Solar panel cost in York (YO2)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for YO2 (York) 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

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System Size

Roof Direction

Battery Storage

Export Value

Your Numbers

Break-even
10.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£757
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,789
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

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 941 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)
941 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: £757, Upfront: £8,139, 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 1882 kWh 753 kWh 1129 kWh £190 £113 £303 £3,256 10.7 yrs £2,801
3 kW 2824 kWh 1129 kWh 1694 kWh £285 £169 £454 £4,883 10.7 yrs £4,202
4 kW 3765 kWh 1506 kWh 2259 kWh £380 £226 £606 £6,511 10.7 yrs £5,603
5 kW 4706 kWh 1882 kWh 2824 kWh £475 £282 £757 £8,139 10.7 yrs £7,003
6 kW 5647 kWh 2259 kWh 3388 kWh £570 £339 £909 £9,767 10.7 yrs £8,404
7 kW 6588 kWh 2635 kWh 3953 kWh £665 £395 £1,060 £11,394 10.7 yrs £9,805
8 kW 7530 kWh 3012 kWh 4518 kWh £760 £452 £1,211 £13,022 10.7 yrs £11,205

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: £900, Upfront: £10,239, 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 1882 kWh 1129 kWh 753 kWh £285 £75 £360 £5,356 14.9 yrs £1,847
3 kW 2824 kWh 1694 kWh 1129 kWh £427 £113 £540 £6,983 12.9 yrs £3,821
4 kW 3765 kWh 2259 kWh 1506 kWh £570 £151 £720 £8,611 12.0 yrs £5,795
5 kW 4706 kWh 2824 kWh 1882 kWh £712 £188 £900 £10,239 11.4 yrs £7,768
6 kW 5647 kWh 3388 kWh 2259 kWh £855 £226 £1,080 £11,867 11.0 yrs £9,742
7 kW 6588 kWh 3953 kWh 2635 kWh £997 £264 £1,260 £13,494 10.7 yrs £11,716
8 kW 7530 kWh 4518 kWh 3012 kWh £1,139 £301 £1,441 £15,122 10.5 yrs £13,689

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: £972, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1882 kWh 1318 kWh 565 kWh £332 £56 £389 £6,756 17.4 yrs £1,020
3 kW 2824 kWh 1977 kWh 847 kWh £498 £85 £583 £8,383 14.4 yrs £3,280
4 kW 3765 kWh 2635 kWh 1129 kWh £665 £113 £778 £10,011 12.9 yrs £5,541
5 kW 4706 kWh 3294 kWh 1412 kWh £831 £141 £972 £11,639 12.0 yrs £7,801
6 kW 5647 kWh 3953 kWh 1694 kWh £997 £169 £1,166 £13,267 11.4 yrs £10,061
7 kW 6588 kWh 4612 kWh 1977 kWh £1,163 £198 £1,361 £14,894 10.9 yrs £12,321
8 kW 7530 kWh 5271 kWh 2259 kWh £1,329 £226 £1,555 £16,522 10.6 yrs £14,581

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: £993, Upfront: £13,389, 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 1882 kWh 1374 kWh 508 kWh £347 £51 £397 £8,506 21.4 yrs £-558
3 kW 2824 kWh 2061 kWh 762 kWh £520 £76 £596 £10,133 17.0 yrs £1,788
4 kW 3765 kWh 2748 kWh 1016 kWh £693 £102 £795 £11,761 14.8 yrs £4,134
5 kW 4706 kWh 3435 kWh 1271 kWh £866 £127 £993 £13,389 13.5 yrs £6,480
6 kW 5647 kWh 4122 kWh 1525 kWh £1,040 £152 £1,192 £15,017 12.6 yrs £8,827
7 kW 6588 kWh 4810 kWh 1779 kWh £1,213 £178 £1,391 £16,644 12.0 yrs £11,173
8 kW 7530 kWh 5497 kWh 2033 kWh £1,386 £203 £1,590 £18,272 11.5 yrs £13,519

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: £1,008, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1882 kWh 1412 kWh 471 kWh £356 £47 £403 £10,256 25.4 yrs £-2,193
3 kW 2824 kWh 2118 kWh 706 kWh £534 £71 £605 £11,883 19.7 yrs £210
4 kW 3765 kWh 2824 kWh 941 kWh £712 £94 £806 £13,511 16.8 yrs £2,614
5 kW 4706 kWh 3530 kWh 1176 kWh £890 £118 £1,008 £15,139 15.0 yrs £5,017
6 kW 5647 kWh 4235 kWh 1412 kWh £1,068 £141 £1,209 £16,767 13.9 yrs £7,420
7 kW 6588 kWh 4941 kWh 1647 kWh £1,246 £165 £1,411 £18,394 13.0 yrs £9,824
8 kW 7530 kWh 5647 kWh 1882 kWh £1,424 £188 £1,612 £20,022 12.4 yrs £12,227

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: £1,022, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1882 kWh 1449 kWh 433 kWh £366 £43 £409 £12,706 31.1 yrs £-4,529
3 kW 2824 kWh 2174 kWh 649 kWh £548 £65 £613 £14,333 23.4 yrs £-2,068
4 kW 3765 kWh 2899 kWh 866 kWh £731 £87 £818 £15,961 19.5 yrs £393
5 kW 4706 kWh 3624 kWh 1082 kWh £914 £108 £1,022 £17,589 17.2 yrs £2,853
6 kW 5647 kWh 4348 kWh 1299 kWh £1,097 £130 £1,227 £19,217 15.7 yrs £5,314
7 kW 6588 kWh 5073 kWh 1515 kWh £1,279 £152 £1,431 £20,844 14.6 yrs £7,775
8 kW 7530 kWh 5798 kWh 1732 kWh £1,462 £173 £1,635 £22,472 13.7 yrs £10,236

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 York

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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Seasonal solar output in YO2

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 34 Jan 48 Feb 82 Mar 108 Apr 118 May 112 Jun 115 Jul 106 Aug 87 Sep 60 Oct 40 Nov 30 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 48.1% 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 38 kWh per month; the average month produces around 78 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 151 kWh in winter, or 314 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.22p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
64.29p/day
Local Sunshine
941kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~941 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

York (99%)|North Yorkshire (1%)

Areas Covered

Westfield, Micklegate, Holgate, Dringhouses & Woodthorpe, Rural West York, Acomb, Copmanthorpe, Bishopthorpe + 3 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.