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Solar panel cost in Dorset (DT5)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for DT5 (Dorset) 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
£919
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,835
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 Southern, the current unit rate is 26.42p/kWh with a 49.70p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1109 kWh/kW — 108 above the regional median (1001).

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 1109 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
49.7p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1109 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: £919, 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 2219 kWh 887 kWh 1331 kWh £234 £133 £368 £3,256 8.9 yrs £4,096
3 kW 3328 kWh 1331 kWh 1997 kWh £352 £200 £551 £4,883 8.9 yrs £6,144
4 kW 4437 kWh 1775 kWh 2662 kWh £469 £266 £735 £6,511 8.9 yrs £8,192
5 kW 5546 kWh 2219 kWh 3328 kWh £586 £333 £919 £8,139 8.9 yrs £10,240
6 kW 6656 kWh 2662 kWh 3993 kWh £703 £399 £1,103 £9,767 8.9 yrs £12,288
7 kW 7765 kWh 3106 kWh 4659 kWh £821 £466 £1,287 £11,394 8.9 yrs £14,336
8 kW 8874 kWh 3550 kWh 5325 kWh £938 £532 £1,470 £13,022 8.9 yrs £16,384

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: £1,101, 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 2219 kWh 1331 kWh 887 kWh £352 £89 £440 £5,356 12.2 yrs £3,453
3 kW 3328 kWh 1997 kWh 1331 kWh £528 £133 £661 £6,983 10.6 yrs £6,230
4 kW 4437 kWh 2662 kWh 1775 kWh £703 £177 £881 £8,611 9.8 yrs £9,006
5 kW 5546 kWh 3328 kWh 2219 kWh £879 £222 £1,101 £10,239 9.3 yrs £11,783
6 kW 6656 kWh 3993 kWh 2662 kWh £1,055 £266 £1,321 £11,867 9.0 yrs £14,559
7 kW 7765 kWh 4659 kWh 3106 kWh £1,231 £311 £1,542 £13,494 8.8 yrs £17,336
8 kW 8874 kWh 5325 kWh 3550 kWh £1,407 £355 £1,762 £15,122 8.6 yrs £20,113

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: £1,192, 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 2219 kWh 1553 kWh 666 kWh £410 £67 £477 £6,756 14.2 yrs £2,782
3 kW 3328 kWh 2330 kWh 998 kWh £615 £100 £715 £8,383 11.7 yrs £5,923
4 kW 4437 kWh 3106 kWh 1331 kWh £821 £133 £954 £10,011 10.5 yrs £9,063
5 kW 5546 kWh 3883 kWh 1664 kWh £1,026 £166 £1,192 £11,639 9.8 yrs £12,204
6 kW 6656 kWh 4659 kWh 1997 kWh £1,231 £200 £1,431 £13,267 9.3 yrs £15,345
7 kW 7765 kWh 5436 kWh 2330 kWh £1,436 £233 £1,669 £14,894 8.9 yrs £18,486
8 kW 8874 kWh 6212 kWh 2662 kWh £1,641 £266 £1,907 £16,522 8.7 yrs £21,627

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 2219 kWh 1620 kWh 599 kWh £428 £60 £488 £8,506 17.4 yrs £1,250
3 kW 3328 kWh 2429 kWh 899 kWh £642 £90 £732 £10,133 13.8 yrs £4,500
4 kW 4437 kWh 3239 kWh 1198 kWh £856 £120 £976 £11,761 12.1 yrs £7,751
5 kW 5546 kWh 4049 kWh 1498 kWh £1,070 £150 £1,219 £13,389 11.0 yrs £11,001
6 kW 6656 kWh 4859 kWh 1797 kWh £1,284 £180 £1,463 £15,017 10.3 yrs £14,251
7 kW 7765 kWh 5668 kWh 2097 kWh £1,498 £210 £1,707 £16,644 9.7 yrs £17,501
8 kW 8874 kWh 6478 kWh 2396 kWh £1,712 £240 £1,951 £18,272 9.4 yrs £20,751

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: £1,238, 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 2219 kWh 1664 kWh 555 kWh £440 £55 £495 £10,256 20.7 yrs £-354
3 kW 3328 kWh 2496 kWh 832 kWh £659 £83 £743 £11,883 16.0 yrs £2,969
4 kW 4437 kWh 3328 kWh 1109 kWh £879 £111 £990 £13,511 13.6 yrs £6,292
5 kW 5546 kWh 4160 kWh 1387 kWh £1,099 £139 £1,238 £15,139 12.2 yrs £9,615
6 kW 6656 kWh 4992 kWh 1664 kWh £1,319 £166 £1,485 £16,767 11.3 yrs £12,938
7 kW 7765 kWh 5824 kWh 1941 kWh £1,539 £194 £1,733 £18,394 10.6 yrs £16,261
8 kW 8874 kWh 6656 kWh 2219 kWh £1,758 £222 £1,980 £20,022 10.1 yrs £19,584

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: £1,256, 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 2219 kWh 1708 kWh 510 kWh £451 £51 £502 £12,706 25.3 yrs £-2,658
3 kW 3328 kWh 2562 kWh 765 kWh £677 £77 £754 £14,333 19.0 yrs £738
4 kW 4437 kWh 3417 kWh 1021 kWh £903 £102 £1,005 £15,961 15.9 yrs £4,133
5 kW 5546 kWh 4271 kWh 1276 kWh £1,128 £128 £1,256 £17,589 14.0 yrs £7,529
6 kW 6656 kWh 5125 kWh 1531 kWh £1,354 £153 £1,507 £19,217 12.8 yrs £10,925
7 kW 7765 kWh 5979 kWh 1786 kWh £1,580 £179 £1,758 £20,844 11.9 yrs £14,321
8 kW 8874 kWh 6833 kWh 2041 kWh £1,805 £204 £2,009 £22,472 11.2 yrs £17,717

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 Dorset

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 DT5

Figures below are tailored to DT5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1467 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #68 of 2996
8.9 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£919 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #446 of 2996
19.7% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£181 fixed • ~£919 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.5% West −23.9%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in DT5

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 37 Jan 56 Feb 95 Mar 128 Apr 138 May 137 Jun 140 Jul 126 Aug 105 Sep 69 Oct 45 Nov 34 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 45.7% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: Jul / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 42 kWh per month; the average month produces around 92 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 169 kWh in winter, or 370 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.42p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.70p/day
Local Sunshine
1109kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1109 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: 63% • Flats: 27% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 3,508 properties

Coverage

Dorset (100%)

Areas Covered

Portland

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 Southern

DT4 (Dorset)
≈6.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DT5
DT3 (Dorset)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DT5
DT1 (Dorset)
≈18.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,090 kWh/kWp · -2% vs DT5
DT2 (Dorset)
≈21.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,066 kWh/kWp · -4% vs DT5
BH20 (Dorset)
≈27.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,103 kWh/kWp · -1% vs DT5
BH19 (Dorset)
≈34.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,096 kWh/kWp · -1% vs DT5

Similar sunshine across the UK

BN43 (Adur)
~1,109 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DT5
CT15 (Dover)
~1,110 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DT5
BN42 (Adur)
~1,110 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DT5