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Solar panel cost in Wigan (WN3)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for WN3 (Wigan) 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
12.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£7,307
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£593
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,512
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 North West, the current unit rate is 26.13p/kWh with a 47.61p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 901 kWh/kW — 31 above the regional median (870).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 901 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.1p/kWh
Standing charge
47.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
901 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: £741, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1801 kWh 721 kWh 1081 kWh £188 £108 £296 £3,654 12.3 yrs £2,274
3 kW 2702 kWh 1081 kWh 1621 kWh £282 £162 £445 £5,481 12.3 yrs £3,411
4 kW 3603 kWh 1441 kWh 2162 kWh £377 £216 £593 £7,307 12.3 yrs £4,548
5 kW 4504 kWh 1801 kWh 2702 kWh £471 £270 £741 £9,134 12.3 yrs £5,685
6 kW 5404 kWh 2162 kWh 3243 kWh £565 £324 £889 £10,961 12.3 yrs £6,822
7 kW 6305 kWh 2522 kWh 3783 kWh £659 £378 £1,037 £12,788 12.3 yrs £7,959
8 kW 7206 kWh 2882 kWh 4324 kWh £753 £432 £1,186 £14,615 12.3 yrs £9,096

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £886, Upfront: £11,234, 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 1801 kWh 1081 kWh 721 kWh £282 £72 £354 £5,754 16.2 yrs £1,336
3 kW 2702 kWh 1621 kWh 1081 kWh £424 £108 £532 £7,581 14.3 yrs £3,054
4 kW 3603 kWh 2162 kWh 1441 kWh £565 £144 £709 £9,407 13.3 yrs £4,772
5 kW 4504 kWh 2702 kWh 1801 kWh £706 £180 £886 £11,234 12.7 yrs £6,491
6 kW 5404 kWh 3243 kWh 2162 kWh £847 £216 £1,063 £13,061 12.3 yrs £8,209
7 kW 6305 kWh 3783 kWh 2522 kWh £989 £252 £1,241 £14,888 12.0 yrs £9,927
8 kW 7206 kWh 4324 kWh 2882 kWh £1,130 £288 £1,418 £16,715 11.8 yrs £11,645

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £959, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1801 kWh 1261 kWh 540 kWh £330 £54 £384 £7,154 18.7 yrs £517
3 kW 2702 kWh 1892 kWh 811 kWh £494 £81 £575 £8,981 15.6 yrs £2,526
4 kW 3603 kWh 2522 kWh 1081 kWh £659 £108 £767 £10,807 14.1 yrs £4,535
5 kW 4504 kWh 3153 kWh 1351 kWh £824 £135 £959 £12,634 13.2 yrs £6,543
6 kW 5404 kWh 3783 kWh 1621 kWh £989 £162 £1,151 £14,461 12.6 yrs £8,552
7 kW 6305 kWh 4414 kWh 1892 kWh £1,153 £189 £1,342 £16,288 12.1 yrs £10,561
8 kW 7206 kWh 5044 kWh 2162 kWh £1,318 £216 £1,534 £18,115 11.8 yrs £12,570

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £981, Upfront: £14,384, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1801 kWh 1315 kWh 486 kWh £344 £49 £392 £8,904 22.7 yrs £-1,058
3 kW 2702 kWh 1973 kWh 730 kWh £515 £73 £588 £10,731 18.2 yrs £1,038
4 kW 3603 kWh 2630 kWh 973 kWh £687 £97 £785 £12,557 16.0 yrs £3,133
5 kW 4504 kWh 3288 kWh 1216 kWh £859 £122 £981 £14,384 14.7 yrs £5,229
6 kW 5404 kWh 3945 kWh 1459 kWh £1,031 £146 £1,177 £16,211 13.8 yrs £7,325
7 kW 6305 kWh 4603 kWh 1702 kWh £1,203 £170 £1,373 £18,038 13.1 yrs £9,421
8 kW 7206 kWh 5260 kWh 1946 kWh £1,375 £195 £1,569 £19,865 12.7 yrs £11,517

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £995, Upfront: £16,134, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1801 kWh 1351 kWh 450 kWh £353 £45 £398 £10,654 26.8 yrs £-2,692
3 kW 2702 kWh 2027 kWh 676 kWh £530 £68 £597 £12,481 20.9 yrs £-538
4 kW 3603 kWh 2702 kWh 901 kWh £706 £90 £796 £14,307 18.0 yrs £1,616
5 kW 4504 kWh 3378 kWh 1126 kWh £883 £113 £995 £16,134 16.2 yrs £3,770
6 kW 5404 kWh 4053 kWh 1351 kWh £1,059 £135 £1,194 £17,961 15.0 yrs £5,924
7 kW 6305 kWh 4729 kWh 1576 kWh £1,236 £158 £1,393 £19,788 14.2 yrs £8,078
8 kW 7206 kWh 5404 kWh 1801 kWh £1,412 £180 £1,592 £21,615 13.6 yrs £10,232

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,010, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 18.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1801 kWh 1387 kWh 414 kWh £362 £41 £404 £13,104 32.4 yrs £-5,026
3 kW 2702 kWh 2081 kWh 622 kWh £544 £62 £606 £14,931 24.6 yrs £-2,814
4 kW 3603 kWh 2774 kWh 829 kWh £725 £83 £808 £16,757 20.7 yrs £-602
5 kW 4504 kWh 3468 kWh 1036 kWh £906 £104 £1,010 £18,584 18.4 yrs £1,610
6 kW 5404 kWh 4161 kWh 1243 kWh £1,087 £124 £1,212 £20,411 16.8 yrs £3,823
7 kW 6305 kWh 4855 kWh 1450 kWh £1,269 £145 £1,414 £22,238 15.7 yrs £6,035
8 kW 7206 kWh 5549 kWh 1657 kWh £1,450 £166 £1,616 £24,065 14.9 yrs £8,247

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, 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 Wigan

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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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 WN3

Figures below are tailored to WN3 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1365 of 2182
4.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2676 of 2996
12.3 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£593 /yr • £7,307 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2097 of 2996
29.3% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£593 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.5% West −20.1%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in WN3

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 29 Jan 47 Feb 79 Mar 105 Apr 117 May 111 Jun 111 Jul 100 Aug 82 Sep 56 Oct 37 Nov 26 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 45.3% 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 34 kWh per month; the average month produces around 75 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 136 kWh in winter, or 300 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.13p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.61p/day
Local Sunshine
901kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~901 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 74% • Flats: 13% • Bungalows: 12% Based on 6,420 properties

Coverage

Wigan (100%)

Areas Covered

Worsley Mesnes, Winstanley, Douglas, Ince, Wigan Central, Abram

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 North West

WN1 (Wigan)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~901 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN3
WN5 (Wigan)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~905 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN3
WN2 (Wigan)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · -2% vs WN3
WN4 (Wigan)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~900 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WN3
WN6 (Wigan)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · -2% vs WN3
BL5 (Bolton)
≈8.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~876 kWh/kWp · -3% vs WN3

Similar sunshine across the UK

DE45 (Derbyshire Dales)
~901 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN3
KY9 (Fife)
~901 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WN3
LS29 (Bradford)
~901 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN3