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Solar panel cost in Wigan (WN4)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for WN4 (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
13.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£782
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,384
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: Bigger systems don’t shorten payback—cost and savings rise together per kW.
  • 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

Costs: Battery prices are typically £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 28.45p/kWh with a 52.22p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 900 kWh/kW — 30 above the regional median (870).

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 900 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 28.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
28.4p/kWh
Standing charge
52.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
900 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: £782, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1800 kWh 720 kWh 1080 kWh £205 £108 £313 £4,069 13.0 yrs £2,189
3 kW 2701 kWh 1080 kWh 1620 kWh £307 £162 £469 £6,104 13.0 yrs £3,284
4 kW 3601 kWh 1440 kWh 2160 kWh £410 £216 £626 £8,138 13.0 yrs £4,378
5 kW 4501 kWh 1800 kWh 2701 kWh £512 £270 £782 £10,173 13.0 yrs £5,473
6 kW 5401 kWh 2160 kWh 3241 kWh £615 £324 £939 £12,207 13.0 yrs £6,567
7 kW 6301 kWh 2521 kWh 3781 kWh £717 £378 £1,095 £14,242 13.0 yrs £7,662
8 kW 7202 kWh 2881 kWh 4321 kWh £820 £432 £1,252 £16,276 13.0 yrs £8,756

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £948, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1800 kWh 1080 kWh 720 kWh £307 £72 £379 £6,169 16.3 yrs £1,418
3 kW 2701 kWh 1620 kWh 1080 kWh £461 £108 £569 £8,204 14.4 yrs £3,177
4 kW 3601 kWh 2160 kWh 1440 kWh £615 £144 £759 £10,238 13.5 yrs £4,936
5 kW 4501 kWh 2701 kWh 1800 kWh £768 £180 £948 £12,273 12.9 yrs £6,694
6 kW 5401 kWh 3241 kWh 2160 kWh £922 £216 £1,138 £14,307 12.6 yrs £8,453
7 kW 6301 kWh 3781 kWh 2521 kWh £1,076 £252 £1,328 £16,342 12.3 yrs £10,212
8 kW 7202 kWh 4321 kWh 2881 kWh £1,229 £288 £1,517 £18,376 12.1 yrs £11,971

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,031, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1800 kWh 1260 kWh 540 kWh £359 £54 £413 £7,569 18.3 yrs £682
3 kW 2701 kWh 1890 kWh 810 kWh £538 £81 £619 £9,604 15.5 yrs £2,773
4 kW 3601 kWh 2521 kWh 1080 kWh £717 £108 £825 £11,638 14.1 yrs £4,864
5 kW 4501 kWh 3151 kWh 1350 kWh £896 £135 £1,031 £13,673 13.3 yrs £6,955
6 kW 5401 kWh 3781 kWh 1620 kWh £1,076 £162 £1,238 £15,707 12.7 yrs £9,046
7 kW 6301 kWh 4411 kWh 1890 kWh £1,255 £189 £1,444 £17,742 12.3 yrs £11,137
8 kW 7202 kWh 5041 kWh 2160 kWh £1,434 £216 £1,650 £19,776 12.0 yrs £13,228

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,056, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1800 kWh 1314 kWh 486 kWh £374 £49 £423 £9,319 22.1 yrs £-869
3 kW 2701 kWh 1971 kWh 729 kWh £561 £73 £634 £11,354 17.9 yrs £1,322
4 kW 3601 kWh 2629 kWh 972 kWh £748 £97 £845 £13,388 15.8 yrs £3,513
5 kW 4501 kWh 3286 kWh 1215 kWh £935 £122 £1,056 £15,423 14.6 yrs £5,704
6 kW 5401 kWh 3943 kWh 1458 kWh £1,122 £146 £1,268 £17,457 13.8 yrs £7,894
7 kW 6301 kWh 4600 kWh 1701 kWh £1,309 £170 £1,479 £19,492 13.2 yrs £10,085
8 kW 7202 kWh 5257 kWh 1944 kWh £1,496 £194 £1,690 £21,526 12.7 yrs £12,276

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,073, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1800 kWh 1350 kWh 450 kWh £384 £45 £429 £11,069 25.8 yrs £-2,486
3 kW 2701 kWh 2025 kWh 675 kWh £576 £68 £644 £13,104 20.4 yrs £-229
4 kW 3601 kWh 2701 kWh 900 kWh £768 £90 £858 £15,138 17.6 yrs £2,029
5 kW 4501 kWh 3376 kWh 1125 kWh £960 £113 £1,073 £17,173 16.0 yrs £4,286
6 kW 5401 kWh 4051 kWh 1350 kWh £1,152 £135 £1,287 £19,207 14.9 yrs £6,543
7 kW 6301 kWh 4726 kWh 1575 kWh £1,345 £158 £1,502 £21,242 14.1 yrs £8,800
8 kW 7202 kWh 5401 kWh 1800 kWh £1,537 £180 £1,717 £23,276 13.6 yrs £11,057

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,090, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1800 kWh 1386 kWh 414 kWh £394 £41 £436 £13,519 31.0 yrs £-4,803
3 kW 2701 kWh 2079 kWh 621 kWh £592 £62 £654 £15,554 23.8 yrs £-2,479
4 kW 3601 kWh 2773 kWh 828 kWh £789 £83 £872 £17,588 20.2 yrs £-156
5 kW 4501 kWh 3466 kWh 1035 kWh £986 £104 £1,090 £19,623 18.0 yrs £2,168
6 kW 5401 kWh 4159 kWh 1242 kWh £1,183 £124 £1,307 £21,657 16.6 yrs £4,491
7 kW 6301 kWh 4852 kWh 1449 kWh £1,380 £145 £1,525 £23,692 15.5 yrs £6,815
8 kW 7202 kWh 5545 kWh 1656 kWh £1,578 £166 £1,743 £25,726 14.8 yrs £9,139

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, 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.

Insights for WN4

Figures below are tailored to WN4 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #918 of 2182
5.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2057 of 2997
13.0 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£782 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1732 of 2997
24.4% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£191 fixed • ~£782 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.5% West −20.0%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
28.45p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
52.22p/day
Local Sunshine
900kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~900 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: 9% • Bungalows: 14% Based on 5,626 properties

Coverage

Wigan (86%)|St. Helens (14%)

Areas Covered

Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North, Ashton-in-Makerfield South, Billinge & Seneley Green, Wigan Central, Golborne & Lowton West, Haydock, Winstanley

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q1 2026

Installation costs: MCS certified installer data, March 2025

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

WN3 (Wigan)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~901 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN4
WA12 (St. Helens)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~904 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN4
WN5 (Wigan)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~905 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WN4
WN2 (Wigan)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · -2% vs WN4
WN1 (Wigan)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~901 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN4
WA3 (Warrington)
≈7.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~903 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN4

Similar sunshine across the UK

ST6 (Stoke-on-Trent)
~900 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN4
DE4 (Derbyshire Dales)
~900 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN4
TD14 (Scottish Borders)
~900 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WN4