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Solar panel cost in Rochdale (OL12)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for OL12 (Rochdale) 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
15.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£513
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£4,683
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 23.04p/kWh with a 46.92p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 843 kWh/kW — 27 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 843 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)
843 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: £641, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1685 kWh 674 kWh 1011 kWh £155 £101 £256 £4,069 15.9 yrs £1,059
3 kW 2528 kWh 1011 kWh 1517 kWh £233 £152 £385 £6,104 15.9 yrs £1,589
4 kW 3370 kWh 1348 kWh 2022 kWh £311 £202 £513 £8,138 15.9 yrs £2,119
5 kW 4213 kWh 1685 kWh 2528 kWh £388 £253 £641 £10,173 15.9 yrs £2,648
6 kW 5056 kWh 2022 kWh 3033 kWh £466 £303 £769 £12,207 15.9 yrs £3,178
7 kW 5898 kWh 2359 kWh 3539 kWh £544 £354 £897 £14,242 15.9 yrs £3,708
8 kW 6741 kWh 2696 kWh 4044 kWh £621 £404 £1,026 £16,276 15.9 yrs £4,237

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: £751, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1685 kWh 1011 kWh 674 kWh £233 £67 £300 £6,169 20.5 yrs £-162
3 kW 2528 kWh 1517 kWh 1011 kWh £349 £101 £451 £8,204 18.2 yrs £807
4 kW 3370 kWh 2022 kWh 1348 kWh £466 £135 £601 £10,238 17.0 yrs £1,777
5 kW 4213 kWh 2528 kWh 1685 kWh £582 £169 £751 £12,273 16.3 yrs £2,746
6 kW 5056 kWh 3033 kWh 2022 kWh £699 £202 £901 £14,307 15.9 yrs £3,715
7 kW 5898 kWh 3539 kWh 2359 kWh £815 £236 £1,051 £16,342 15.5 yrs £4,684
8 kW 6741 kWh 4044 kWh 2696 kWh £932 £270 £1,201 £18,376 15.3 yrs £5,653

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: £806, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1685 kWh 1180 kWh 506 kWh £272 £51 £322 £7,569 23.5 yrs £-1,122
3 kW 2528 kWh 1769 kWh 758 kWh £408 £76 £484 £9,604 19.9 yrs £67
4 kW 3370 kWh 2359 kWh 1011 kWh £544 £101 £645 £11,638 18.1 yrs £1,256
5 kW 4213 kWh 2949 kWh 1264 kWh £679 £126 £806 £13,673 17.0 yrs £2,445
6 kW 5056 kWh 3539 kWh 1517 kWh £815 £152 £967 £15,707 16.2 yrs £3,633
7 kW 5898 kWh 4129 kWh 1769 kWh £951 £177 £1,128 £17,742 15.7 yrs £4,822
8 kW 6741 kWh 4719 kWh 2022 kWh £1,087 £202 £1,289 £19,776 15.3 yrs £6,011

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: £822, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 18.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1685 kWh 1230 kWh 455 kWh £283 £45 £329 £9,319 28.3 yrs £-2,740
3 kW 2528 kWh 1845 kWh 682 kWh £425 £68 £493 £11,354 23.0 yrs £-1,486
4 kW 3370 kWh 2460 kWh 910 kWh £567 £91 £658 £13,388 20.4 yrs £-231
5 kW 4213 kWh 3075 kWh 1137 kWh £709 £114 £822 £15,423 18.8 yrs £1,024
6 kW 5056 kWh 3691 kWh 1365 kWh £850 £136 £987 £17,457 17.7 yrs £2,279
7 kW 5898 kWh 4306 kWh 1592 kWh £992 £159 £1,151 £19,492 16.9 yrs £3,534
8 kW 6741 kWh 4921 kWh 1820 kWh £1,134 £182 £1,316 £21,526 16.4 yrs £4,789

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: £833, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 20.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1685 kWh 1264 kWh 421 kWh £291 £42 £333 £11,069 33.2 yrs £-4,402
3 kW 2528 kWh 1896 kWh 632 kWh £437 £63 £500 £13,104 26.2 yrs £-3,104
4 kW 3370 kWh 2528 kWh 843 kWh £582 £84 £667 £15,138 22.7 yrs £-1,805
5 kW 4213 kWh 3160 kWh 1053 kWh £728 £105 £833 £17,173 20.6 yrs £-506
6 kW 5056 kWh 3792 kWh 1264 kWh £874 £126 £1,000 £19,207 19.2 yrs £793
7 kW 5898 kWh 4424 kWh 1475 kWh £1,019 £147 £1,167 £21,242 18.2 yrs £2,091
8 kW 6741 kWh 5056 kWh 1685 kWh £1,165 £169 £1,333 £23,276 17.5 yrs £3,390

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: £844, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 23.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1685 kWh 1298 kWh 388 kWh £299 £39 £338 £13,519 40.0 yrs £-6,765
3 kW 2528 kWh 1946 kWh 581 kWh £448 £58 £507 £15,554 30.7 yrs £-5,422
4 kW 3370 kWh 2595 kWh 775 kWh £598 £78 £675 £17,588 26.0 yrs £-4,079
5 kW 4213 kWh 3244 kWh 969 kWh £747 £97 £844 £19,623 23.2 yrs £-2,736
6 kW 5056 kWh 3893 kWh 1163 kWh £897 £116 £1,013 £21,657 21.4 yrs £-1,394
7 kW 5898 kWh 4542 kWh 1357 kWh £1,046 £136 £1,182 £23,692 20.0 yrs £-51
8 kW 6741 kWh 5190 kWh 1550 kWh £1,196 £155 £1,351 £25,726 19.0 yrs £1,292

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 OL12

Figures below are tailored to OL12 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1823 of 2182
4.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2646 of 2997
13.9 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£586 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2603 of 2997
32.5% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£191 fixed • ~£586 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.5% West −18.4%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in OL12

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 25 Jan 42 Feb 74 Mar 101 Apr 109 May 106 Jun 105 Jul 93 Aug 77 Sep 52 Oct 35 Nov 24 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 43.0% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: May / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 30 kWh per month; the average month produces around 70 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 121 kWh in winter, or 281 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
23.04p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
46.92p/day
Local Sunshine
843kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~843 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: 70% • Flats: 20% • Bungalows: 9% Based on 12,183 properties

Coverage

Rochdale (82%)|Rossendale (18%)

Areas Covered

Healey, Central Rochdale, Whitworth, Spotland & Falinge, Norden, Smallbridge & Firgrove, Wardle, Shore & West Littleborough + 3 more

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

OL16 (Rochdale)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~833 kWh/kWp · -1% vs OL12
OL11 (Rochdale)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~833 kWh/kWp · -1% vs OL12
OL15 (Rochdale)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~834 kWh/kWp · -1% vs OL12
OL10 (Rochdale)
≈5.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~851 kWh/kWp · +1% vs OL12
OL2 (Oldham)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~832 kWh/kWp · -1% vs OL12
OL13 (Rossendale)
≈8.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~838 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OL12

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT53 (Causeway Coast and Glens)
~842 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OL12
PA13 (Inverclyde)
~842 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OL12
PA98 (Renfrewshire)
~843 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OL12