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Solar panel cost in Hartlepool (TS26)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for TS26 (Hartlepool) 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
10.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£747
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,531
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 Northern, the current unit rate is 25.22p/kWh with a 64.29p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 928 kWh/kW — 3 above the regional median (926).

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 928 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.2p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.2p/kWh
Standing charge
64.3p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
928 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: £747, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 10.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 743 kWh 1114 kWh £187 £111 £299 £3,256 10.9 yrs £2,719
3 kW 2785 kWh 1114 kWh 1671 kWh £281 £167 £448 £4,883 10.9 yrs £4,078
4 kW 3714 kWh 1485 kWh 2228 kWh £375 £223 £597 £6,511 10.9 yrs £5,438
5 kW 4642 kWh 1857 kWh 2785 kWh £468 £279 £747 £8,139 10.9 yrs £6,797
6 kW 5570 kWh 2228 kWh 3342 kWh £562 £334 £896 £9,767 10.9 yrs £8,157
7 kW 6499 kWh 2599 kWh 3899 kWh £656 £390 £1,046 £11,394 10.9 yrs £9,516
8 kW 7427 kWh 2971 kWh 4456 kWh £749 £446 £1,195 £13,022 10.9 yrs £10,875

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: £888, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 1114 kWh 743 kWh £281 £74 £355 £5,356 15.1 yrs £1,749
3 kW 2785 kWh 1671 kWh 1114 kWh £421 £111 £533 £6,983 13.1 yrs £3,674
4 kW 3714 kWh 2228 kWh 1485 kWh £562 £149 £710 £8,611 12.1 yrs £5,599
5 kW 4642 kWh 2785 kWh 1857 kWh £702 £186 £888 £10,239 11.5 yrs £7,523
6 kW 5570 kWh 3342 kWh 2228 kWh £843 £223 £1,066 £11,867 11.1 yrs £9,448
7 kW 6499 kWh 3899 kWh 2599 kWh £983 £260 £1,243 £13,494 10.9 yrs £11,372
8 kW 7427 kWh 4456 kWh 2971 kWh £1,124 £297 £1,421 £15,122 10.6 yrs £13,297

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: £959, Upfront: £11,639, 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 1857 kWh 1300 kWh 557 kWh £328 £56 £383 £6,756 17.6 yrs £914
3 kW 2785 kWh 1950 kWh 836 kWh £492 £84 £575 £8,383 14.6 yrs £3,122
4 kW 3714 kWh 2599 kWh 1114 kWh £656 £111 £767 £10,011 13.1 yrs £5,329
5 kW 4642 kWh 3249 kWh 1393 kWh £819 £139 £959 £11,639 12.1 yrs £7,536
6 kW 5570 kWh 3899 kWh 1671 kWh £983 £167 £1,150 £13,267 11.5 yrs £9,743
7 kW 6499 kWh 4549 kWh 1950 kWh £1,147 £195 £1,342 £14,894 11.1 yrs £11,951
8 kW 7427 kWh 5199 kWh 2228 kWh £1,311 £223 £1,534 £16,522 10.8 yrs £14,158

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: £980, Upfront: £13,389, 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 1857 kWh 1355 kWh 501 kWh £342 £50 £392 £8,506 21.7 yrs £-666
3 kW 2785 kWh 2033 kWh 752 kWh £513 £75 £588 £10,133 17.2 yrs £1,626
4 kW 3714 kWh 2711 kWh 1003 kWh £684 £100 £784 £11,761 15.0 yrs £3,918
5 kW 4642 kWh 3389 kWh 1253 kWh £855 £125 £980 £13,389 13.7 yrs £6,210
6 kW 5570 kWh 4066 kWh 1504 kWh £1,026 £150 £1,176 £15,017 12.8 yrs £8,502
7 kW 6499 kWh 4744 kWh 1755 kWh £1,196 £175 £1,372 £16,644 12.1 yrs £10,794
8 kW 7427 kWh 5422 kWh 2005 kWh £1,367 £201 £1,568 £18,272 11.7 yrs £13,086

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: £994, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 1393 kWh 464 kWh £351 £46 £398 £10,256 25.8 yrs £-2,303
3 kW 2785 kWh 2089 kWh 696 kWh £527 £70 £596 £11,883 19.9 yrs £46
4 kW 3714 kWh 2785 kWh 928 kWh £702 £93 £795 £13,511 17.0 yrs £2,394
5 kW 4642 kWh 3481 kWh 1160 kWh £878 £116 £994 £15,139 15.2 yrs £4,743
6 kW 5570 kWh 4178 kWh 1393 kWh £1,054 £139 £1,193 £16,767 14.1 yrs £7,091
7 kW 6499 kWh 4874 kWh 1625 kWh £1,229 £162 £1,392 £18,394 13.2 yrs £9,440
8 kW 7427 kWh 5570 kWh 1857 kWh £1,405 £186 £1,591 £20,022 12.6 yrs £11,788

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: £1,008, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 17.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 1430 kWh 427 kWh £361 £43 £403 £12,706 31.5 yrs £-4,640
3 kW 2785 kWh 2145 kWh 641 kWh £541 £64 £605 £14,333 23.7 yrs £-2,235
4 kW 3714 kWh 2859 kWh 854 kWh £721 £85 £807 £15,961 19.8 yrs £170
5 kW 4642 kWh 3574 kWh 1068 kWh £901 £107 £1,008 £17,589 17.4 yrs £2,575
6 kW 5570 kWh 4289 kWh 1281 kWh £1,082 £128 £1,210 £19,217 15.9 yrs £4,980
7 kW 6499 kWh 5004 kWh 1495 kWh £1,262 £149 £1,411 £20,844 14.8 yrs £7,385
8 kW 7427 kWh 5719 kWh 1708 kWh £1,442 £171 £1,613 £22,472 13.9 yrs £9,790

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 Hartlepool

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 TS26

Figures below are tailored to TS26 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #812 of 2182
5.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1945 of 2996
10.9 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£746 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2319 of 2996
31.5% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£235 fixed • ~£746 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −23.0% West −21.5%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in TS26

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 34 Jan 49 Feb 82 Mar 109 Apr 118 May 111 Jun 112 Jul 102 Aug 85 Sep 58 Oct 39 Nov 29 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 48.7% 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 38 kWh per month; the average month produces around 77 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 151 kWh in winter, or 309 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.22p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
64.29p/day
Local Sunshine
928kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~928 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: 77% • Flats: 17% • Bungalows: 6% Based on 8,075 properties

Coverage

Hartlepool (100%)

Areas Covered

Victoria, Burn Valley, Rural West, Throston, Hart

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 Northern

TS24 (Hartlepool)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~904 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TS26
TS25 (Hartlepool)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~905 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TS26
TS27 (County Durham)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TS26
TS22 (Stockton-on-Tees)
≈9.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~941 kWh/kWp · +1% vs TS26
TS23 (Stockton-on-Tees)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~926 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TS26
SR88 (County Durham)
≈10.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TS26

Similar sunshine across the UK

S60 (Rotherham)
~928 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TS26
LS26 (Leeds)
~928 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TS26
NG15 (Ashfield)
~928 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TS26