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Solar panel cost in Test Valley (SO51)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for SO51 (Test Valley) 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
9.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£9,767
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,009
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,449
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 1015 kWh/kW — 13 above the regional median (1001).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1015 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)
1015 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: £841, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 9.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2029 kWh 812 kWh 1218 kWh £214 £122 £336 £3,256 9.7 yrs £3,469
3 kW 3044 kWh 1218 kWh 1826 kWh £322 £183 £504 £4,883 9.7 yrs £5,203
4 kW 4059 kWh 1623 kWh 2435 kWh £429 £244 £672 £6,511 9.7 yrs £6,937
5 kW 5073 kWh 2029 kWh 3044 kWh £536 £304 £841 £8,139 9.7 yrs £8,672
6 kW 6088 kWh 2435 kWh 3653 kWh £643 £365 £1,009 £9,767 9.7 yrs £10,406
7 kW 7102 kWh 2841 kWh 4261 kWh £751 £426 £1,177 £11,394 9.7 yrs £12,140
8 kW 8117 kWh 3247 kWh 4870 kWh £858 £487 £1,345 £13,022 9.7 yrs £13,875

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: £1,007, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 10.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2029 kWh 1218 kWh 812 kWh £322 £81 £403 £5,356 13.3 yrs £2,701
3 kW 3044 kWh 1826 kWh 1218 kWh £483 £122 £604 £6,983 11.6 yrs £5,102
4 kW 4059 kWh 2435 kWh 1623 kWh £643 £162 £806 £8,611 10.7 yrs £7,503
5 kW 5073 kWh 3044 kWh 2029 kWh £804 £203 £1,007 £10,239 10.2 yrs £9,904
6 kW 6088 kWh 3653 kWh 2435 kWh £965 £244 £1,209 £11,867 9.8 yrs £12,304
7 kW 7102 kWh 4261 kWh 2841 kWh £1,126 £284 £1,410 £13,494 9.6 yrs £14,705
8 kW 8117 kWh 4870 kWh 3247 kWh £1,287 £325 £1,611 £15,122 9.4 yrs £17,106

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: £1,090, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 10.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2029 kWh 1420 kWh 609 kWh £375 £61 £436 £6,756 15.5 yrs £1,968
3 kW 3044 kWh 2131 kWh 913 kWh £563 £91 £654 £8,383 12.8 yrs £4,702
4 kW 4059 kWh 2841 kWh 1218 kWh £751 £122 £872 £10,011 11.5 yrs £7,436
5 kW 5073 kWh 3551 kWh 1522 kWh £938 £152 £1,090 £11,639 10.7 yrs £10,170
6 kW 6088 kWh 4261 kWh 1826 kWh £1,126 £183 £1,309 £13,267 10.1 yrs £12,904
7 kW 7102 kWh 4972 kWh 2131 kWh £1,314 £213 £1,527 £14,894 9.8 yrs £15,638
8 kW 8117 kWh 5682 kWh 2435 kWh £1,501 £244 £1,745 £16,522 9.5 yrs £18,371

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: £1,115, Upfront: £13,389, 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 2029 kWh 1481 kWh 548 kWh £391 £55 £446 £8,506 19.1 yrs £418
3 kW 3044 kWh 2222 kWh 822 kWh £587 £82 £669 £10,133 15.1 yrs £3,252
4 kW 4059 kWh 2963 kWh 1096 kWh £783 £110 £892 £11,761 13.2 yrs £6,086
5 kW 5073 kWh 3703 kWh 1370 kWh £978 £137 £1,115 £13,389 12.0 yrs £8,919
6 kW 6088 kWh 4444 kWh 1644 kWh £1,174 £164 £1,338 £15,017 11.2 yrs £11,753
7 kW 7102 kWh 5185 kWh 1918 kWh £1,370 £192 £1,562 £16,644 10.7 yrs £14,587
8 kW 8117 kWh 5925 kWh 2192 kWh £1,566 £219 £1,785 £18,272 10.2 yrs £17,421

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: £1,132, Upfront: £15,139, 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 2029 kWh 1522 kWh 507 kWh £402 £51 £453 £10,256 22.6 yrs £-1,199
3 kW 3044 kWh 2283 kWh 761 kWh £603 £76 £679 £11,883 17.5 yrs £1,702
4 kW 4059 kWh 3044 kWh 1015 kWh £804 £101 £906 £13,511 14.9 yrs £4,602
5 kW 5073 kWh 3805 kWh 1268 kWh £1,005 £127 £1,132 £15,139 13.4 yrs £7,503
6 kW 6088 kWh 4566 kWh 1522 kWh £1,206 £152 £1,358 £16,767 12.3 yrs £10,403
7 kW 7102 kWh 5327 kWh 1776 kWh £1,407 £178 £1,585 £18,394 11.6 yrs £13,304
8 kW 8117 kWh 6088 kWh 2029 kWh £1,608 £203 £1,811 £20,022 11.1 yrs £16,204

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: £1,149, Upfront: £17,589, 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 2029 kWh 1563 kWh 467 kWh £413 £47 £459 £12,706 27.7 yrs £-3,516
3 kW 3044 kWh 2344 kWh 700 kWh £619 £70 £689 £14,333 20.8 yrs £-548
4 kW 4059 kWh 3125 kWh 933 kWh £826 £93 £919 £15,961 17.4 yrs £2,419
5 kW 5073 kWh 3906 kWh 1167 kWh £1,032 £117 £1,149 £17,589 15.3 yrs £5,386
6 kW 6088 kWh 4688 kWh 1400 kWh £1,238 £140 £1,378 £19,217 13.9 yrs £8,353
7 kW 7102 kWh 5469 kWh 1634 kWh £1,445 £163 £1,608 £20,844 13.0 yrs £11,320
8 kW 8117 kWh 6250 kWh 1867 kWh £1,651 £187 £1,838 £22,472 12.2 yrs £14,287

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 Test Valley

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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Insights for SO51

Figures below are tailored to SO51 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #773 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #545 of 2996
9.7 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£1,009 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #213 of 2996
17.9% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£181 fixed • ~£1,009 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −21.0% West −19.5%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in SO51

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 40 Jan 53 Feb 88 Mar 114 Apr 121 May 122 Jun 122 Jul 110 Aug 94 Sep 68 Oct 47 Nov 35 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 50.9% 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 43 kWh per month; the average month produces around 85 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 172 kWh in winter, or 338 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.42p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.70p/day
Local Sunshine
1015kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1015 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 69% • Flats: 20% • Bungalows: 9% Based on 7,797 properties

Coverage

Test Valley (99%)|New Forest (1%)

Areas Covered

Romsey Abbey, Romsey Tadburn, Blackwater, Romsey Cupernham, Ampfield & Braishfield, Mid Test, Chilworth, Nursling & Rownhams + 6 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

SO52 (Test Valley)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,025 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SO51
SO16 (Southampton)
≈7.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,031 kWh/kWp · +2% vs SO51
SO40 (New Forest)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,035 kWh/kWp · +2% vs SO51
SO53 (Eastleigh)
≈8.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,024 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SO51
SO5 (Eastleigh)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,022 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SO51
SO1 (Southampton)
≈9.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,050 kWh/kWp · +3% vs SO51

Similar sunshine across the UK

TA7 (Somerset)
~1,015 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SO51
IP33 (West Suffolk)
~1,015 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SO51
DA17 (Bexley)
~1,014 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO51