Solar panel cost in Dover (CT13)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for CT13 (Dover) 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
8.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£916
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,769
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

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1100 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)
1100 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: £916, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 8.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2199 kWh 880 kWh 1319 kWh £235 £132 £367 £3,256 8.9 yrs £4,075
3 kW 3299 kWh 1319 kWh 1979 kWh £352 £198 £550 £4,883 8.9 yrs £6,113
4 kW 4398 kWh 1759 kWh 2639 kWh £469 £264 £733 £6,511 8.9 yrs £8,150
5 kW 5498 kWh 2199 kWh 3299 kWh £586 £330 £916 £8,139 8.9 yrs £10,188
6 kW 6597 kWh 2639 kWh 3958 kWh £704 £396 £1,100 £9,767 8.9 yrs £12,225
7 kW 7697 kWh 3079 kWh 4618 kWh £821 £462 £1,283 £11,394 8.9 yrs £14,263
8 kW 8796 kWh 3518 kWh 5278 kWh £938 £528 £1,466 £13,022 8.9 yrs £16,301

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: £1,100, Upfront: £10,239, 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 2199 kWh 1319 kWh 880 kWh £352 £88 £440 £5,356 12.2 yrs £3,441
3 kW 3299 kWh 1979 kWh 1319 kWh £528 £132 £660 £6,983 10.6 yrs £6,212
4 kW 4398 kWh 2639 kWh 1759 kWh £704 £176 £880 £8,611 9.8 yrs £8,983
5 kW 5498 kWh 3299 kWh 2199 kWh £880 £220 £1,100 £10,239 9.3 yrs £11,754
6 kW 6597 kWh 3958 kWh 2639 kWh £1,056 £264 £1,320 £11,867 9.0 yrs £14,524
7 kW 7697 kWh 4618 kWh 3079 kWh £1,232 £308 £1,539 £13,494 8.8 yrs £17,295
8 kW 8796 kWh 5278 kWh 3518 kWh £1,408 £352 £1,759 £15,122 8.6 yrs £20,066

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: £1,191, Upfront: £11,639, 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 2199 kWh 1539 kWh 660 kWh £411 £66 £477 £6,756 14.2 yrs £2,775
3 kW 3299 kWh 2309 kWh 990 kWh £616 £99 £715 £8,383 11.7 yrs £5,912
4 kW 4398 kWh 3079 kWh 1319 kWh £821 £132 £953 £10,011 10.5 yrs £9,049
5 kW 5498 kWh 3848 kWh 1649 kWh £1,026 £165 £1,191 £11,639 9.8 yrs £12,186
6 kW 6597 kWh 4618 kWh 1979 kWh £1,232 £198 £1,430 £13,267 9.3 yrs £15,324
7 kW 7697 kWh 5388 kWh 2309 kWh £1,437 £231 £1,668 £14,894 8.9 yrs £18,461
8 kW 8796 kWh 6157 kWh 2639 kWh £1,642 £264 £1,906 £16,522 8.7 yrs £21,598

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: £1,219, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 11.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2199 kWh 1605 kWh 594 kWh £428 £59 £488 £8,506 17.4 yrs £1,245
3 kW 3299 kWh 2408 kWh 891 kWh £642 £89 £731 £10,133 13.9 yrs £4,492
4 kW 4398 kWh 3211 kWh 1187 kWh £856 £119 £975 £11,761 12.1 yrs £7,739
5 kW 5498 kWh 4013 kWh 1484 kWh £1,070 £148 £1,219 £13,389 11.0 yrs £10,986
6 kW 6597 kWh 4816 kWh 1781 kWh £1,284 £178 £1,463 £15,017 10.3 yrs £14,234
7 kW 7697 kWh 5618 kWh 2078 kWh £1,498 £208 £1,706 £16,644 9.8 yrs £17,481
8 kW 8796 kWh 6421 kWh 2375 kWh £1,713 £237 £1,950 £18,272 9.4 yrs £20,728

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: £1,237, Upfront: £15,139, 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 2199 kWh 1649 kWh 550 kWh £440 £55 £495 £10,256 20.7 yrs £-359
3 kW 3299 kWh 2474 kWh 825 kWh £660 £82 £742 £11,883 16.0 yrs £2,962
4 kW 4398 kWh 3299 kWh 1100 kWh £880 £110 £990 £13,511 13.7 yrs £6,282
5 kW 5498 kWh 4123 kWh 1374 kWh £1,100 £137 £1,237 £15,139 12.2 yrs £9,603
6 kW 6597 kWh 4948 kWh 1649 kWh £1,320 £165 £1,485 £16,767 11.3 yrs £12,924
7 kW 7697 kWh 5772 kWh 1924 kWh £1,540 £192 £1,732 £18,394 10.6 yrs £16,244
8 kW 8796 kWh 6597 kWh 2199 kWh £1,759 £220 £1,979 £20,022 10.1 yrs £19,565

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: £1,255, Upfront: £17,589, 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 2199 kWh 1693 kWh 506 kWh £452 £51 £502 £12,706 25.3 yrs £-2,662
3 kW 3299 kWh 2540 kWh 759 kWh £677 £76 £753 £14,333 19.0 yrs £732
4 kW 4398 kWh 3386 kWh 1012 kWh £903 £101 £1,004 £15,961 15.9 yrs £4,126
5 kW 5498 kWh 4233 kWh 1264 kWh £1,129 £126 £1,255 £17,589 14.0 yrs £7,520
6 kW 6597 kWh 5080 kWh 1517 kWh £1,355 £152 £1,506 £19,217 12.8 yrs £10,913
7 kW 7697 kWh 5926 kWh 1770 kWh £1,581 £177 £1,758 £20,844 11.9 yrs £14,307
8 kW 8796 kWh 6773 kWh 2023 kWh £1,806 £202 £2,009 £22,472 11.2 yrs £17,701

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 Dover

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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Seasonal solar output in CT13

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 41 Jan 57 Feb 94 Mar 127 Apr 133 May 135 Jun 134 Jul 120 Aug 104 Sep 72 Oct 47 Nov 37 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 49.1% 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 45 kWh per month; the average month produces around 92 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 180 kWh in winter, or 366 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.67p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.45p/day
Local Sunshine
1100kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1100 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 70% • Flats: 16% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 2,760 properties

Coverage

Dover (100%)

Areas Covered

Sandwich, Eastry Rural, Little Stour & Ashstone, Thanet Villages, North Deal

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.