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Solar panel cost in Colchester (CO6)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for CO6 (Colchester) 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
9.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£9,767
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,032
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£16,027
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 Eastern, the current unit rate is 26.38p/kWh with a 53.94p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1039 kWh/kW — 30 above the regional median (1009).

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 1039 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
53.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1039 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: £860, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 9.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2078 kWh 831 kWh 1247 kWh £219 £125 £344 £3,256 9.5 yrs £3,623
3 kW 3117 kWh 1247 kWh 1870 kWh £329 £187 £516 £4,883 9.5 yrs £5,434
4 kW 4156 kWh 1662 kWh 2493 kWh £438 £249 £688 £6,511 9.5 yrs £7,245
5 kW 5194 kWh 2078 kWh 3117 kWh £548 £312 £860 £8,139 9.5 yrs £9,057
6 kW 6233 kWh 2493 kWh 3740 kWh £658 £374 £1,032 £9,767 9.5 yrs £10,868
7 kW 7272 kWh 2909 kWh 4363 kWh £767 £436 £1,204 £11,394 9.5 yrs £12,679
8 kW 8311 kWh 3324 kWh 4987 kWh £877 £499 £1,376 £13,022 9.5 yrs £14,491

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: £1,030, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 9.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2078 kWh 1247 kWh 831 kWh £329 £83 £412 £5,356 13.0 yrs £2,884
3 kW 3117 kWh 1870 kWh 1247 kWh £493 £125 £618 £6,983 11.3 yrs £5,376
4 kW 4156 kWh 2493 kWh 1662 kWh £658 £166 £824 £8,611 10.5 yrs £7,868
5 kW 5194 kWh 3117 kWh 2078 kWh £822 £208 £1,030 £10,239 9.9 yrs £10,360
6 kW 6233 kWh 3740 kWh 2493 kWh £987 £249 £1,236 £11,867 9.6 yrs £12,852
7 kW 7272 kWh 4363 kWh 2909 kWh £1,151 £291 £1,442 £13,494 9.4 yrs £15,344
8 kW 8311 kWh 4987 kWh 3324 kWh £1,315 £332 £1,648 £15,122 9.2 yrs £17,836

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: £1,115, Upfront: £11,639, 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 2078 kWh 1454 kWh 623 kWh £384 £62 £446 £6,756 15.1 yrs £2,165
3 kW 3117 kWh 2182 kWh 935 kWh £576 £93 £669 £8,383 12.5 yrs £4,997
4 kW 4156 kWh 2909 kWh 1247 kWh £767 £125 £892 £10,011 11.2 yrs £7,829
5 kW 5194 kWh 3636 kWh 1558 kWh £959 £156 £1,115 £11,639 10.4 yrs £10,662
6 kW 6233 kWh 4363 kWh 1870 kWh £1,151 £187 £1,338 £13,267 9.9 yrs £13,494
7 kW 7272 kWh 5091 kWh 2182 kWh £1,343 £218 £1,561 £14,894 9.5 yrs £16,327
8 kW 8311 kWh 5818 kWh 2493 kWh £1,535 £249 £1,784 £16,522 9.3 yrs £19,159

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: £1,141, Upfront: £13,389, 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 2078 kWh 1517 kWh 561 kWh £400 £56 £456 £8,506 18.6 yrs £619
3 kW 3117 kWh 2275 kWh 841 kWh £600 £84 £684 £10,133 14.8 yrs £3,553
4 kW 4156 kWh 3034 kWh 1122 kWh £800 £112 £912 £11,761 12.9 yrs £6,488
5 kW 5194 kWh 3792 kWh 1402 kWh £1,000 £140 £1,141 £13,389 11.7 yrs £9,422
6 kW 6233 kWh 4550 kWh 1683 kWh £1,200 £168 £1,369 £15,017 11.0 yrs £12,357
7 kW 7272 kWh 5309 kWh 1963 kWh £1,400 £196 £1,597 £16,644 10.4 yrs £15,291
8 kW 8311 kWh 6067 kWh 2244 kWh £1,600 £224 £1,825 £18,272 10.0 yrs £18,226

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: £1,158, Upfront: £15,139, 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 2078 kWh 1558 kWh 519 kWh £411 £52 £463 £10,256 22.1 yrs £-995
3 kW 3117 kWh 2337 kWh 779 kWh £617 £78 £695 £11,883 17.1 yrs £2,008
4 kW 4156 kWh 3117 kWh 1039 kWh £822 £104 £926 £13,511 14.6 yrs £5,010
5 kW 5194 kWh 3896 kWh 1299 kWh £1,028 £130 £1,158 £15,139 13.1 yrs £8,013
6 kW 6233 kWh 4675 kWh 1558 kWh £1,233 £156 £1,389 £16,767 12.1 yrs £11,015
7 kW 7272 kWh 5454 kWh 1818 kWh £1,439 £182 £1,621 £18,394 11.4 yrs £14,018
8 kW 8311 kWh 6233 kWh 2078 kWh £1,644 £208 £1,852 £20,022 10.8 yrs £17,020

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: £1,175, Upfront: £17,589, 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 2078 kWh 1600 kWh 478 kWh £422 £48 £470 £12,706 27.0 yrs £-3,309
3 kW 3117 kWh 2400 kWh 717 kWh £633 £72 £705 £14,333 20.3 yrs £-238
4 kW 4156 kWh 3200 kWh 956 kWh £844 £96 £940 £15,961 17.0 yrs £2,832
5 kW 5194 kWh 4000 kWh 1195 kWh £1,055 £119 £1,175 £17,589 15.0 yrs £5,903
6 kW 6233 kWh 4800 kWh 1434 kWh £1,266 £143 £1,410 £19,217 13.6 yrs £8,974
7 kW 7272 kWh 5600 kWh 1673 kWh £1,477 £167 £1,644 £20,844 12.7 yrs £12,044
8 kW 8311 kWh 6400 kWh 1912 kWh £1,688 £191 £1,879 £22,472 12.0 yrs £15,115

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 Colchester

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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Insights for CO6

Figures below are tailored to CO6 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #361 of 2182
5.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #277 of 2996
9.5 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£1,032 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #339 of 2996
19.1% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,032 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −22.1% West −20.4%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in CO6

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 40 Jan 55 Feb 88 Mar 120 Apr 123 May 125 Jun 124 Jul 113 Aug 98 Sep 70 Oct 48 Nov 36 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 50.3% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: Jun / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 44 kWh per month; the average month produces around 87 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 174 kWh in winter, or 346 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.38p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.94p/day
Local Sunshine
1039kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1039 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: 71% • Flats: 9% • Bungalows: 19% Based on 6,971 properties

Coverage

Colchester (47%)|Braintree (27%)|Babergh (26%)

Areas Covered

Rural North, The Colnes, Coggeshall, Lexden and Braiswick, Bures St Mary & Nayland, Marks Tey and Layer, Assington, Box Vale + 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 Eastern

CO8 (Braintree)
≈5.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CO6
CO3 (Colchester)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,047 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CO6
CO1 (Colchester)
≈8.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,062 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CO6
CO4 (Colchester)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,062 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CO6
CO2 (Colchester)
≈9.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,062 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CO6
CO9 (Braintree)
≈11.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CO6

Similar sunshine across the UK

SA71 (Pembrokeshire)
~1,039 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CO6
EX10 (East Devon)
~1,038 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CO6
SO97 (Eastleigh)
~1,038 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CO6