Solar panel cost in Tameside (OL7)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for OL7 (Tameside) 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

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System Size

Roof Direction

Battery Storage

Export Value

Your Numbers

Break-even
13.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£7,307
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£556
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,596
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

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 845 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)
845 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: £695, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1690 kWh 676 kWh 1014 kWh £177 £101 £278 £3,654 13.1 yrs £1,907
3 kW 2535 kWh 1014 kWh 1521 kWh £265 £152 £417 £5,481 13.1 yrs £2,861
4 kW 3380 kWh 1352 kWh 2028 kWh £353 £203 £556 £7,307 13.1 yrs £3,815
5 kW 4225 kWh 1690 kWh 2535 kWh £442 £254 £695 £9,134 13.1 yrs £4,769
6 kW 5070 kWh 2028 kWh 3042 kWh £530 £304 £834 £10,961 13.1 yrs £5,722
7 kW 5915 kWh 2366 kWh 3549 kWh £618 £355 £973 £12,788 13.1 yrs £6,676
8 kW 6760 kWh 2704 kWh 4056 kWh £707 £406 £1,112 £14,615 13.1 yrs £7,630

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: £831, Upfront: £11,234, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1690 kWh 1014 kWh 676 kWh £265 £68 £333 £5,754 17.3 yrs £898
3 kW 2535 kWh 1521 kWh 1014 kWh £397 £101 £499 £7,581 15.2 yrs £2,397
4 kW 3380 kWh 2028 kWh 1352 kWh £530 £135 £665 £9,407 14.1 yrs £3,896
5 kW 4225 kWh 2535 kWh 1690 kWh £662 £169 £831 £11,234 13.5 yrs £5,395
6 kW 5070 kWh 3042 kWh 2028 kWh £795 £203 £998 £13,061 13.1 yrs £6,894
7 kW 5915 kWh 3549 kWh 2366 kWh £927 £237 £1,164 £14,888 12.8 yrs £8,393
8 kW 6760 kWh 4056 kWh 2704 kWh £1,060 £270 £1,330 £16,715 12.6 yrs £9,892

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: £900, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1690 kWh 1183 kWh 507 kWh £309 £51 £360 £7,154 19.9 yrs £43
3 kW 2535 kWh 1775 kWh 761 kWh £464 £76 £540 £8,981 16.6 yrs £1,815
4 kW 3380 kWh 2366 kWh 1014 kWh £618 £101 £720 £10,807 15.0 yrs £3,586
5 kW 4225 kWh 2958 kWh 1268 kWh £773 £127 £900 £12,634 14.0 yrs £5,358
6 kW 5070 kWh 3549 kWh 1521 kWh £927 £152 £1,080 £14,461 13.4 yrs £7,130
7 kW 5915 kWh 4141 kWh 1775 kWh £1,082 £177 £1,259 £16,288 12.9 yrs £8,901
8 kW 6760 kWh 4732 kWh 2028 kWh £1,237 £203 £1,439 £18,115 12.6 yrs £10,673

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: £920, Upfront: £14,384, 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 1690 kWh 1234 kWh 456 kWh £322 £46 £368 £8,904 24.2 yrs £-1,543
3 kW 2535 kWh 1851 kWh 684 kWh £484 £68 £552 £10,731 19.4 yrs £310
4 kW 3380 kWh 2468 kWh 913 kWh £645 £91 £736 £12,557 17.1 yrs £2,164
5 kW 4225 kWh 3084 kWh 1141 kWh £806 £114 £920 £14,384 15.6 yrs £4,017
6 kW 5070 kWh 3701 kWh 1369 kWh £967 £137 £1,104 £16,211 14.7 yrs £5,870
7 kW 5915 kWh 4318 kWh 1597 kWh £1,128 £160 £1,288 £18,038 14.0 yrs £7,724
8 kW 6760 kWh 4935 kWh 1825 kWh £1,290 £183 £1,472 £19,865 13.5 yrs £9,577

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: £934, Upfront: £16,134, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1690 kWh 1268 kWh 423 kWh £331 £42 £373 £10,654 28.5 yrs £-3,184
3 kW 2535 kWh 1901 kWh 634 kWh £497 £63 £560 £12,481 22.3 yrs £-1,276
4 kW 3380 kWh 2535 kWh 845 kWh £662 £85 £747 £14,307 19.2 yrs £632
5 kW 4225 kWh 3169 kWh 1056 kWh £828 £106 £934 £16,134 17.3 yrs £2,540
6 kW 5070 kWh 3803 kWh 1268 kWh £994 £127 £1,120 £17,961 16.0 yrs £4,447
7 kW 5915 kWh 4437 kWh 1479 kWh £1,159 £148 £1,307 £19,788 15.1 yrs £6,355
8 kW 6760 kWh 5070 kWh 1690 kWh £1,325 £169 £1,494 £21,615 14.5 yrs £8,263

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: £947, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 19.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1690 kWh 1301 kWh 389 kWh £340 £39 £379 £13,104 34.6 yrs £-5,525
3 kW 2535 kWh 1952 kWh 583 kWh £510 £58 £568 £14,931 26.3 yrs £-3,563
4 kW 3380 kWh 2603 kWh 777 kWh £680 £78 £758 £16,757 22.1 yrs £-1,600
5 kW 4225 kWh 3253 kWh 972 kWh £850 £97 £947 £18,584 19.6 yrs £362
6 kW 5070 kWh 3904 kWh 1166 kWh £1,020 £117 £1,137 £20,411 18.0 yrs £2,325
7 kW 5915 kWh 4555 kWh 1361 kWh £1,190 £136 £1,326 £22,238 16.8 yrs £4,287
8 kW 6760 kWh 5206 kWh 1555 kWh £1,360 £155 £1,516 £24,065 15.9 yrs £6,249

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 Tameside

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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Seasonal solar output in OL7

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 25 Jan 42 Feb 74 Mar 100 Apr 108 May 107 Jun 104 Jul 93 Aug 78 Sep 54 Oct 35 Nov 26 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 43.7% 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 31 kWh per month; the average month produces around 70 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 123 kWh in winter, or 282 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.13p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.61p/day
Local Sunshine
845kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~845 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: 69% • Flats: 27% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 4,714 properties

Coverage

Tameside (100%)

Areas Covered

St Peter's, Ashton Waterloo, Audenshaw, Droylsden East

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.