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Solar panel cost in Rhondda Cynon Taf (CF38)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for CF38 (Rhondda Cynon Taf) 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
11.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£7,307
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£641
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,719
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 Wales, the current unit rate is 26.33p/kWh with a 57.84p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 969 kWh/kW — 1 above the regional median (968).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 969 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.3p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.3p/kWh
Standing charge
57.8p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
969 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: £801, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1939 kWh 776 kWh 1163 kWh £204 £116 £321 £3,654 11.4 yrs £2,757
3 kW 2908 kWh 1163 kWh 1745 kWh £306 £174 £481 £5,481 11.4 yrs £4,135
4 kW 3878 kWh 1551 kWh 2327 kWh £408 £233 £641 £7,307 11.4 yrs £5,514
5 kW 4847 kWh 1939 kWh 2908 kWh £510 £291 £801 £9,134 11.4 yrs £6,892
6 kW 5817 kWh 2327 kWh 3490 kWh £613 £349 £962 £10,961 11.4 yrs £8,271
7 kW 6786 kWh 2714 kWh 4072 kWh £715 £407 £1,122 £12,788 11.4 yrs £9,649
8 kW 7755 kWh 3102 kWh 4653 kWh £817 £465 £1,282 £14,615 11.4 yrs £11,028

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: £960, Upfront: £11,234, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1939 kWh 1163 kWh 776 kWh £306 £78 £384 £5,754 15.0 yrs £1,923
3 kW 2908 kWh 1745 kWh 1163 kWh £459 £116 £576 £7,581 13.2 yrs £3,935
4 kW 3878 kWh 2327 kWh 1551 kWh £613 £155 £768 £9,407 12.3 yrs £5,947
5 kW 4847 kWh 2908 kWh 1939 kWh £766 £194 £960 £11,234 11.7 yrs £7,958
6 kW 5817 kWh 3490 kWh 2327 kWh £919 £233 £1,152 £13,061 11.3 yrs £9,970
7 kW 6786 kWh 4072 kWh 2714 kWh £1,072 £271 £1,343 £14,888 11.1 yrs £11,982
8 kW 7755 kWh 4653 kWh 3102 kWh £1,225 £310 £1,535 £16,715 10.9 yrs £13,993

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: £1,039, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1939 kWh 1357 kWh 582 kWh £357 £58 £416 £7,154 17.2 yrs £1,157
3 kW 2908 kWh 2036 kWh 872 kWh £536 £87 £623 £8,981 14.4 yrs £3,485
4 kW 3878 kWh 2714 kWh 1163 kWh £715 £116 £831 £10,807 13.0 yrs £5,813
5 kW 4847 kWh 3393 kWh 1454 kWh £893 £145 £1,039 £12,634 12.2 yrs £8,141
6 kW 5817 kWh 4072 kWh 1745 kWh £1,072 £174 £1,247 £14,461 11.6 yrs £10,470
7 kW 6786 kWh 4750 kWh 2036 kWh £1,251 £204 £1,454 £16,288 11.2 yrs £12,798
8 kW 7755 kWh 5429 kWh 2327 kWh £1,429 £233 £1,662 £18,115 10.9 yrs £15,126

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: £1,063, Upfront: £14,384, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1939 kWh 1415 kWh 523 kWh £373 £52 £425 £8,904 20.9 yrs £-403
3 kW 2908 kWh 2123 kWh 785 kWh £559 £79 £638 £10,731 16.8 yrs £2,020
4 kW 3878 kWh 2831 kWh 1047 kWh £745 £105 £850 £12,557 14.8 yrs £4,443
5 kW 4847 kWh 3538 kWh 1309 kWh £932 £131 £1,063 £14,384 13.5 yrs £6,866
6 kW 5817 kWh 4246 kWh 1570 kWh £1,118 £157 £1,275 £16,211 12.7 yrs £9,290
7 kW 6786 kWh 4954 kWh 1832 kWh £1,304 £183 £1,488 £18,038 12.1 yrs £11,713
8 kW 7755 kWh 5661 kWh 2094 kWh £1,491 £209 £1,700 £19,865 11.7 yrs £14,136

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: £1,078, Upfront: £16,134, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1939 kWh 1454 kWh 485 kWh £383 £48 £431 £10,654 24.7 yrs £-2,027
3 kW 2908 kWh 2181 kWh 727 kWh £574 £73 £647 £12,481 19.3 yrs £460
4 kW 3878 kWh 2908 kWh 969 kWh £766 £97 £863 £14,307 16.6 yrs £2,946
5 kW 4847 kWh 3635 kWh 1212 kWh £957 £121 £1,078 £16,134 15.0 yrs £5,433
6 kW 5817 kWh 4362 kWh 1454 kWh £1,149 £145 £1,294 £17,961 13.9 yrs £7,920
7 kW 6786 kWh 5089 kWh 1696 kWh £1,340 £170 £1,510 £19,788 13.1 yrs £10,406
8 kW 7755 kWh 5817 kWh 1939 kWh £1,531 £194 £1,725 £21,615 12.5 yrs £12,893

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: £1,094, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1939 kWh 1493 kWh 446 kWh £393 £45 £438 £13,104 29.9 yrs £-4,350
3 kW 2908 kWh 2239 kWh 669 kWh £590 £67 £657 £14,931 22.7 yrs £-1,800
4 kW 3878 kWh 2986 kWh 892 kWh £786 £89 £875 £16,757 19.1 yrs £750
5 kW 4847 kWh 3732 kWh 1115 kWh £983 £111 £1,094 £18,584 17.0 yrs £3,300
6 kW 5817 kWh 4479 kWh 1338 kWh £1,179 £134 £1,313 £20,411 15.5 yrs £5,850
7 kW 6786 kWh 5225 kWh 1561 kWh £1,376 £156 £1,532 £22,238 14.5 yrs £8,399
8 kW 7755 kWh 5972 kWh 1784 kWh £1,572 £178 £1,751 £24,065 13.7 yrs £10,949

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 Rhondda Cynon Taf

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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Insights for CF38

Figures below are tailored to CF38 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1534 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2249 of 2996
11.4 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£641 /yr • £7,307 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2524 of 2996
32.9% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£211 fixed • ~£641 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.0% West −20.3%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in CF38

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 33 Jan 50 Feb 85 Mar 112 Apr 122 May 120 Jun 120 Jul 106 Aug 89 Sep 61 Oct 42 Nov 28 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 46.1% 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 37 kWh per month; the average month produces around 81 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 149 kWh in winter, or 323 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.33p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
57.84p/day
Local Sunshine
969kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~969 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 83% • Flats: 10% • Bungalows: 6% Based on 5,077 properties

Coverage

Rhondda Cynon Taf (100%)

Areas Covered

Beddau and Tyn-y-nant, Llantwit Fardre, Church Village, Ton-teg, Graig and Pontypridd West

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 Wales

CF37 (Rhondda Cynon Taf)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~940 kWh/kWp · -3% vs CF38
CF72 (Rhondda Cynon Taf)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,011 kWh/kWp · +4% vs CF38
CF15 (Cardiff)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~985 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CF38
CF7 (Rhondda Cynon Taf)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,043 kWh/kWp · +8% vs CF38
CF83 (Caerphilly)
≈7.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~988 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CF38
CF39 (Rhondda Cynon Taf)
≈7.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~929 kWh/kWp · -4% vs CF38

Similar sunshine across the UK

NG14 (Gedling)
~969 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CF38
DN40 (North East Lincolnshire)
~970 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CF38
CV34 (Warwick)
~969 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CF38