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Solar Panels in M90 (Manchester)

See if solar pays off for you in Manchester — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

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
13.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£742
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,381
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: 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 27.11p/kWh with a 51.16p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 881 kWh/kW — 11 above 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 881 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
51.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
881 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: £742, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1762 kWh 705 kWh 1057 kWh £191 £106 £297 £4,069 13.7 yrs £1,868
3 kW 2644 kWh 1057 kWh 1586 kWh £287 £159 £445 £6,104 13.7 yrs £2,802
4 kW 3525 kWh 1410 kWh 2115 kWh £382 £211 £594 £8,138 13.7 yrs £3,736
5 kW 4406 kWh 1762 kWh 2644 kWh £478 £264 £742 £10,173 13.7 yrs £4,670
6 kW 5287 kWh 2115 kWh 3172 kWh £573 £317 £891 £12,207 13.7 yrs £5,604
7 kW 6168 kWh 2467 kWh 3701 kWh £669 £370 £1,039 £14,242 13.7 yrs £6,539
8 kW 7050 kWh 2820 kWh 4230 kWh £764 £423 £1,187 £16,276 13.7 yrs £7,473

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: £893, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1762 kWh 1057 kWh 705 kWh £287 £70 £357 £6,169 17.3 yrs £974
3 kW 2644 kWh 1586 kWh 1057 kWh £430 £106 £536 £8,204 15.3 yrs £2,512
4 kW 3525 kWh 2115 kWh 1410 kWh £573 £141 £714 £10,238 14.3 yrs £4,049
5 kW 4406 kWh 2644 kWh 1762 kWh £717 £176 £893 £12,273 13.7 yrs £5,586
6 kW 5287 kWh 3172 kWh 2115 kWh £860 £211 £1,072 £14,307 13.4 yrs £7,123
7 kW 6168 kWh 3701 kWh 2467 kWh £1,003 £247 £1,250 £16,342 13.1 yrs £8,660
8 kW 7050 kWh 4230 kWh 2820 kWh £1,147 £282 £1,429 £18,376 12.9 yrs £10,197

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: £968, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1762 kWh 1234 kWh 529 kWh £334 £53 £387 £7,569 19.5 yrs £177
3 kW 2644 kWh 1851 kWh 793 kWh £502 £79 £581 £9,604 16.5 yrs £2,016
4 kW 3525 kWh 2467 kWh 1057 kWh £669 £106 £775 £11,638 15.0 yrs £3,855
5 kW 4406 kWh 3084 kWh 1322 kWh £836 £132 £968 £13,673 14.1 yrs £5,694
6 kW 5287 kWh 3701 kWh 1586 kWh £1,003 £159 £1,162 £15,707 13.5 yrs £7,532
7 kW 6168 kWh 4318 kWh 1851 kWh £1,171 £185 £1,356 £17,742 13.1 yrs £9,371
8 kW 7050 kWh 4935 kWh 2115 kWh £1,338 £211 £1,549 £19,776 12.8 yrs £11,210

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: £991, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1762 kWh 1287 kWh 476 kWh £349 £48 £396 £9,319 23.5 yrs £-1,392
3 kW 2644 kWh 1930 kWh 714 kWh £523 £71 £595 £11,354 19.1 yrs £538
4 kW 3525 kWh 2573 kWh 952 kWh £698 £95 £793 £13,388 16.9 yrs £2,467
5 kW 4406 kWh 3216 kWh 1190 kWh £872 £119 £991 £15,423 15.6 yrs £4,396
6 kW 5287 kWh 3860 kWh 1428 kWh £1,046 £143 £1,189 £17,457 14.7 yrs £6,325
7 kW 6168 kWh 4503 kWh 1665 kWh £1,221 £167 £1,387 £19,492 14.1 yrs £8,254
8 kW 7050 kWh 5146 kWh 1903 kWh £1,395 £190 £1,585 £21,526 13.6 yrs £10,183

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: £1,006, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1762 kWh 1322 kWh 441 kWh £358 £44 £402 £11,069 27.5 yrs £-3,021
3 kW 2644 kWh 1983 kWh 661 kWh £538 £66 £604 £13,104 21.7 yrs £-1,032
4 kW 3525 kWh 2644 kWh 881 kWh £717 £88 £805 £15,138 18.8 yrs £958
5 kW 4406 kWh 3304 kWh 1102 kWh £896 £110 £1,006 £17,173 17.1 yrs £2,947
6 kW 5287 kWh 3965 kWh 1322 kWh £1,075 £132 £1,207 £19,207 15.9 yrs £4,937
7 kW 6168 kWh 4626 kWh 1542 kWh £1,254 £154 £1,408 £21,242 15.1 yrs £6,926
8 kW 7050 kWh 5287 kWh 1762 kWh £1,433 £176 £1,610 £23,276 14.5 yrs £8,916

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: £1,021, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1762 kWh 1357 kWh 405 kWh £368 £41 £408 £13,519 33.1 yrs £-5,350
3 kW 2644 kWh 2036 kWh 608 kWh £552 £61 £613 £15,554 25.4 yrs £-3,301
4 kW 3525 kWh 2714 kWh 811 kWh £736 £81 £817 £17,588 21.5 yrs £-1,251
5 kW 4406 kWh 3393 kWh 1013 kWh £920 £101 £1,021 £19,623 19.2 yrs £799
6 kW 5287 kWh 4071 kWh 1216 kWh £1,104 £122 £1,225 £21,657 17.7 yrs £2,849
7 kW 6168 kWh 4750 kWh 1419 kWh £1,288 £142 £1,430 £23,692 16.6 yrs £4,899
8 kW 7050 kWh 5428 kWh 1621 kWh £1,472 £162 £1,634 £25,726 15.7 yrs £6,948

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 M90

Figures below are tailored to M90 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2226 of 2997
11.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£855 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1795 of 2997
21.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£855 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
881kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~881 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Manchester (100%)

Areas Covered

Woodhouse Park, Northenden, Sharston

Data Sources & Assumptions

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

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q4 2025

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

M22 (Manchester)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M90
M23 (Manchester)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~876 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M90
SK8 (Stockport)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~875 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M90
SK9 (Cheshire East)
≈4.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~872 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M90
WA15 (Trafford)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~890 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M90
WA14 (Trafford)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~890 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M90

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT39 (Antrim and Newtownabbey)
~881 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M90
DG2 (Dumfries and Galloway)
~881 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M90
EH22 (Midlothian)
~881 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M90