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Solar panel cost in Manchester (M20)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for M20 (Manchester) 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
12.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£5,481
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£429
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£5,254
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 West, the current unit rate is 26.13p/kWh with a 47.61p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 870 kWh/kW — 0 below the regional median (870).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 870 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.1p/kWh
Standing charge
47.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
870 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: £716, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 696 kWh 1044 kWh £182 £104 £286 £3,654 12.8 yrs £2,071
3 kW 2610 kWh 1044 kWh 1566 kWh £273 £157 £429 £5,481 12.8 yrs £3,107
4 kW 3480 kWh 1392 kWh 2088 kWh £364 £209 £573 £7,307 12.8 yrs £4,143
5 kW 4350 kWh 1740 kWh 2610 kWh £455 £261 £716 £9,134 12.8 yrs £5,178
6 kW 5220 kWh 2088 kWh 3132 kWh £546 £313 £859 £10,961 12.8 yrs £6,214
7 kW 6090 kWh 2436 kWh 3654 kWh £636 £365 £1,002 £12,788 12.8 yrs £7,250
8 kW 6960 kWh 2784 kWh 4176 kWh £727 £418 £1,145 £14,615 12.8 yrs £8,285

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £856, Upfront: £11,234, 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 1740 kWh 1044 kWh 696 kWh £273 £70 £342 £5,754 16.8 yrs £1,094
3 kW 2610 kWh 1566 kWh 1044 kWh £409 £104 £514 £7,581 14.8 yrs £2,691
4 kW 3480 kWh 2088 kWh 1392 kWh £546 £139 £685 £9,407 13.7 yrs £4,288
5 kW 4350 kWh 2610 kWh 1740 kWh £682 £174 £856 £11,234 13.1 yrs £5,885
6 kW 5220 kWh 3132 kWh 2088 kWh £818 £209 £1,027 £13,061 12.7 yrs £7,482
7 kW 6090 kWh 3654 kWh 2436 kWh £955 £244 £1,198 £14,888 12.4 yrs £9,079
8 kW 6960 kWh 4176 kWh 2784 kWh £1,091 £278 £1,370 £16,715 12.2 yrs £10,676

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £926, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 1218 kWh 522 kWh £318 £52 £370 £7,154 19.3 yrs £255
3 kW 2610 kWh 1827 kWh 783 kWh £477 £78 £556 £8,981 16.2 yrs £2,133
4 kW 3480 kWh 2436 kWh 1044 kWh £636 £104 £741 £10,807 14.6 yrs £4,010
5 kW 4350 kWh 3045 kWh 1305 kWh £796 £130 £926 £12,634 13.6 yrs £5,888
6 kW 5220 kWh 3654 kWh 1566 kWh £955 £157 £1,111 £14,461 13.0 yrs £7,766
7 kW 6090 kWh 4263 kWh 1827 kWh £1,114 £183 £1,297 £16,288 12.6 yrs £9,643
8 kW 6960 kWh 4872 kWh 2088 kWh £1,273 £209 £1,482 £18,115 12.2 yrs £11,521

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £947, Upfront: £14,384, 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 1740 kWh 1270 kWh 470 kWh £332 £47 £379 £8,904 23.5 yrs £-1,326
3 kW 2610 kWh 1905 kWh 705 kWh £498 £70 £568 £10,731 18.9 yrs £635
4 kW 3480 kWh 2540 kWh 940 kWh £664 £94 £758 £12,557 16.6 yrs £2,597
5 kW 4350 kWh 3175 kWh 1174 kWh £830 £117 £947 £14,384 15.2 yrs £4,559
6 kW 5220 kWh 3810 kWh 1409 kWh £996 £141 £1,137 £16,211 14.3 yrs £6,521
7 kW 6090 kWh 4445 kWh 1644 kWh £1,162 £164 £1,326 £18,038 13.6 yrs £8,483
8 kW 6960 kWh 5081 kWh 1879 kWh £1,328 £188 £1,515 £19,865 13.1 yrs £10,445

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £961, Upfront: £16,134, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 1305 kWh 435 kWh £341 £43 £384 £10,654 27.7 yrs £-2,964
3 kW 2610 kWh 1957 kWh 652 kWh £511 £65 £577 £12,481 21.6 yrs £-946
4 kW 3480 kWh 2610 kWh 870 kWh £682 £87 £769 £14,307 18.6 yrs £1,072
5 kW 4350 kWh 3262 kWh 1087 kWh £852 £109 £961 £16,134 16.8 yrs £3,090
6 kW 5220 kWh 3915 kWh 1305 kWh £1,023 £130 £1,153 £17,961 15.6 yrs £5,108
7 kW 6090 kWh 4567 kWh 1522 kWh £1,193 £152 £1,346 £19,788 14.7 yrs £7,126
8 kW 6960 kWh 5220 kWh 1740 kWh £1,364 £174 £1,538 £21,615 14.1 yrs £9,144

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £975, Upfront: £18,584, 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 1740 kWh 1340 kWh 400 kWh £350 £40 £390 £13,104 33.6 yrs £-5,302
3 kW 2610 kWh 2010 kWh 600 kWh £525 £60 £585 £14,931 25.5 yrs £-3,228
4 kW 3480 kWh 2679 kWh 800 kWh £700 £80 £780 £16,757 21.5 yrs £-1,154
5 kW 4350 kWh 3349 kWh 1000 kWh £875 £100 £975 £18,584 19.1 yrs £920
6 kW 5220 kWh 4019 kWh 1201 kWh £1,050 £120 £1,170 £20,411 17.4 yrs £2,994
7 kW 6090 kWh 4689 kWh 1401 kWh £1,225 £140 £1,365 £22,238 16.3 yrs £5,069
8 kW 6960 kWh 5359 kWh 1601 kWh £1,400 £160 £1,560 £24,065 15.4 yrs £7,143

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, 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 Manchester

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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This is a practical sanity-check request, not an instant quote promise. The Blue Ape quote route above remains available if you already want installer introductions.

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Insights for M20

Figures below are tailored to M20 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1888 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2270 of 2996
11.4 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£716 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1290 of 2996
24.3% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£716 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.5% West −18.8%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in M20

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 27 Jan 45 Feb 76 Mar 102 Apr 110 May 108 Jun 106 Jul 96 Aug 80 Sep 56 Oct 37 Nov 28 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 45.6% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: May / Jan

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 33 kWh per month; the average month produces around 72 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 132 kWh in winter, or 290 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.13p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.61p/day
Local Sunshine
870kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~870 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

⚠️ This area is predominantly flats. Many residents require freeholder approval for solar installations. System size shown reflects houses and bungalows only.

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 47% • Flats: 50% • Bungalows: 1% Based on 16,011 properties

Coverage

Manchester (100%)

Areas Covered

Didsbury West, Old Moat, Didsbury East, Withington, Burnage, Chorlton Park, Northenden

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 West

M14 (Manchester)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~870 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M20
M52 (Manchester)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~871 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M20
M19 (Manchester)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M20
M21 (Manchester)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~877 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M20
SK4 (Stockport)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~859 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M20
M16 (Trafford)
≈4.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~868 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M20

Similar sunshine across the UK

EH8 (City of Edinburgh)
~870 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M20
LL26 (Conwy)
~870 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M20
EH48 (West Lothian)
~870 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M20