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Solar panel cost in Manchester (M9)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for M9 (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
13.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£7,307
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£563
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,770
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 856 kWh/kW — 14 below the regional median (870).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 856 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)
856 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: £704, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1711 kWh 685 kWh 1027 kWh £179 £103 £282 £3,654 13.0 yrs £1,977
3 kW 2567 kWh 1027 kWh 1540 kWh £268 £154 £422 £5,481 13.0 yrs £2,966
4 kW 3423 kWh 1369 kWh 2054 kWh £358 £205 £563 £7,307 13.0 yrs £3,954
5 kW 4278 kWh 1711 kWh 2567 kWh £447 £257 £704 £9,134 13.0 yrs £4,943
6 kW 5134 kWh 2054 kWh 3080 kWh £537 £308 £845 £10,961 13.0 yrs £5,932
7 kW 5990 kWh 2396 kWh 3594 kWh £626 £359 £985 £12,788 13.0 yrs £6,920
8 kW 6845 kWh 2738 kWh 4107 kWh £715 £411 £1,126 £14,615 13.0 yrs £7,909

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: £842, Upfront: £11,234, 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 1711 kWh 1027 kWh 685 kWh £268 £68 £337 £5,754 17.1 yrs £981
3 kW 2567 kWh 1540 kWh 1027 kWh £402 £103 £505 £7,581 15.0 yrs £2,522
4 kW 3423 kWh 2054 kWh 1369 kWh £537 £137 £674 £9,407 14.0 yrs £4,063
5 kW 4278 kWh 2567 kWh 1711 kWh £671 £171 £842 £11,234 13.3 yrs £5,603
6 kW 5134 kWh 3080 kWh 2054 kWh £805 £205 £1,010 £13,061 12.9 yrs £7,144
7 kW 5990 kWh 3594 kWh 2396 kWh £939 £240 £1,179 £14,888 12.6 yrs £8,685
8 kW 6845 kWh 4107 kWh 2738 kWh £1,073 £274 £1,347 £16,715 12.4 yrs £10,226

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: £911, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1711 kWh 1198 kWh 513 kWh £313 £51 £364 £7,154 19.6 yrs £133
3 kW 2567 kWh 1797 kWh 770 kWh £470 £77 £547 £8,981 16.4 yrs £1,950
4 kW 3423 kWh 2396 kWh 1027 kWh £626 £103 £729 £10,807 14.8 yrs £3,767
5 kW 4278 kWh 2995 kWh 1283 kWh £783 £128 £911 £12,634 13.9 yrs £5,584
6 kW 5134 kWh 3594 kWh 1540 kWh £939 £154 £1,093 £14,461 13.2 yrs £7,400
7 kW 5990 kWh 4193 kWh 1797 kWh £1,096 £180 £1,275 £16,288 12.8 yrs £9,217
8 kW 6845 kWh 4792 kWh 2054 kWh £1,252 £205 £1,457 £18,115 12.4 yrs £11,034

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: £932, Upfront: £14,384, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1711 kWh 1249 kWh 462 kWh £326 £46 £373 £8,904 23.9 yrs £-1,451
3 kW 2567 kWh 1874 kWh 693 kWh £490 £69 £559 £10,731 19.2 yrs £449
4 kW 3423 kWh 2499 kWh 924 kWh £653 £92 £745 £12,557 16.8 yrs £2,348
5 kW 4278 kWh 3123 kWh 1155 kWh £816 £116 £932 £14,384 15.4 yrs £4,248
6 kW 5134 kWh 3748 kWh 1386 kWh £979 £139 £1,118 £16,211 14.5 yrs £6,147
7 kW 5990 kWh 4372 kWh 1617 kWh £1,143 £162 £1,304 £18,038 13.8 yrs £8,047
8 kW 6845 kWh 4997 kWh 1848 kWh £1,306 £185 £1,491 £19,865 13.3 yrs £9,946

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: £945, Upfront: £16,134, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1711 kWh 1283 kWh 428 kWh £335 £43 £378 £10,654 28.2 yrs £-3,091
3 kW 2567 kWh 1925 kWh 642 kWh £503 £64 £567 £12,481 22.0 yrs £-1,136
4 kW 3423 kWh 2567 kWh 856 kWh £671 £86 £756 £14,307 18.9 yrs £819
5 kW 4278 kWh 3209 kWh 1070 kWh £838 £107 £945 £16,134 17.1 yrs £2,774
6 kW 5134 kWh 3850 kWh 1283 kWh £1,006 £128 £1,134 £17,961 15.8 yrs £4,728
7 kW 5990 kWh 4492 kWh 1497 kWh £1,174 £150 £1,324 £19,788 15.0 yrs £6,683
8 kW 6845 kWh 5134 kWh 1711 kWh £1,342 £171 £1,513 £21,615 14.3 yrs £8,638

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: £959, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1711 kWh 1318 kWh 394 kWh £344 £39 £384 £13,104 34.2 yrs £-5,430
3 kW 2567 kWh 1977 kWh 590 kWh £516 £59 £576 £14,931 25.9 yrs £-3,420
4 kW 3423 kWh 2635 kWh 787 kWh £689 £79 £767 £16,757 21.8 yrs £-1,410
5 kW 4278 kWh 3294 kWh 984 kWh £861 £98 £959 £18,584 19.4 yrs £600
6 kW 5134 kWh 3953 kWh 1181 kWh £1,033 £118 £1,151 £20,411 17.7 yrs £2,610
7 kW 5990 kWh 4612 kWh 1378 kWh £1,205 £138 £1,343 £22,238 16.6 yrs £4,620
8 kW 6845 kWh 5271 kWh 1574 kWh £1,377 £157 £1,535 £24,065 15.7 yrs £6,630

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 M9

Figures below are tailored to M9 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1960 of 2182
4.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2800 of 2996
13.0 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£563 /yr • £7,307 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2230 of 2996
30.9% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£563 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.0% West −18.6%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in M9

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 26 Jan 44 Feb 76 Mar 101 Apr 109 May 107 Jun 104 Jul 94 Aug 78 Sep 54 Oct 36 Nov 26 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 44.7% 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 32 kWh per month; the average month produces around 71 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 128 kWh in winter, or 285 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.13p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.61p/day
Local Sunshine
856kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~856 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 72% • Flats: 26% • Bungalows: 2% Based on 12,154 properties

Coverage

Manchester (100%)

Areas Covered

Harpurhey, Higher Blackley, Charlestown, Moston, Crumpsall, East Middleton

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

M8 (Manchester)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~853 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M9
M40 (Manchester)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~848 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M9
M10 (Manchester)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~848 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M9
M24 (Rochdale)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~846 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M9
M7 (Salford)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~862 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M9
M60 (Manchester)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M9

Similar sunshine across the UK

PH7 (Perth and Kinross)
~856 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M9
KA25 (North Ayrshire)
~856 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M9
PA45 (Argyll and Bute)
~855 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M9