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Solar panel cost in Southampton (SO1)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for SO1 (Southampton) 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
9.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£870
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,608
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, the current unit rate is 26.42p/kWh with a 49.70p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1050 kWh/kW — 49 above the regional median (1001).

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 1050 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
49.7p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1050 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: £870, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 9.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2100 kWh 840 kWh 1260 kWh £222 £126 £348 £3,256 9.4 yrs £3,704
3 kW 3150 kWh 1260 kWh 1890 kWh £333 £189 £522 £4,883 9.4 yrs £5,555
4 kW 4200 kWh 1680 kWh 2520 kWh £444 £252 £696 £6,511 9.4 yrs £7,407
5 kW 5250 kWh 2100 kWh 3150 kWh £555 £315 £870 £8,139 9.4 yrs £9,259
6 kW 6300 kWh 2520 kWh 3780 kWh £666 £378 £1,044 £9,767 9.4 yrs £11,111
7 kW 7350 kWh 2940 kWh 4410 kWh £777 £441 £1,218 £11,394 9.4 yrs £12,962
8 kW 8401 kWh 3360 kWh 5040 kWh £888 £504 £1,392 £13,022 9.4 yrs £14,814

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,042, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 9.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2100 kWh 1260 kWh 840 kWh £333 £84 £417 £5,356 12.8 yrs £2,983
3 kW 3150 kWh 1890 kWh 1260 kWh £499 £126 £625 £6,983 11.2 yrs £5,524
4 kW 4200 kWh 2520 kWh 1680 kWh £666 £168 £834 £8,611 10.3 yrs £8,066
5 kW 5250 kWh 3150 kWh 2100 kWh £832 £210 £1,042 £10,239 9.8 yrs £10,607
6 kW 6300 kWh 3780 kWh 2520 kWh £999 £252 £1,251 £11,867 9.5 yrs £13,149
7 kW 7350 kWh 4410 kWh 2940 kWh £1,165 £294 £1,459 £13,494 9.2 yrs £15,690
8 kW 8401 kWh 5040 kWh 3360 kWh £1,332 £336 £1,668 £15,122 9.1 yrs £18,232

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,129, Upfront: £11,639, 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 2100 kWh 1470 kWh 630 kWh £388 £63 £451 £6,756 15.0 yrs £2,273
3 kW 3150 kWh 2205 kWh 945 kWh £583 £95 £677 £8,383 12.4 yrs £5,159
4 kW 4200 kWh 2940 kWh 1260 kWh £777 £126 £903 £10,011 11.1 yrs £8,045
5 kW 5250 kWh 3675 kWh 1575 kWh £971 £158 £1,129 £11,639 10.3 yrs £10,931
6 kW 6300 kWh 4410 kWh 1890 kWh £1,165 £189 £1,354 £13,267 9.8 yrs £13,818
7 kW 7350 kWh 5145 kWh 2205 kWh £1,359 £221 £1,580 £14,894 9.4 yrs £16,704
8 kW 8401 kWh 5880 kWh 2520 kWh £1,554 £252 £1,806 £16,522 9.2 yrs £19,590

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,154, Upfront: £13,389, 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 2100 kWh 1533 kWh 567 kWh £405 £57 £462 £8,506 18.4 yrs £729
3 kW 3150 kWh 2300 kWh 851 kWh £608 £85 £693 £10,133 14.6 yrs £3,719
4 kW 4200 kWh 3066 kWh 1134 kWh £810 £113 £923 £11,761 12.7 yrs £6,709
5 kW 5250 kWh 3833 kWh 1418 kWh £1,013 £142 £1,154 £13,389 11.6 yrs £9,699
6 kW 6300 kWh 4599 kWh 1701 kWh £1,215 £170 £1,385 £15,017 10.8 yrs £12,688
7 kW 7350 kWh 5366 kWh 1985 kWh £1,418 £198 £1,616 £16,644 10.3 yrs £15,678
8 kW 8401 kWh 6132 kWh 2268 kWh £1,620 £227 £1,847 £18,272 9.9 yrs £18,668

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,172, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2100 kWh 1575 kWh 525 kWh £416 £53 £469 £10,256 21.9 yrs £-883
3 kW 3150 kWh 2363 kWh 788 kWh £624 £79 £703 £11,883 16.9 yrs £2,176
4 kW 4200 kWh 3150 kWh 1050 kWh £832 £105 £937 £13,511 14.4 yrs £5,235
5 kW 5250 kWh 3938 kWh 1313 kWh £1,040 £131 £1,172 £15,139 12.9 yrs £8,294
6 kW 6300 kWh 4725 kWh 1575 kWh £1,248 £158 £1,406 £16,767 11.9 yrs £11,352
7 kW 7350 kWh 5513 kWh 1838 kWh £1,456 £184 £1,640 £18,394 11.2 yrs £14,411
8 kW 8401 kWh 6300 kWh 2100 kWh £1,665 £210 £1,875 £20,022 10.7 yrs £17,470

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,189, Upfront: £17,589, 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 2100 kWh 1617 kWh 483 kWh £427 £48 £476 £12,706 26.7 yrs £-3,195
3 kW 3150 kWh 2426 kWh 725 kWh £641 £72 £713 £14,333 20.1 yrs £-67
4 kW 4200 kWh 3234 kWh 966 kWh £854 £97 £951 £15,961 16.8 yrs £3,061
5 kW 5250 kWh 4043 kWh 1208 kWh £1,068 £121 £1,189 £17,589 14.8 yrs £6,188
6 kW 6300 kWh 4851 kWh 1449 kWh £1,282 £145 £1,427 £19,217 13.5 yrs £9,316
7 kW 7350 kWh 5660 kWh 1691 kWh £1,495 £169 £1,664 £20,844 12.5 yrs £12,444
8 kW 8401 kWh 6468 kWh 1932 kWh £1,709 £193 £1,902 £22,472 11.8 yrs £15,571

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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 Southampton

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.

Compare solar quotes before you sign

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 SO1

Figures below are tailored to SO1 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #246 of 2996
9.4 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£870 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #692 of 2996
20.8% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£181 fixed • ~£870 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.7% West −20.8%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in SO1

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 41 Jan 55 Feb 90 Mar 119 Apr 126 May 129 Jun 128 Jul 113 Aug 97 Sep 69 Oct 48 Nov 36 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 50.2% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: Jun / 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 88 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 176 kWh in winter, or 350 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.42p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.70p/day
Local Sunshine
1050kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1050 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

Southampton (94%)|Test Valley (6%)

Areas Covered

Bargate, Freemantle, Shirley, Millbrook, Banister & Polygon, Redbridge, Bassett, Coxford + 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 Southern

SO15 (Southampton)
≈0.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,032 kWh/kWp · -2% vs SO1
SO16 (Southampton)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,031 kWh/kWp · -2% vs SO1
SO9 (Southampton)
≈2.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,050 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO1
SO17 (Southampton)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,031 kWh/kWp · -2% vs SO1
SO14 (Southampton)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,037 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SO1
SO2 (Southampton)
≈4.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,031 kWh/kWp · -2% vs SO1

Similar sunshine across the UK

CM8 (Braintree)
~1,050 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SO1
IP4 (Ipswich)
~1,050 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO1
IP7 (Babergh)
~1,050 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO1