Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SO50 (Eastleigh)

See if solar pays off for you in Eastleigh — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

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
12.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£849
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,056
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 Southern, the current unit rate is 26.48p/kWh with a 44.62p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1024 kWh/kW — 22 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 1024 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
44.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1024 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: £849, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2047 kWh 819 kWh 1228 kWh £217 £123 £340 £4,069 12.0 yrs £2,724
3 kW 3071 kWh 1228 kWh 1842 kWh £325 £184 £509 £6,104 12.0 yrs £4,086
4 kW 4094 kWh 1638 kWh 2457 kWh £434 £246 £679 £8,138 12.0 yrs £5,448
5 kW 5118 kWh 2047 kWh 3071 kWh £542 £307 £849 £10,173 12.0 yrs £6,810
6 kW 6141 kWh 2457 kWh 3685 kWh £650 £368 £1,019 £12,207 12.0 yrs £8,172
7 kW 7165 kWh 2866 kWh 4299 kWh £759 £430 £1,189 £14,242 12.0 yrs £9,535
8 kW 8188 kWh 3275 kWh 4913 kWh £867 £491 £1,359 £16,276 12.0 yrs £10,897

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: £1,018, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2047 kWh 1228 kWh 819 kWh £325 £82 £407 £6,169 15.2 yrs £1,974
3 kW 3071 kWh 1842 kWh 1228 kWh £488 £123 £611 £8,204 13.4 yrs £4,010
4 kW 4094 kWh 2457 kWh 1638 kWh £650 £164 £814 £10,238 12.6 yrs £6,047
5 kW 5118 kWh 3071 kWh 2047 kWh £813 £205 £1,018 £12,273 12.1 yrs £8,084
6 kW 6141 kWh 3685 kWh 2457 kWh £976 £246 £1,221 £14,307 11.7 yrs £10,121
7 kW 7165 kWh 4299 kWh 2866 kWh £1,138 £287 £1,425 £16,342 11.5 yrs £12,158
8 kW 8188 kWh 4913 kWh 3275 kWh £1,301 £328 £1,629 £18,376 11.3 yrs £14,194

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: £1,102, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2047 kWh 1433 kWh 614 kWh £379 £61 £441 £7,569 17.2 yrs £1,248
3 kW 3071 kWh 2149 kWh 921 kWh £569 £92 £661 £9,604 14.5 yrs £3,623
4 kW 4094 kWh 2866 kWh 1228 kWh £759 £123 £882 £11,638 13.2 yrs £5,997
5 kW 5118 kWh 3582 kWh 1535 kWh £949 £154 £1,102 £13,673 12.4 yrs £8,371
6 kW 6141 kWh 4299 kWh 1842 kWh £1,138 £184 £1,323 £15,707 11.9 yrs £10,745
7 kW 7165 kWh 5015 kWh 2149 kWh £1,328 £215 £1,543 £17,742 11.5 yrs £13,119
8 kW 8188 kWh 5732 kWh 2457 kWh £1,518 £246 £1,763 £19,776 11.2 yrs £15,493

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: £1,127, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2047 kWh 1494 kWh 553 kWh £396 £55 £451 £9,319 20.7 yrs £-299
3 kW 3071 kWh 2242 kWh 829 kWh £594 £83 £676 £11,354 16.8 yrs £2,176
4 kW 4094 kWh 2989 kWh 1105 kWh £791 £111 £902 £13,388 14.8 yrs £4,652
5 kW 5118 kWh 3736 kWh 1382 kWh £989 £138 £1,127 £15,423 13.7 yrs £7,127
6 kW 6141 kWh 4483 kWh 1658 kWh £1,187 £166 £1,353 £17,457 12.9 yrs £9,602
7 kW 7165 kWh 5230 kWh 1935 kWh £1,385 £193 £1,578 £19,492 12.3 yrs £12,078
8 kW 8188 kWh 5978 kWh 2211 kWh £1,583 £221 £1,804 £21,526 11.9 yrs £14,553

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: £1,144, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2047 kWh 1535 kWh 512 kWh £407 £51 £458 £11,069 24.2 yrs £-1,914
3 kW 3071 kWh 2303 kWh 768 kWh £610 £77 £687 £13,104 19.1 yrs £629
4 kW 4094 kWh 3071 kWh 1024 kWh £813 £102 £915 £15,138 16.5 yrs £3,171
5 kW 5118 kWh 3838 kWh 1279 kWh £1,016 £128 £1,144 £17,173 15.0 yrs £5,714
6 kW 6141 kWh 4606 kWh 1535 kWh £1,220 £154 £1,373 £19,207 14.0 yrs £8,257
7 kW 7165 kWh 5374 kWh 1791 kWh £1,423 £179 £1,602 £21,242 13.3 yrs £10,800
8 kW 8188 kWh 6141 kWh 2047 kWh £1,626 £205 £1,831 £23,276 12.7 yrs £13,343

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: £1,161, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2047 kWh 1576 kWh 471 kWh £417 £47 £464 £13,519 29.1 yrs £-4,229
3 kW 3071 kWh 2364 kWh 706 kWh £626 £71 £697 £15,554 22.3 yrs £-1,619
4 kW 4094 kWh 3153 kWh 942 kWh £835 £94 £929 £17,588 18.9 yrs £991
5 kW 5118 kWh 3941 kWh 1177 kWh £1,043 £118 £1,161 £19,623 16.9 yrs £3,602
6 kW 6141 kWh 4729 kWh 1413 kWh £1,252 £141 £1,393 £21,657 15.5 yrs £6,212
7 kW 7165 kWh 5517 kWh 1648 kWh £1,461 £165 £1,626 £23,692 14.6 yrs £8,822
8 kW 8188 kWh 6305 kWh 1883 kWh £1,670 £188 £1,858 £25,726 13.8 yrs £11,433

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 SO50

Figures below are tailored to SO50 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1232 of 2182
4.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #441 of 2997
10.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£976 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #665 of 2997
16.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£163 fixed • ~£976 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.48p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
44.62p/day
Local Sunshine
1024kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1024 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

Houses: 66% • Flats: 27% • Bungalows: 6% Based on 13,843 properties

Coverage

Eastleigh (98%)|Winchester (1%)|Test Valley (1%)

Areas Covered

Eastleigh North, Eastleigh Central, Bishopstoke, Fair Oak & Horton Heath, Eastleigh South, Colden Common and Twyford, Chilworth, Nursling & Rownhams + 3 more

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q4 2025

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 Southern

SO5 (Eastleigh)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,022 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO50
SO53 (Eastleigh)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,024 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SO50
SO97 (Eastleigh)
≈2.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,038 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SO50
SO17 (Southampton)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,031 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SO50
SO18 (Southampton)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,037 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SO50
SO2 (Southampton)
≈6.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,031 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SO50

Similar sunshine across the UK

TN3 (Tunbridge Wells)
~1,023 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO50
TN8 (Sevenoaks)
~1,024 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SO50
TN14 (Sevenoaks)
~1,023 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO50