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Solar panel cost in Gateshead (NE85)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for NE85 (Gateshead) 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
12.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£799
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,802
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 Northern, the current unit rate is 26.75p/kWh with a 60.93p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 957 kWh/kW — 31 above the regional median (926).

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 957 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.8p/kWh
Standing charge
60.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
957 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: £799, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1914 kWh 765 kWh 1148 kWh £205 £115 £320 £4,069 12.7 yrs £2,323
3 kW 2871 kWh 1148 kWh 1722 kWh £307 £172 £479 £6,104 12.7 yrs £3,484
4 kW 3827 kWh 1531 kWh 2296 kWh £410 £230 £639 £8,138 12.7 yrs £4,646
5 kW 4784 kWh 1914 kWh 2871 kWh £512 £287 £799 £10,173 12.7 yrs £5,807
6 kW 5741 kWh 2296 kWh 3445 kWh £614 £344 £959 £12,207 12.7 yrs £6,969
7 kW 6698 kWh 2679 kWh 4019 kWh £717 £402 £1,119 £14,242 12.7 yrs £8,130
8 kW 7655 kWh 3062 kWh 4593 kWh £819 £459 £1,278 £16,276 12.7 yrs £9,291

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: £959, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1914 kWh 1148 kWh 765 kWh £307 £77 £384 £6,169 16.1 yrs £1,505
3 kW 2871 kWh 1722 kWh 1148 kWh £461 £115 £576 £8,204 14.3 yrs £3,308
4 kW 3827 kWh 2296 kWh 1531 kWh £614 £153 £767 £10,238 13.3 yrs £5,110
5 kW 4784 kWh 2871 kWh 1914 kWh £768 £191 £959 £12,273 12.8 yrs £6,913
6 kW 5741 kWh 3445 kWh 2296 kWh £921 £230 £1,151 £14,307 12.4 yrs £8,715
7 kW 6698 kWh 4019 kWh 2679 kWh £1,075 £268 £1,343 £16,342 12.2 yrs £10,518
8 kW 7655 kWh 4593 kWh 3062 kWh £1,229 £306 £1,535 £18,376 12.0 yrs £12,320

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: £1,039, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1914 kWh 1340 kWh 574 kWh £358 £57 £416 £7,569 18.2 yrs £746
3 kW 2871 kWh 2009 kWh 861 kWh £538 £86 £624 £9,604 15.4 yrs £2,869
4 kW 3827 kWh 2679 kWh 1148 kWh £717 £115 £832 £11,638 14.0 yrs £4,992
5 kW 4784 kWh 3349 kWh 1435 kWh £896 £144 £1,039 £13,673 13.2 yrs £7,115
6 kW 5741 kWh 4019 kWh 1722 kWh £1,075 £172 £1,247 £15,707 12.6 yrs £9,239
7 kW 6698 kWh 4689 kWh 2009 kWh £1,254 £201 £1,455 £17,742 12.2 yrs £11,362
8 kW 7655 kWh 5358 kWh 2296 kWh £1,433 £230 £1,663 £19,776 11.9 yrs £13,485

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: £1,063, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1914 kWh 1397 kWh 517 kWh £374 £52 £425 £9,319 21.9 yrs £-811
3 kW 2871 kWh 2096 kWh 775 kWh £561 £78 £638 £11,354 17.8 yrs £1,408
4 kW 3827 kWh 2794 kWh 1033 kWh £747 £103 £851 £13,388 15.7 yrs £3,627
5 kW 4784 kWh 3493 kWh 1292 kWh £934 £129 £1,063 £15,423 14.5 yrs £5,846
6 kW 5741 kWh 4191 kWh 1550 kWh £1,121 £155 £1,276 £17,457 13.7 yrs £8,066
7 kW 6698 kWh 4890 kWh 1808 kWh £1,308 £181 £1,489 £19,492 13.1 yrs £10,285
8 kW 7655 kWh 5588 kWh 2067 kWh £1,495 £207 £1,702 £21,526 12.7 yrs £12,504

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: £1,079, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1914 kWh 1435 kWh 478 kWh £384 £48 £432 £11,069 25.6 yrs £-2,433
3 kW 2871 kWh 2153 kWh 718 kWh £576 £72 £648 £13,104 20.2 yrs £-150
4 kW 3827 kWh 2871 kWh 957 kWh £768 £96 £864 £15,138 17.5 yrs £2,133
5 kW 4784 kWh 3588 kWh 1196 kWh £960 £120 £1,079 £17,173 15.9 yrs £4,417
6 kW 5741 kWh 4306 kWh 1435 kWh £1,152 £144 £1,295 £19,207 14.8 yrs £6,700
7 kW 6698 kWh 5024 kWh 1675 kWh £1,344 £167 £1,511 £21,242 14.1 yrs £8,984
8 kW 7655 kWh 5741 kWh 1914 kWh £1,536 £191 £1,727 £23,276 13.5 yrs £11,267

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: £1,095, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1914 kWh 1474 kWh 440 kWh £394 £44 £438 £13,519 30.9 yrs £-4,755
3 kW 2871 kWh 2210 kWh 660 kWh £591 £66 £657 £15,554 23.7 yrs £-2,408
4 kW 3827 kWh 2947 kWh 880 kWh £788 £88 £876 £17,588 20.1 yrs £-60
5 kW 4784 kWh 3684 kWh 1100 kWh £985 £110 £1,095 £19,623 17.9 yrs £2,287
6 kW 5741 kWh 4421 kWh 1320 kWh £1,183 £132 £1,315 £21,657 16.5 yrs £4,635
7 kW 6698 kWh 5158 kWh 1541 kWh £1,380 £154 £1,534 £23,692 15.4 yrs £6,982
8 kW 7655 kWh 5894 kWh 1761 kWh £1,577 £176 £1,753 £25,726 14.7 yrs £9,330

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 NE85

Figures below are tailored to NE85 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #1734 of 2997
12.7 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£799 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2180 of 2997
27.8% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£222 fixed • ~£799 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −23.0% West −22.2%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.75p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
60.93p/day
Local Sunshine
957kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~957 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

Gateshead (83%)|Sunderland (17%)

Areas Covered

Lamesley, Lobley Hill and Bensham, Washington East

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 Northern

DH98 (Gateshead)
≈0.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · -4% vs NE85
NE83 (Gateshead)
≈0.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · -4% vs NE85
NE11 (Gateshead)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~919 kWh/kWp · -4% vs NE85
NE82 (Gateshead)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · -4% vs NE85
NE92 (Gateshead)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · -4% vs NE85
NE88 (Gateshead)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · -4% vs NE85

Similar sunshine across the UK

DY13 (Wyre Forest)
~957 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NE85
B92 (Solihull)
~957 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NE85
SA66 (Pembrokeshire)
~957 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NE85