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Solar panel cost in County Durham (DL13)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for DL13 (County Durham) 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
11.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£683
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,945
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 Northern, the current unit rate is 25.22p/kWh with a 64.29p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 850 kWh/kW — 76 below the regional median (926).

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 850 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.2p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.2p/kWh
Standing charge
64.3p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
850 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: £683, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 680 kWh 1019 kWh £171 £102 £273 £3,256 11.9 yrs £2,211
3 kW 2549 kWh 1019 kWh 1529 kWh £257 £153 £410 £4,883 11.9 yrs £3,317
4 kW 3398 kWh 1359 kWh 2039 kWh £343 £204 £547 £6,511 11.9 yrs £4,423
5 kW 4248 kWh 1699 kWh 2549 kWh £429 £255 £683 £8,139 11.9 yrs £5,528
6 kW 5097 kWh 2039 kWh 3058 kWh £514 £306 £820 £9,767 11.9 yrs £6,634
7 kW 5947 kWh 2379 kWh 3568 kWh £600 £357 £957 £11,394 11.9 yrs £7,740
8 kW 6796 kWh 2718 kWh 4078 kWh £686 £408 £1,093 £13,022 11.9 yrs £8,846

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: £813, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1019 kWh 680 kWh £257 £68 £325 £5,356 16.5 yrs £1,146
3 kW 2549 kWh 1529 kWh 1019 kWh £386 £102 £488 £6,983 14.3 yrs £2,769
4 kW 3398 kWh 2039 kWh 1359 kWh £514 £136 £650 £8,611 13.2 yrs £4,392
5 kW 4248 kWh 2549 kWh 1699 kWh £643 £170 £813 £10,239 12.6 yrs £6,014
6 kW 5097 kWh 3058 kWh 2039 kWh £771 £204 £975 £11,867 12.2 yrs £7,637
7 kW 5947 kWh 3568 kWh 2379 kWh £900 £238 £1,138 £13,494 11.9 yrs £9,260
8 kW 6796 kWh 4078 kWh 2718 kWh £1,028 £272 £1,300 £15,122 11.6 yrs £10,883

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: £877, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1189 kWh 510 kWh £300 £51 £351 £6,756 19.3 yrs £263
3 kW 2549 kWh 1784 kWh 765 kWh £450 £76 £526 £8,383 15.9 yrs £2,144
4 kW 3398 kWh 2379 kWh 1019 kWh £600 £102 £702 £10,011 14.3 yrs £4,026
5 kW 4248 kWh 2973 kWh 1274 kWh £750 £127 £877 £11,639 13.3 yrs £5,907
6 kW 5097 kWh 3568 kWh 1529 kWh £900 £153 £1,053 £13,267 12.6 yrs £7,789
7 kW 5947 kWh 4163 kWh 1784 kWh £1,050 £178 £1,228 £14,894 12.1 yrs £9,670
8 kW 6796 kWh 4757 kWh 2039 kWh £1,200 £204 £1,404 £16,522 11.8 yrs £11,552

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: £897, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1240 kWh 459 kWh £313 £46 £359 £8,506 23.7 yrs £-1,332
3 kW 2549 kWh 1860 kWh 688 kWh £469 £69 £538 £10,133 18.8 yrs £627
4 kW 3398 kWh 2481 kWh 917 kWh £626 £92 £717 £11,761 16.4 yrs £2,586
5 kW 4248 kWh 3101 kWh 1147 kWh £782 £115 £897 £13,389 14.9 yrs £4,545
6 kW 5097 kWh 3721 kWh 1376 kWh £938 £138 £1,076 £15,017 14.0 yrs £6,504
7 kW 5947 kWh 4341 kWh 1606 kWh £1,095 £161 £1,255 £16,644 13.3 yrs £8,463
8 kW 6796 kWh 4961 kWh 1835 kWh £1,251 £183 £1,435 £18,272 12.7 yrs £10,422

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: £910, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1274 kWh 425 kWh £321 £42 £364 £10,256 28.2 yrs £-2,978
3 kW 2549 kWh 1911 kWh 637 kWh £482 £64 £546 £11,883 21.8 yrs £-968
4 kW 3398 kWh 2549 kWh 850 kWh £643 £85 £728 £13,511 18.6 yrs £1,043
5 kW 4248 kWh 3186 kWh 1062 kWh £803 £106 £910 £15,139 16.6 yrs £3,054
6 kW 5097 kWh 3823 kWh 1274 kWh £964 £127 £1,092 £16,767 15.4 yrs £5,065
7 kW 5947 kWh 4460 kWh 1487 kWh £1,125 £149 £1,273 £18,394 14.4 yrs £7,075
8 kW 6796 kWh 5097 kWh 1699 kWh £1,286 £170 £1,455 £20,022 13.8 yrs £9,086

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: £923, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 19.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1308 kWh 391 kWh £330 £39 £369 £12,706 34.4 yrs £-5,325
3 kW 2549 kWh 1962 kWh 586 kWh £495 £59 £554 £14,333 25.9 yrs £-3,263
4 kW 3398 kWh 2617 kWh 782 kWh £660 £78 £738 £15,961 21.6 yrs £-1,200
5 kW 4248 kWh 3271 kWh 977 kWh £825 £98 £923 £17,589 19.1 yrs £862
6 kW 5097 kWh 3925 kWh 1172 kWh £990 £117 £1,107 £19,217 17.4 yrs £2,925
7 kW 5947 kWh 4579 kWh 1368 kWh £1,155 £137 £1,292 £20,844 16.1 yrs £4,987
8 kW 6796 kWh 5233 kWh 1563 kWh £1,320 £156 £1,476 £22,472 15.2 yrs £7,050

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 County Durham

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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Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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Insights for DL13

Figures below are tailored to DL13 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #618 of 2182
5.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2436 of 2996
11.9 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£684 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2570 of 2996
34.4% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£235 fixed • ~£684 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.2% West −20.1%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in DL13

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 24 Jan 40 Feb 74 Mar 102 Apr 115 May 106 Jun 110 Jul 98 Aug 78 Sep 50 Oct 33 Nov 20 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 39.5% 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 28 kWh per month; the average month produces around 71 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 112 kWh in winter, or 283 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.22p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
64.29p/day
Local Sunshine
850kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~850 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: 81% • Flats: 5% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 3,966 properties

Coverage

County Durham (100%)

Areas Covered

Weardale, Evenwood, Lower Teesdale, Langley & Esh, Bishop Auckland, Crook, Deerness, Lanchester & Burnhope

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 Northern

DL15 (County Durham)
≈10.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · +8% vs DL13
DH8 (County Durham)
≈13.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~912 kWh/kWp · +7% vs DL13
DL14 (County Durham)
≈16.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~916 kWh/kWp · +8% vs DL13
DH7 (County Durham)
≈17.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · +9% vs DL13
DH9 (County Durham)
≈18.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · +9% vs DL13
DL16 (County Durham)
≈19.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · +9% vs DL13

Similar sunshine across the UK

FK10 (Clackmannanshire)
~850 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DL13
BB94 (Pendle)
~850 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DL13
BT56 (Causeway Coast and Glens)
~849 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DL13