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Solar panel cost in Sefton (L38)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for L38 (Sefton) 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
9.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£9,767
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,001
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,255
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 North Wales and Mersey, the current unit rate is 27.66p/kWh with a 70.76p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 978 kWh/kW — 48 above the regional median (930).

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 978 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.7p/kWh
Standing charge
70.8p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
978 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: £834, Upfront: £8,139, 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 1955 kWh 782 kWh 1173 kWh £216 £117 £334 £3,256 9.8 yrs £3,417
3 kW 2933 kWh 1173 kWh 1760 kWh £324 £176 £500 £4,883 9.8 yrs £5,125
4 kW 3910 kWh 1564 kWh 2346 kWh £433 £235 £667 £6,511 9.8 yrs £6,834
5 kW 4888 kWh 1955 kWh 2933 kWh £541 £293 £834 £8,139 9.8 yrs £8,542
6 kW 5865 kWh 2346 kWh 3519 kWh £649 £352 £1,001 £9,767 9.8 yrs £10,250
7 kW 6843 kWh 2737 kWh 4106 kWh £757 £411 £1,168 £11,394 9.8 yrs £11,959
8 kW 7820 kWh 3128 kWh 4692 kWh £865 £469 £1,334 £13,022 9.8 yrs £13,667

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: £1,007, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 10.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1173 kWh 782 kWh £324 £78 £403 £5,356 13.3 yrs £2,698
3 kW 2933 kWh 1760 kWh 1173 kWh £487 £117 £604 £6,983 11.6 yrs £5,097
4 kW 3910 kWh 2346 kWh 1564 kWh £649 £156 £805 £8,611 10.7 yrs £7,496
5 kW 4888 kWh 2933 kWh 1955 kWh £811 £196 £1,007 £10,239 10.2 yrs £9,895
6 kW 5865 kWh 3519 kWh 2346 kWh £973 £235 £1,208 £11,867 9.8 yrs £12,294
7 kW 6843 kWh 4106 kWh 2737 kWh £1,136 £274 £1,409 £13,494 9.6 yrs £14,692
8 kW 7820 kWh 4692 kWh 3128 kWh £1,298 £313 £1,611 £15,122 9.4 yrs £17,091

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: £1,093, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 10.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1369 kWh 587 kWh £379 £59 £437 £6,756 15.5 yrs £1,988
3 kW 2933 kWh 2053 kWh 880 kWh £568 £88 £656 £8,383 12.8 yrs £4,733
4 kW 3910 kWh 2737 kWh 1173 kWh £757 £117 £874 £10,011 11.4 yrs £7,477
5 kW 4888 kWh 3421 kWh 1466 kWh £946 £147 £1,093 £11,639 10.6 yrs £10,221
6 kW 5865 kWh 4106 kWh 1760 kWh £1,136 £176 £1,312 £13,267 10.1 yrs £12,965
7 kW 6843 kWh 4790 kWh 2053 kWh £1,325 £205 £1,530 £14,894 9.7 yrs £15,709
8 kW 7820 kWh 5474 kWh 2346 kWh £1,514 £235 £1,749 £16,522 9.4 yrs £18,454

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: £1,119, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1427 kWh 528 kWh £395 £53 £448 £8,506 19.0 yrs £446
3 kW 2933 kWh 2141 kWh 792 kWh £592 £79 £671 £10,133 15.1 yrs £3,293
4 kW 3910 kWh 2854 kWh 1056 kWh £790 £106 £895 £11,761 13.1 yrs £6,141
5 kW 4888 kWh 3568 kWh 1320 kWh £987 £132 £1,119 £13,389 12.0 yrs £8,989
6 kW 5865 kWh 4282 kWh 1584 kWh £1,184 £158 £1,343 £15,017 11.2 yrs £11,837
7 kW 6843 kWh 4995 kWh 1848 kWh £1,382 £185 £1,566 £16,644 10.6 yrs £14,684
8 kW 7820 kWh 5709 kWh 2111 kWh £1,579 £211 £1,790 £18,272 10.2 yrs £17,532

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: £1,136, Upfront: £15,139, 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 1955 kWh 1466 kWh 489 kWh £406 £49 £454 £10,256 22.6 yrs £-1,166
3 kW 2933 kWh 2199 kWh 733 kWh £608 £73 £682 £11,883 17.4 yrs £1,750
4 kW 3910 kWh 2933 kWh 978 kWh £811 £98 £909 £13,511 14.9 yrs £4,667
5 kW 4888 kWh 3666 kWh 1222 kWh £1,014 £122 £1,136 £15,139 13.3 yrs £7,584
6 kW 5865 kWh 4399 kWh 1466 kWh £1,217 £147 £1,363 £16,767 12.3 yrs £10,501
7 kW 6843 kWh 5132 kWh 1711 kWh £1,420 £171 £1,591 £18,394 11.6 yrs £13,418
8 kW 7820 kWh 5865 kWh 1955 kWh £1,622 £196 £1,818 £20,022 11.0 yrs £16,335

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: £1,153, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1505 kWh 450 kWh £416 £45 £461 £12,706 27.5 yrs £-3,478
3 kW 2933 kWh 2258 kWh 675 kWh £625 £67 £692 £14,333 20.7 yrs £-492
4 kW 3910 kWh 3011 kWh 899 kWh £833 £90 £923 £15,961 17.3 yrs £2,494
5 kW 4888 kWh 3764 kWh 1124 kWh £1,041 £112 £1,153 £17,589 15.2 yrs £5,479
6 kW 5865 kWh 4516 kWh 1349 kWh £1,249 £135 £1,384 £19,217 13.9 yrs £8,465
7 kW 6843 kWh 5269 kWh 1574 kWh £1,457 £157 £1,615 £20,844 12.9 yrs £11,451
8 kW 7820 kWh 6022 kWh 1799 kWh £1,666 £180 £1,845 £22,472 12.2 yrs £14,437

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 Sefton

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 L38

Figures below are tailored to L38 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #61 of 2182
6.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~15 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #649 of 2996
9.8 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£1,001 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1579 of 2996
25.8% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£258 fixed • ~£1,001 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.9% West −23.1%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in L38

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 32 Jan 53 Feb 87 Mar 115 Apr 127 May 121 Jun 120 Jul 110 Aug 87 Sep 59 Oct 37 Nov 28 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 46.0% 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 38 kWh per month; the average month produces around 81 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 150 kWh in winter, or 326 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.66p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
70.76p/day
Local Sunshine
978kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~978 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: 78% • Flats: 2% • Bungalows: 19% Based on 515 properties

Coverage

Sefton (100%)

Areas Covered

Manor, Ravenmeols, Harington

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 North Wales and Mersey

L37 (Sefton)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~969 kWh/kWp · -1% vs L38
L23 (Sefton)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~953 kWh/kWp · -3% vs L38
L29 (Sefton)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~944 kWh/kWp · -3% vs L38
L22 (Sefton)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~953 kWh/kWp · -3% vs L38
L21 (Sefton)
≈7.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~944 kWh/kWp · -3% vs L38
L30 (Sefton)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~944 kWh/kWp · -3% vs L38

Similar sunshine across the UK

HR8 (Herefordshire, County of)
~978 kWh/kWp · -0% vs L38
DN39 (North Lincolnshire)
~978 kWh/kWp · +0% vs L38
GL20 (Tewkesbury)
~977 kWh/kWp · -0% vs L38