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Solar panel cost in Tunbridge Wells (TN12)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for TN12 (Tunbridge Wells) 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
9.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£880
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,869
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 East, the current unit rate is 26.67p/kWh with a 54.45p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1056 kWh/kW — 27 above the regional median (1029).

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 1056 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.7p/kWh
Standing charge
54.5p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1056 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: £880, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 9.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2113 kWh 845 kWh 1268 kWh £225 £127 £352 £3,256 9.2 yrs £3,787
3 kW 3169 kWh 1268 kWh 1901 kWh £338 £190 £528 £4,883 9.2 yrs £5,680
4 kW 4225 kWh 1690 kWh 2535 kWh £451 £254 £704 £6,511 9.2 yrs £7,574
5 kW 5281 kWh 2113 kWh 3169 kWh £563 £317 £880 £8,139 9.2 yrs £9,467
6 kW 6338 kWh 2535 kWh 3803 kWh £676 £380 £1,056 £9,767 9.2 yrs £11,361
7 kW 7394 kWh 2958 kWh 4436 kWh £789 £444 £1,232 £11,394 9.2 yrs £13,254
8 kW 8450 kWh 3380 kWh 5070 kWh £901 £507 £1,408 £13,022 9.2 yrs £15,148

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: £1,056, Upfront: £10,239, 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 2113 kWh 1268 kWh 845 kWh £338 £85 £423 £5,356 12.7 yrs £3,096
3 kW 3169 kWh 1901 kWh 1268 kWh £507 £127 £634 £6,983 11.0 yrs £5,693
4 kW 4225 kWh 2535 kWh 1690 kWh £676 £169 £845 £8,611 10.2 yrs £8,291
5 kW 5281 kWh 3169 kWh 2113 kWh £845 £211 £1,056 £10,239 9.7 yrs £10,889
6 kW 6338 kWh 3803 kWh 2535 kWh £1,014 £254 £1,268 £11,867 9.4 yrs £13,487
7 kW 7394 kWh 4436 kWh 2958 kWh £1,183 £296 £1,479 £13,494 9.1 yrs £16,084
8 kW 8450 kWh 5070 kWh 3380 kWh £1,352 £338 £1,690 £15,122 8.9 yrs £18,682

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: £1,144, Upfront: £11,639, 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 2113 kWh 1479 kWh 634 kWh £394 £63 £458 £6,756 14.8 yrs £2,400
3 kW 3169 kWh 2218 kWh 951 kWh £592 £95 £687 £8,383 12.2 yrs £5,350
4 kW 4225 kWh 2958 kWh 1268 kWh £789 £127 £916 £10,011 10.9 yrs £8,300
5 kW 5281 kWh 3697 kWh 1584 kWh £986 £158 £1,144 £11,639 10.2 yrs £11,250
6 kW 6338 kWh 4436 kWh 1901 kWh £1,183 £190 £1,373 £13,267 9.7 yrs £14,200
7 kW 7394 kWh 5176 kWh 2218 kWh £1,380 £222 £1,602 £14,894 9.3 yrs £17,150
8 kW 8450 kWh 5915 kWh 2535 kWh £1,578 £254 £1,831 £16,522 9.0 yrs £20,100

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: £1,171, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2113 kWh 1542 kWh 570 kWh £411 £57 £468 £8,506 18.2 yrs £861
3 kW 3169 kWh 2313 kWh 856 kWh £617 £86 £703 £10,133 14.4 yrs £3,917
4 kW 4225 kWh 3084 kWh 1141 kWh £823 £114 £937 £11,761 12.6 yrs £6,972
5 kW 5281 kWh 3855 kWh 1426 kWh £1,028 £143 £1,171 £13,389 11.4 yrs £10,028
6 kW 6338 kWh 4627 kWh 1711 kWh £1,234 £171 £1,405 £15,017 10.7 yrs £13,084
7 kW 7394 kWh 5398 kWh 1996 kWh £1,440 £200 £1,639 £16,644 10.2 yrs £16,139
8 kW 8450 kWh 6169 kWh 2282 kWh £1,645 £228 £1,873 £18,272 9.8 yrs £19,195

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: £1,188, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2113 kWh 1584 kWh 528 kWh £423 £53 £475 £10,256 21.6 yrs £-748
3 kW 3169 kWh 2377 kWh 792 kWh £634 £79 £713 £11,883 16.7 yrs £2,378
4 kW 4225 kWh 3169 kWh 1056 kWh £845 £106 £951 £13,511 14.2 yrs £5,504
5 kW 5281 kWh 3961 kWh 1320 kWh £1,056 £132 £1,188 £15,139 12.7 yrs £8,630
6 kW 6338 kWh 4753 kWh 1584 kWh £1,268 £158 £1,426 £16,767 11.8 yrs £11,756
7 kW 7394 kWh 5545 kWh 1848 kWh £1,479 £185 £1,664 £18,394 11.1 yrs £14,882
8 kW 8450 kWh 6338 kWh 2113 kWh £1,690 £211 £1,902 £20,022 10.5 yrs £18,008

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: £1,206, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2113 kWh 1627 kWh 486 kWh £434 £49 £482 £12,706 26.3 yrs £-3,057
3 kW 3169 kWh 2440 kWh 729 kWh £651 £73 £724 £14,333 19.8 yrs £139
4 kW 4225 kWh 3253 kWh 972 kWh £868 £97 £965 £15,961 16.5 yrs £3,336
5 kW 5281 kWh 4067 kWh 1215 kWh £1,085 £121 £1,206 £17,589 14.6 yrs £6,532
6 kW 6338 kWh 4880 kWh 1458 kWh £1,301 £146 £1,447 £19,217 13.3 yrs £9,729
7 kW 7394 kWh 5693 kWh 1701 kWh £1,518 £170 £1,688 £20,844 12.3 yrs £12,925
8 kW 8450 kWh 6507 kWh 1944 kWh £1,735 £194 £1,930 £22,472 11.6 yrs £16,122

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 Tunbridge Wells

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 TN12

Figures below are tailored to TN12 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #836 of 2182
5.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #179 of 2996
9.2 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£880 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #977 of 2996
22.6% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£199 fixed • ~£880 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.3% West −21.1%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in TN12

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 40 Jan 53 Feb 89 Mar 120 Apr 125 May 129 Jun 129 Jul 116 Aug 100 Sep 71 Oct 48 Nov 36 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 49.0% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: Jul / 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 88 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 173 kWh in winter, or 352 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.67p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.45p/day
Local Sunshine
1056kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1056 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: 76% • Flats: 16% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 9,549 properties

Coverage

Tunbridge Wells (43%)|Maidstone (41%)|Tonbridge and Malling (16%)

Areas Covered

Marden & Yalding, Rural Tunbridge Wells, Staplehurst, Paddock Wood, East and West Peckham, Mereworth & Wateringbury, Pembury & Capel, Cage Green & Angel + 2 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 East

ME18 (Maidstone)
≈8.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,032 kWh/kWp · -2% vs TN12
TN9 (Tonbridge and Malling)
≈9.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,028 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TN12
TN2 (Tunbridge Wells)
≈9.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TN12
TN10 (Tonbridge and Malling)
≈10.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,034 kWh/kWp · -2% vs TN12
TN11 (Tonbridge and Malling)
≈10.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,042 kWh/kWp · -1% vs TN12
TN1 (Tunbridge Wells)
≈11.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TN12

Similar sunshine across the UK

SS0 (Southend-on-Sea)
~1,056 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TN12
IP13 (East Suffolk)
~1,056 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TN12
BH24 (New Forest)
~1,056 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TN12