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Solar panel cost in Swansea (SA1)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for SA1 (Swansea) 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
11.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£7,307
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£650
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,934
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 South Wales, the current unit rate is 26.33p/kWh with a 57.84p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 982 kWh/kW — 14 above the regional median (968).

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 982 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.3p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.3p/kWh
Standing charge
57.8p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
982 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: £812, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 11.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1965 kWh 786 kWh 1179 kWh £207 £118 £325 £3,654 11.2 yrs £2,843
3 kW 2947 kWh 1179 kWh 1768 kWh £310 £177 £487 £5,481 11.2 yrs £4,264
4 kW 3930 kWh 1572 kWh 2358 kWh £414 £236 £650 £7,307 11.2 yrs £5,686
5 kW 4912 kWh 1965 kWh 2947 kWh £517 £295 £812 £9,134 11.2 yrs £7,107
6 kW 5895 kWh 2358 kWh 3537 kWh £621 £354 £974 £10,961 11.2 yrs £8,529
7 kW 6877 kWh 2751 kWh 4126 kWh £724 £413 £1,137 £12,788 11.2 yrs £9,950
8 kW 7859 kWh 3144 kWh 4716 kWh £828 £472 £1,299 £14,615 11.2 yrs £11,372

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: £973, Upfront: £11,234, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1965 kWh 1179 kWh 786 kWh £310 £79 £389 £5,754 14.8 yrs £2,026
3 kW 2947 kWh 1768 kWh 1179 kWh £466 £118 £584 £7,581 13.0 yrs £4,090
4 kW 3930 kWh 2358 kWh 1572 kWh £621 £157 £778 £9,407 12.1 yrs £6,153
5 kW 4912 kWh 2947 kWh 1965 kWh £776 £196 £973 £11,234 11.6 yrs £8,216
6 kW 5895 kWh 3537 kWh 2358 kWh £931 £236 £1,167 £13,061 11.2 yrs £10,279
7 kW 6877 kWh 4126 kWh 2751 kWh £1,086 £275 £1,362 £14,888 10.9 yrs £12,342
8 kW 7859 kWh 4716 kWh 3144 kWh £1,242 £314 £1,556 £16,715 10.7 yrs £14,406

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: £1,053, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1965 kWh 1375 kWh 589 kWh £362 £59 £421 £7,154 17.0 yrs £1,268
3 kW 2947 kWh 2063 kWh 884 kWh £543 £88 £632 £8,981 14.2 yrs £3,652
4 kW 3930 kWh 2751 kWh 1179 kWh £724 £118 £842 £10,807 12.8 yrs £6,036
5 kW 4912 kWh 3439 kWh 1474 kWh £905 £147 £1,053 £12,634 12.0 yrs £8,420
6 kW 5895 kWh 4126 kWh 1768 kWh £1,086 £177 £1,263 £14,461 11.4 yrs £10,804
7 kW 6877 kWh 4814 kWh 2063 kWh £1,268 £206 £1,474 £16,288 11.1 yrs £13,188
8 kW 7859 kWh 5502 kWh 2358 kWh £1,449 £236 £1,684 £18,115 10.8 yrs £15,572

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: £1,077, Upfront: £14,384, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1965 kWh 1434 kWh 531 kWh £378 £53 £431 £8,904 20.7 yrs £-289
3 kW 2947 kWh 2152 kWh 796 kWh £566 £80 £646 £10,731 16.6 yrs £2,191
4 kW 3930 kWh 2869 kWh 1061 kWh £755 £106 £861 £12,557 14.6 yrs £4,671
5 kW 4912 kWh 3586 kWh 1326 kWh £944 £133 £1,077 £14,384 13.4 yrs £7,152
6 kW 5895 kWh 4303 kWh 1592 kWh £1,133 £159 £1,292 £16,211 12.5 yrs £9,632
7 kW 6877 kWh 5020 kWh 1857 kWh £1,322 £186 £1,508 £18,038 12.0 yrs £12,112
8 kW 7859 kWh 5737 kWh 2122 kWh £1,511 £212 £1,723 £19,865 11.5 yrs £14,592

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: £1,093, Upfront: £16,134, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1965 kWh 1474 kWh 491 kWh £388 £49 £437 £10,654 24.4 yrs £-1,911
3 kW 2947 kWh 2210 kWh 737 kWh £582 £74 £656 £12,481 19.0 yrs £633
4 kW 3930 kWh 2947 kWh 982 kWh £776 £98 £874 £14,307 16.4 yrs £3,178
5 kW 4912 kWh 3684 kWh 1228 kWh £970 £123 £1,093 £16,134 14.8 yrs £5,722
6 kW 5895 kWh 4421 kWh 1474 kWh £1,164 £147 £1,311 £17,961 13.7 yrs £8,267
7 kW 6877 kWh 5158 kWh 1719 kWh £1,358 £172 £1,530 £19,788 12.9 yrs £10,811
8 kW 7859 kWh 5895 kWh 1965 kWh £1,552 £196 £1,749 £21,615 12.4 yrs £13,356

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: £1,109, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1965 kWh 1513 kWh 452 kWh £398 £45 £444 £13,104 29.5 yrs £-4,233
3 kW 2947 kWh 2269 kWh 678 kWh £598 £68 £665 £14,931 22.4 yrs £-1,624
4 kW 3930 kWh 3026 kWh 904 kWh £797 £90 £887 £16,757 18.9 yrs £985
5 kW 4912 kWh 3782 kWh 1130 kWh £996 £113 £1,109 £18,584 16.8 yrs £3,593
6 kW 5895 kWh 4539 kWh 1356 kWh £1,195 £136 £1,331 £20,411 15.3 yrs £6,202
7 kW 6877 kWh 5295 kWh 1582 kWh £1,394 £158 £1,552 £22,238 14.3 yrs £8,811
8 kW 7859 kWh 6052 kWh 1808 kWh £1,593 £181 £1,774 £24,065 13.6 yrs £11,419

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 Swansea

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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Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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Insights for SA1

Figures below are tailored to SA1 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1992 of 2182
4.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2230 of 2996
11.3 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£649 /yr • £7,307 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2498 of 2996
32.5% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£211 fixed • ~£649 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.2% West −20.9%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in SA1

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 35 Jan 51 Feb 85 Mar 114 Apr 124 May 123 Jun 119 Jul 107 Aug 90 Sep 61 Oct 41 Nov 32 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 48.1% 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 39 kWh per month; the average month produces around 82 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 157 kWh in winter, or 327 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.33p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
57.84p/day
Local Sunshine
982kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~982 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: 54% • Flats: 43% • Bungalows: 1% Based on 16,984 properties

Coverage

Swansea (99%)|Neath Port Talbot (1%)

Areas Covered

Castle, Llansamlet, Waterfront, Uplands, Bôn-y-maen, Landore, Townhill, St Thomas + 4 more

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 South Wales

SA80 (Swansea)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~982 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SA1
SA5 (Swansea)
≈3.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SA1
SA2 (Swansea)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~988 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SA1
SA99 (Swansea)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SA1
SA6 (Swansea)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SA1
SA7 (Swansea)
≈5.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SA1

Similar sunshine across the UK

DN34 (North East Lincolnshire)
~982 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SA1
GL7 (Cotswold)
~982 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SA1
HP19 (Buckinghamshire)
~982 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SA1