319 £79 £399 £6,169 15.5 yrs £1,802
3 kW 2975 kWh 1785 kWh 1190 kWh £479 £119 £598 £8,204 13.7 yrs £3,752
4 kW 3967 kWh 2380 kWh 1587 kWh £638 £159 £797 £10,238 12.8 yrs £5,703
5 kW 4959 kWh 2975 kWh 1984 kWh £798 £198 £996 £12,273 12.3 yrs £7,654
6 kW 5951 kWh 3570 kWh 2380 kWh £958 £238 £1,196 £14,307 12.0 yrs £9,605
7 kW 6942 kWh 4165 kWh 2777 kWh £1,117 £278 £1,395 £16,342 11.7 yrs £11,555
8 kW 7934 kWh 4760 kWh 3174 kWh £1,277 £317 £1,594 £18,376 11.5 yrs £13,506

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: £1,080, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1984 kWh 1388 kWh 595 kWh £372 £60 £432 £7,569 17.5 yrs £1,069
3 kW 2975 kWh 2083 kWh 893 kWh £559 £89 £648 £9,604 14.8 yrs £3,353
4 kW 3967 kWh 2777 kWh 1190 kWh £745 £119 £864 £11,638 13.5 yrs £5,638
5 kW 4959 kWh 3471 kWh 1488 kWh £931 £149 £1,080 £13,673 12.7 yrs £7,922
6 kW 5951 kWh 4165 kWh 1785 kWh £1,117 £179 £1,296 £15,707 12.1 yrs £10,206
7 kW 6942 kWh 4860 kWh 2083 kWh £1,303 £208 £1,512 £17,742 11.7 yrs £12,491
8 kW 7934 kWh 5554 kWh 2380 kWh £1,490 £238 £1,728 £19,776 11.4 yrs £14,775

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: £1,105, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1984 kWh 1448 kWh 536 kWh £388 £54 £442 £9,319 21.1 yrs £-481
3 kW 2975 kWh 2172 kWh 803 kWh £583 £80 £663 £11,354 17.1 yrs £1,903
4 kW 3967 kWh 2896 kWh 1071 kWh £777 £107 £884 £13,388 15.1 yrs £4,288
5 kW 4959 kWh 3620 kWh 1339 kWh £971 £134 £1,105 £15,423 14.0 yrs £6,672
6 kW 5951 kWh 4344 kWh 1607 kWh £1,165 £161 £1,326 £17,457 13.2 yrs £9,057
7 kW 6942 kWh 5068 kWh 1874 kWh £1,359 £187 £1,547 £19,492 12.6 yrs £11,441
8 kW 7934 kWh 5792 kWh 2142 kWh £1,553 £214 £1,768 £21,526 12.2 yrs £13,826

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: £1,121, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1984 kWh 1488 kWh 496 kWh £399 £50 £449 £11,069 24.7 yrs £-2,098
3 kW 2975 kWh 2231 kWh 744 kWh £598 £74 £673 £13,104 19.5 yrs £354
4 kW 3967 kWh 2975 kWh 992 kWh £798 £99 £897 £15,138 16.9 yrs £2,805
5 kW 4959 kWh 3719 kWh 1240 kWh £997 £124 £1,121 £17,173 15.3 yrs £5,256
6 kW 5951 kWh 4463 kWh 1488 kWh £1,197 £149 £1,346 £19,207 14.3 yrs £7,707
7 kW 6942 kWh 5207 kWh 1736 kWh £1,396 £174 £1,570 £21,242 13.5 yrs £10,159
8 kW 7934 kWh 5951 kWh 1984 kWh £1,596 £198 £1,794 £23,276 13.0 yrs £12,610

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: £1,138, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1984 kWh 1527 kWh 456 kWh £410 £46 £455 £13,519 29.7 yrs £-4,414
3 kW 2975 kWh 2291 kWh 684 kWh £614 £68 £683 £15,554 22.8 yrs £-1,896
4 kW 3967 kWh 3055 kWh 912 kWh £819 £91 £910 £17,588 19.3 yrs £622
5 kW 4959 kWh 3818 kWh 1141 kWh £1,024 £114 £1,138 £19,623 17.2 yrs £3,140
6 kW 5951 kWh 4582 kWh 1369 kWh £1,229 £137 £1,366 £21,657 15.9 yrs £5,658
7 kW 6942 kWh 5346 kWh 1597 kWh £1,434 £160 £1,593 £23,692 14.9 yrs £8,176
8 kW 7934 kWh 6109 kWh 1825 kWh £1,638 £182 £1,821 £25,726 14.1 yrs £10,694

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 BS98

Figures below are tailored to BS98 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #775 of 2997
10.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,146 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #799 of 2997
17.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,146 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
992kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~992 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Bristol, City of (100%)

Areas Covered

Ashley, Lawrence Hill

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 Western

BS2 (Bristol, City of)
≈0.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS98
BS1 (Bristol, City of)
≈0.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~994 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS98
BS99 (Bristol, City of)
≈1.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS98
BS6 (Bristol, City of)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS98
BS8 (Bristol, City of)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS98
BS5 (Bristol, City of)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS98

Similar sunshine across the UK

HA0 (Brent)
~992 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS98
E20 (Newham)
~992 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS98
RG12 (Bracknell Forest)
~992 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS98