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Solar panel cost in Cornwall (TR26)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for TR26 (Cornwall) 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
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£835
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,746
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 Western, the current unit rate is 26.39p/kWh with a 57.89p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1009 kWh/kW — 4 below the regional median (1013).

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 1009 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
57.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1009 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: £835, 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 2018 kWh 807 kWh 1211 kWh £213 £121 £334 £3,256 9.7 yrs £3,427
3 kW 3027 kWh 1211 kWh 1816 kWh £320 £182 £501 £4,883 9.7 yrs £5,141
4 kW 4037 kWh 1615 kWh 2422 kWh £426 £242 £668 £6,511 9.7 yrs £6,855
5 kW 5046 kWh 2018 kWh 3027 kWh £533 £303 £835 £8,139 9.7 yrs £8,569
6 kW 6055 kWh 2422 kWh 3633 kWh £639 £363 £1,002 £9,767 9.7 yrs £10,282
7 kW 7064 kWh 2826 kWh 4238 kWh £746 £424 £1,170 £11,394 9.7 yrs £11,996
8 kW 8073 kWh 3229 kWh 4844 kWh £852 £484 £1,337 £13,022 9.7 yrs £13,710

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: £1,001, 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 2018 kWh 1211 kWh 807 kWh £320 £81 £400 £5,356 13.4 yrs £2,651
3 kW 3027 kWh 1816 kWh 1211 kWh £479 £121 £600 £6,983 11.6 yrs £5,026
4 kW 4037 kWh 2422 kWh 1615 kWh £639 £161 £801 £8,611 10.8 yrs £7,401
5 kW 5046 kWh 3027 kWh 2018 kWh £799 £202 £1,001 £10,239 10.2 yrs £9,777
6 kW 6055 kWh 3633 kWh 2422 kWh £959 £242 £1,201 £11,867 9.9 yrs £12,152
7 kW 7064 kWh 4238 kWh 2826 kWh £1,119 £283 £1,401 £13,494 9.6 yrs £14,527
8 kW 8073 kWh 4844 kWh 3229 kWh £1,278 £323 £1,601 £15,122 9.4 yrs £16,903

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: £1,083, 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 2018 kWh 1413 kWh 605 kWh £373 £61 £433 £6,756 15.6 yrs £1,912
3 kW 3027 kWh 2119 kWh 908 kWh £559 £91 £650 £8,383 12.9 yrs £4,618
4 kW 4037 kWh 2826 kWh 1211 kWh £746 £121 £867 £10,011 11.5 yrs £7,325
5 kW 5046 kWh 3532 kWh 1514 kWh £932 £151 £1,083 £11,639 10.7 yrs £10,031
6 kW 6055 kWh 4238 kWh 1816 kWh £1,119 £182 £1,300 £13,267 10.2 yrs £12,737
7 kW 7064 kWh 4945 kWh 2119 kWh £1,305 £212 £1,517 £14,894 9.8 yrs £15,443
8 kW 8073 kWh 5651 kWh 2422 kWh £1,491 £242 £1,734 £16,522 9.5 yrs £18,149

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: £1,108, Upfront: £13,389, 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 2018 kWh 1473 kWh 545 kWh £389 £54 £443 £8,506 19.2 yrs £361
3 kW 3027 kWh 2210 kWh 817 kWh £583 £82 £665 £10,133 15.2 yrs £3,166
4 kW 4037 kWh 2947 kWh 1090 kWh £778 £109 £887 £11,761 13.3 yrs £5,972
5 kW 5046 kWh 3683 kWh 1362 kWh £972 £136 £1,108 £13,389 12.1 yrs £8,777
6 kW 6055 kWh 4420 kWh 1635 kWh £1,166 £163 £1,330 £15,017 11.3 yrs £11,582
7 kW 7064 kWh 5157 kWh 1907 kWh £1,361 £191 £1,552 £16,644 10.7 yrs £14,388
8 kW 8073 kWh 5893 kWh 2180 kWh £1,555 £218 £1,773 £18,272 10.3 yrs £17,193

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: £1,125, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2018 kWh 1514 kWh 505 kWh £399 £50 £450 £10,256 22.8 yrs £-1,257
3 kW 3027 kWh 2271 kWh 757 kWh £599 £76 £675 £11,883 17.6 yrs £1,615
4 kW 4037 kWh 3027 kWh 1009 kWh £799 £101 £900 £13,511 15.0 yrs £4,486
5 kW 5046 kWh 3784 kWh 1261 kWh £999 £126 £1,125 £15,139 13.5 yrs £7,358
6 kW 6055 kWh 4541 kWh 1514 kWh £1,198 £151 £1,350 £16,767 12.4 yrs £10,229
7 kW 7064 kWh 5298 kWh 1766 kWh £1,398 £177 £1,575 £18,394 11.7 yrs £13,101
8 kW 8073 kWh 6055 kWh 2018 kWh £1,598 £202 £1,800 £20,022 11.1 yrs £15,972

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: £1,141, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2018 kWh 1554 kWh 464 kWh £410 £46 £457 £12,706 27.8 yrs £-3,575
3 kW 3027 kWh 2331 kWh 696 kWh £615 £70 £685 £14,333 20.9 yrs £-637
4 kW 4037 kWh 3108 kWh 928 kWh £820 £93 £913 £15,961 17.5 yrs £2,301
5 kW 5046 kWh 3885 kWh 1161 kWh £1,025 £116 £1,141 £17,589 15.4 yrs £5,238
6 kW 6055 kWh 4662 kWh 1393 kWh £1,230 £139 £1,370 £19,217 14.0 yrs £8,176
7 kW 7064 kWh 5439 kWh 1625 kWh £1,435 £162 £1,598 £20,844 13.0 yrs £11,114
8 kW 8073 kWh 6216 kWh 1857 kWh £1,640 £186 £1,826 £22,472 12.3 yrs £14,052

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 Cornwall

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 TR26

Figures below are tailored to TR26 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1072 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #568 of 2996
9.7 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£835 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1478 of 2996
25.3% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£211 fixed • ~£835 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −18.7% West −19.8%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in TR26

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 31 Jan 54 Feb 88 Mar 120 Apr 127 May 126 Jun 125 Jul 118 Aug 95 Sep 67 Oct 38 Nov 22 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 42.1% 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 35 kWh per month; the average month produces around 84 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 142 kWh in winter, or 336 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.39p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
57.89p/day
Local Sunshine
1009kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1009 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: 54% • Flats: 29% • Bungalows: 14% Based on 4,577 properties

Coverage

Cornwall (100%)

Areas Covered

St Ives West & Towednack, St Ives East, Lelant & Carbis Bay, Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval & Heamoor

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 Western

TR27 (Cornwall)
≈5.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,067 kWh/kWp · +6% vs TR26
TR20 (Cornwall)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,067 kWh/kWp · +6% vs TR26
TR93 (Cornwall)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,066 kWh/kWp · +6% vs TR26
TR17 (Cornwall)
≈8.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,067 kWh/kWp · +6% vs TR26
TR18 (Cornwall)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,066 kWh/kWp · +6% vs TR26
TR14 (Cornwall)
≈13.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,008 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TR26

Similar sunshine across the UK

CF95 (Cardiff)
~1,009 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TR26
CF10 (Cardiff)
~1,009 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TR26
CF2 (Cardiff)
~1,009 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TR26