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Solar panel cost in Plymouth (PL5)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for PL5 (Plymouth) 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
10.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£7,307
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£712
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,503
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 Southern Western, the current unit rate is 26.39p/kWh with a 57.89p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1076 kWh/kW — 62 above the regional median (1013).

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 1076 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.4p/kWh
Standing charge
57.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1076 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: £891, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 10.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2152 kWh 861 kWh 1291 kWh £227 £129 £356 £3,654 10.3 yrs £3,471
3 kW 3227 kWh 1291 kWh 1936 kWh £341 £194 £534 £5,481 10.3 yrs £5,206
4 kW 4303 kWh 1721 kWh 2582 kWh £454 £258 £712 £7,307 10.3 yrs £6,941
5 kW 5379 kWh 2152 kWh 3227 kWh £568 £323 £891 £9,134 10.3 yrs £8,676
6 kW 6455 kWh 2582 kWh 3873 kWh £681 £387 £1,069 £10,961 10.3 yrs £10,412
7 kW 7530 kWh 3012 kWh 4518 kWh £795 £452 £1,247 £12,788 10.3 yrs £12,147
8 kW 8606 kWh 3442 kWh 5164 kWh £908 £516 £1,425 £14,615 10.3 yrs £13,882

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: £1,067, Upfront: £11,234, Break-even: 10.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2152 kWh 1291 kWh 861 kWh £341 £86 £427 £5,754 13.5 yrs £2,781
3 kW 3227 kWh 1936 kWh 1291 kWh £511 £129 £640 £7,581 11.8 yrs £5,222
4 kW 4303 kWh 2582 kWh 1721 kWh £681 £172 £853 £9,407 11.0 yrs £7,662
5 kW 5379 kWh 3227 kWh 2152 kWh £852 £215 £1,067 £11,234 10.5 yrs £10,103
6 kW 6455 kWh 3873 kWh 2582 kWh £1,022 £258 £1,280 £13,061 10.2 yrs £12,543
7 kW 7530 kWh 4518 kWh 3012 kWh £1,192 £301 £1,494 £14,888 10.0 yrs £14,984
8 kW 8606 kWh 5164 kWh 3442 kWh £1,363 £344 £1,707 £16,715 9.8 yrs £17,425

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: £1,155, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 10.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2152 kWh 1506 kWh 645 kWh £397 £65 £462 £7,154 15.5 yrs £2,086
3 kW 3227 kWh 2259 kWh 968 kWh £596 £97 £693 £8,981 13.0 yrs £4,880
4 kW 4303 kWh 3012 kWh 1291 kWh £795 £129 £924 £10,807 11.7 yrs £7,673
5 kW 5379 kWh 3765 kWh 1614 kWh £994 £161 £1,155 £12,634 10.9 yrs £10,466
6 kW 6455 kWh 4518 kWh 1936 kWh £1,192 £194 £1,386 £14,461 10.4 yrs £13,259
7 kW 7530 kWh 5271 kWh 2259 kWh £1,391 £226 £1,617 £16,288 10.1 yrs £16,052
8 kW 8606 kWh 6024 kWh 2582 kWh £1,590 £258 £1,848 £18,115 9.8 yrs £18,846

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: £1,181, Upfront: £14,384, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2152 kWh 1571 kWh 581 kWh £414 £58 £473 £8,904 18.8 yrs £548
3 kW 3227 kWh 2356 kWh 871 kWh £622 £87 £709 £10,731 15.1 yrs £3,447
4 kW 4303 kWh 3141 kWh 1162 kWh £829 £116 £945 £12,557 13.3 yrs £6,346
5 kW 5379 kWh 3927 kWh 1452 kWh £1,036 £145 £1,181 £14,384 12.2 yrs £9,245
6 kW 6455 kWh 4712 kWh 1743 kWh £1,243 £174 £1,418 £16,211 11.4 yrs £12,144
7 kW 7530 kWh 5497 kWh 2033 kWh £1,451 £203 £1,654 £18,038 10.9 yrs £15,043
8 kW 8606 kWh 6283 kWh 2324 kWh £1,658 £232 £1,890 £19,865 10.5 yrs £17,942

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: £1,199, Upfront: £16,134, 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 2152 kWh 1614 kWh 538 kWh £426 £54 £480 £10,654 22.2 yrs £-1,061
3 kW 3227 kWh 2421 kWh 807 kWh £639 £81 £719 £12,481 17.3 yrs £1,909
4 kW 4303 kWh 3227 kWh 1076 kWh £852 £108 £959 £14,307 14.9 yrs £4,878
5 kW 5379 kWh 4034 kWh 1345 kWh £1,065 £134 £1,199 £16,134 13.5 yrs £7,848
6 kW 6455 kWh 4841 kWh 1614 kWh £1,278 £161 £1,439 £17,961 12.5 yrs £10,817
7 kW 7530 kWh 5648 kWh 1883 kWh £1,490 £188 £1,679 £19,788 11.8 yrs £13,787
8 kW 8606 kWh 6455 kWh 2152 kWh £1,703 £215 £1,919 £21,615 11.3 yrs £16,756

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: £1,217, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2152 kWh 1657 kWh 495 kWh £437 £49 £487 £13,104 26.9 yrs £-3,370
3 kW 3227 kWh 2485 kWh 742 kWh £656 £74 £730 £14,931 20.5 yrs £-330
4 kW 4303 kWh 3313 kWh 990 kWh £874 £99 £973 £16,757 17.2 yrs £2,710
5 kW 5379 kWh 4142 kWh 1237 kWh £1,093 £124 £1,217 £18,584 15.3 yrs £5,750
6 kW 6455 kWh 4970 kWh 1485 kWh £1,312 £148 £1,460 £20,411 14.0 yrs £8,790
7 kW 7530 kWh 5798 kWh 1732 kWh £1,530 £173 £1,703 £22,238 13.1 yrs £11,830
8 kW 8606 kWh 6627 kWh 1979 kWh £1,749 £198 £1,947 £24,065 12.4 yrs £14,870

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 Plymouth

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 PL5

Figures below are tailored to PL5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1742 of 2182
4.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1324 of 2996
10.2 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£713 /yr • £7,307 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2119 of 2996
29.6% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£211 fixed • ~£713 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.2% West −21.2%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in PL5

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 40 Jan 57 Feb 92 Mar 123 Apr 132 May 132 Jun 130 Jul 120 Aug 99 Sep 68 Oct 47 Nov 35 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 49.0% 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 44 kWh per month; the average month produces around 90 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 176 kWh in winter, or 359 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.39p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
57.89p/day
Local Sunshine
1076kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1076 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: 68% • Flats: 22% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 11,883 properties

Coverage

Plymouth (99%)|South Hams (1%)

Areas Covered

Honicknowle, St Budeaux, Budshead, Eggbuckland, Ham, Southway, Bickleigh & Cornwood

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 Southern Western

PL2 (Plymouth)
≈2.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,076 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL5
PL6 (Plymouth)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,042 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PL5
PL3 (Plymouth)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,075 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL5
PL12 (Cornwall)
≈4.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,041 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PL5
PL4 (Plymouth)
≈4.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,087 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PL5
PL1 (Plymouth)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,087 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PL5

Similar sunshine across the UK

SO31 (Fareham)
~1,076 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PL5
TN18 (Tunbridge Wells)
~1,076 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PL5
BH10 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
~1,075 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL5