Independent solar numbers for your postcode using official UK data
Home Regions Guides Get quote
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag Roof Direction Penalty Winter Solar Reality Seasonal Solar Output

Solar panel cost in Manchester (M8)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for M8 (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
15.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£649
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,053
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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: Bigger systems don’t shorten payback—cost and savings rise together per kW.
  • 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

Costs: Battery prices are typically £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 23.04p/kWh with a 46.92p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 853 kWh/kW — 17 below the regional median (870).

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 853 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 23.0p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
23.0p/kWh
Standing charge
46.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
853 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: £649, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1706 kWh 682 kWh 1024 kWh £157 £102 £260 £4,069 15.7 yrs £1,123
3 kW 2559 kWh 1024 kWh 1536 kWh £236 £154 £389 £6,104 15.7 yrs £1,685
4 kW 3412 kWh 1365 kWh 2047 kWh £314 £205 £519 £8,138 15.7 yrs £2,246
5 kW 4265 kWh 1706 kWh 2559 kWh £393 £256 £649 £10,173 15.7 yrs £2,808
6 kW 5119 kWh 2047 kWh 3071 kWh £472 £307 £779 £12,207 15.7 yrs £3,370
7 kW 5972 kWh 2389 kWh 3583 kWh £550 £358 £909 £14,242 15.7 yrs £3,931
8 kW 6825 kWh 2730 kWh 4095 kWh £629 £409 £1,038 £16,276 15.7 yrs £4,493

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £760, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 16.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1706 kWh 1024 kWh 682 kWh £236 £68 £304 £6,169 20.3 yrs £-87
3 kW 2559 kWh 1536 kWh 1024 kWh £354 £102 £456 £8,204 18.0 yrs £920
4 kW 3412 kWh 2047 kWh 1365 kWh £472 £136 £608 £10,238 16.8 yrs £1,926
5 kW 4265 kWh 2559 kWh 1706 kWh £590 £171 £760 £12,273 16.1 yrs £2,933
6 kW 5119 kWh 3071 kWh 2047 kWh £708 £205 £912 £14,307 15.7 yrs £3,940
7 kW 5972 kWh 3583 kWh 2389 kWh £826 £239 £1,064 £16,342 15.4 yrs £4,946
8 kW 6825 kWh 4095 kWh 2730 kWh £943 £273 £1,216 £18,376 15.1 yrs £5,953

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £816, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1706 kWh 1194 kWh 512 kWh £275 £51 £326 £7,569 23.2 yrs £-1,042
3 kW 2559 kWh 1791 kWh 768 kWh £413 £77 £490 £9,604 19.6 yrs £187
4 kW 3412 kWh 2389 kWh 1024 kWh £550 £102 £653 £11,638 17.8 yrs £1,416
5 kW 4265 kWh 2986 kWh 1280 kWh £688 £128 £816 £13,673 16.8 yrs £2,645
6 kW 5119 kWh 3583 kWh 1536 kWh £826 £154 £979 £15,707 16.0 yrs £3,874
7 kW 5972 kWh 4180 kWh 1791 kWh £963 £179 £1,142 £17,742 15.5 yrs £5,103
8 kW 6825 kWh 4777 kWh 2047 kWh £1,101 £205 £1,305 £19,776 15.1 yrs £6,333

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £833, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1706 kWh 1246 kWh 461 kWh £287 £46 £333 £9,319 28.0 yrs £-2,658
3 kW 2559 kWh 1868 kWh 691 kWh £430 £69 £500 £11,354 22.7 yrs £-1,363
4 kW 3412 kWh 2491 kWh 921 kWh £574 £92 £666 £13,388 20.1 yrs £-67
5 kW 4265 kWh 3114 kWh 1152 kWh £717 £115 £833 £15,423 18.5 yrs £1,229
6 kW 5119 kWh 3737 kWh 1382 kWh £861 £138 £999 £17,457 17.5 yrs £2,525
7 kW 5972 kWh 4359 kWh 1612 kWh £1,004 £161 £1,166 £19,492 16.7 yrs £3,821
8 kW 6825 kWh 4982 kWh 1843 kWh £1,148 £184 £1,332 £21,526 16.2 yrs £5,117

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £844, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 20.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1706 kWh 1280 kWh 427 kWh £295 £43 £337 £11,069 32.8 yrs £-4,319
3 kW 2559 kWh 1919 kWh 640 kWh £442 £64 £506 £13,104 25.9 yrs £-2,979
4 kW 3412 kWh 2559 kWh 853 kWh £590 £85 £675 £15,138 22.4 yrs £-1,639
5 kW 4265 kWh 3199 kWh 1066 kWh £737 £107 £844 £17,173 20.4 yrs £-298
6 kW 5119 kWh 3839 kWh 1280 kWh £884 £128 £1,012 £19,207 19.0 yrs £1,042
7 kW 5972 kWh 4479 kWh 1493 kWh £1,032 £149 £1,181 £21,242 18.0 yrs £2,382
8 kW 6825 kWh 5119 kWh 1706 kWh £1,179 £171 £1,350 £23,276 17.2 yrs £3,723

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £855, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 23.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1706 kWh 1314 kWh 392 kWh £303 £39 £342 £13,519 39.5 yrs £-6,680
3 kW 2559 kWh 1971 kWh 589 kWh £454 £59 £513 £15,554 30.3 yrs £-5,296
4 kW 3412 kWh 2628 kWh 785 kWh £605 £78 £684 £17,588 25.7 yrs £-3,911
5 kW 4265 kWh 3284 kWh 981 kWh £757 £98 £855 £19,623 23.0 yrs £-2,526
6 kW 5119 kWh 3941 kWh 1177 kWh £908 £118 £1,026 £21,657 21.1 yrs £-1,141
7 kW 5972 kWh 4598 kWh 1373 kWh £1,059 £137 £1,197 £23,692 19.8 yrs £244
8 kW 6825 kWh 5255 kWh 1570 kWh £1,211 £157 £1,368 £25,726 18.8 yrs £1,628

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, 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.

Insights for M8

Figures below are tailored to M8 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1907 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2586 of 2997
13.7 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£741 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2035 of 2997
25.7% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£191 fixed • ~£741 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.8% West −18.9%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in M8

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 25 Jan 43 Feb 76 Mar 101 Apr 110 May 107 Jun 104 Jul 94 Aug 78 Sep 54 Oct 36 Nov 25 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 44.0% 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 31 kWh per month; the average month produces around 71 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 125 kWh in winter, or 284 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
23.04p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
46.92p/day
Local Sunshine
853kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~853 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: 59% • Flats: 39% • Bungalows: 2% Based on 9,450 properties

Coverage

Manchester (94%)|Salford (5%)|Bury (1%)

Areas Covered

Cheetham, Crumpsall, Kersal & Broughton Park, Broughton, Harpurhey, Higher Blackley, Sedgley

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q1 2026

Installation costs: MCS certified installer data, March 2025

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

M7 (Salford)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~862 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M8
M61 (Manchester)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M8
M60 (Manchester)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M8
M99 (Manchester)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M8
M9 (Manchester)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~856 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M8
M4 (Manchester)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M8

Similar sunshine across the UK

FK2 (Falkirk)
~853 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M8
AB52 (Aberdeenshire)
~853 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M8
FK13 (Clackmannanshire)
~852 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M8