- At about 26p per kWh (Ofgem’s October-December 2026 cap), an 800 W kit typically saves £80-175 a year depending on location and mounting.
- Southern England does best; Scotland produces about 20% less.
- Payback is roughly 5-9 years at 2026 kit prices.
- Export payments are not yet available for most plug-in kits.
In this article
What an 800 W kit produces in the UK
| Location | Tilted, south | Vertical, south | Vertical, east/west |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern England | ~800 kWh | ~580 kWh | ~440 kWh |
| Midlands / North / Wales | ~720 kWh | ~520 kWh | ~400 kWh |
| Scotland | ~650 kWh | ~480 kWh | ~360 kWh |
Estimates without shade. Vertical mounting loses less at UK latitudes than further south.
Savings at 26p per kWh
| Output | 70% self-use | 85% self-use |
|---|---|---|
| 450 kWh | ~£82 | ~£99 |
| 600 kWh | ~£109 | ~£133 |
| 800 kWh | ~£146 | ~£177 |
For context, launch estimates quoted ranged from roughly £70 to £175 a year, which matches these figures.
Payback
With kits at roughly £430-1,000 in September 2026, payback is about 3-9 years; a mid-range £650 kit saving £115 a year pays back in under 6 years. If prices keep falling, payback on good sites drops toward 4 years.
Boosting savings in the UK
- Run washing machines and dishwashers in the middle of the day.
- Pair with a time-of-use tariff carefully: cheap overnight rates reduce the value of daytime solar slightly, but savings remain.
- Keep an eye on Smart Export Guarantee rules; a simplified route for plug-in kits would add value to surplus power.
Estimate for your postcode region with the calculator, and read the UK rules before buying.
Worked example: a flat in Manchester
A single-panel 400 W kit, vertical on a south-west facing balcony: 0.4 kW × 900 kWh/kW × 0.70 ≈ 250 kWh a year. Because it is small, about 90% is used at home: 225 kWh. At 26p, that is roughly £58 a year. A £450 kit pays back in under eight years; at £350, about six.
How the UK compares with Germany
Germany has similar sunshine to southern England and higher electricity prices (around €0.37 per kWh in 2026, according to BDEW), which is part of why balcony solar took off there. At about 26p per kWh, UK savings per kWh are slightly lower, but the UK started with a clearer product standard and high-street retail from day one. Owners in both countries report that placement matters more than brand. Lessons from Germany.
Five ways to raise UK savings
- Face south, south-east or south-west. Vertical mounting loses less at UK latitudes than further south, so a railing mount is a reasonable choice.
- Avoid winter shade from neighboring buildings; the sun is very low from November to February.
- Run the washing machine and dishwasher at midday on sunny days.
- Keep an eye on export payment rules; a simplified Smart Export Guarantee route would add value to surplus power.
- Buy at the right price. A kit at £450 instead of £750 cuts payback by almost half.
Frequently asked questions
Does the energy price cap change my savings?
Yes. Savings scale with your unit rate. When the cap rises, savings rise; when it falls, they fall.
Is Economy 7 a problem?
On Economy 7, your daytime rate is higher than average, which makes daytime solar slightly more valuable.
Does solar reduce standing charges?
No. Standing charges are fixed; solar only reduces the unit charges for electricity you would otherwise buy.
Sources
- Changes to energy price cap between 1 October and 31 December 2026, Ofgem.
- Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS), European Commission, Joint Research Centre.
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), Ofgem.
- Where to buy plug-in solar panels (14 Sept 2026), Ideal Home.
- BDEW-Strompreisanalyse, BDEW.
Sources checked in September 2026. Laws, prices and product details change; if you spot something out of date, tell us.