Short answer: For most Birmingham homes with a south, east or west-facing roof and little shade, yes. A 4 kWp south-facing system makes about 3,880 kWh a year here. The Energy Saving Trust says surveyed owners cut their bills by around £750 a year. How much you save depends mostly on how much of the power you use yourself.
How much a Birmingham roof generates
PVGIS, the European Commission’s solar model, puts Birmingham at about 969 kWh a year for every kWp of panels on a south-facing roof at a 35 degree pitch. Facing east or west, the figure is about 777 kWh. The Energy Saving Trust says the average home system is about 4.5 kWp.
| System | South-facing | East or west-facing |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kWp | about 2,910 kWh a year | about 2,330 kWh a year |
| 4 kWp | about 3,880 kWh a year | about 3,110 kWh a year |
| 5 kWp | about 4,850 kWh a year | about 3,890 kWh a year |
Generation follows the seasons. PVGIS gives a south-facing roof about 119 kWh per kWp in July and 34 kWh in December, so most of the year’s output comes between April and September.
What that power is worth
Each unit you use yourself is a unit you don’t buy. Ofgem’s price cap for October to December 2026 is 26.32p per kWh on average for electricity paid by Direct Debit. The share of the power you use yourself is the number that decides the saving:
| 4 kWp south-facing, about 3,880 kWh a year | Used at home | Worth at 26.32p |
|---|---|---|
| Out most of the day, no battery | about 30% (1,160 kWh) | about £310 a year |
| Someone home, or loads moved into daylight | about 50% (1,940 kWh) | about £510 a year |
| With a battery | about 70% (2,710 kWh) | about £710 a year |
The percentages are examples, not measurements of your home. The power you don’t use is exported, and an export tariff pays for it. Rates vary by supplier, and you usually need MCS certification to get one. Can you get SEG payments without MCS? explains the rules.
The Energy Saving Trust’s own survey found owners said panels lowered their bills by around £750 a year. That is above every row in the table, which leaves out export income, bigger systems and changes in how people use power once they have panels.
What it costs
Checkatrade lists installed solar in Birmingham at £7,305 to £11,929, with an average of £9,299. The Energy Saving Trust puts a typical system at around £7,600. Installation in homes is VAT-free until 31 March 2027. How much do solar panels cost in Birmingham? has the full breakdown.
Payback: a worked example
Take the Birmingham average price of £9,299 and the Energy Saving Trust’s saving of around £750 a year. That pays back in a little over 12 years. With the lower £510 figure and no export income, it would be nearer 18. The Energy Saving Trust says panels should last 25 years or more, so in both cases the system keeps working long after it has paid for itself. Budget for an inverter replacement along the way, which the Energy Saving Trust says is needed after around 12 years.
When solar is less worth it
- A heavily shaded roof. Trees, a taller building or a chimney that shades the panels for much of the day cuts output. Optimisers help, but can’t fix deep shade.
- A north-facing roof only. Output drops well below the east and west figures above.
- A roof that needs replacing soon. Re-roof first, or the panels will have to come off and go back on. Solar panel removal and refit covers that.
- Very low daytime use and no plan for a battery. Most of the value then comes from export.
Where a battery fits
A battery stores daytime power for the evening. The Energy Saving Trust says a typical home battery might be 10 kWh, and a 5 kWh system costs around £4,600. It is cheaper to fit one at the same time as the panels. Solar battery storage explains how batteries are sized.
Bottom line
Solar panels usually pay off in Birmingham on a roof that faces south, east or west and isn't heavily shaded, and they pay off fastest when you use the power in the day or add a battery. Get a survey that works from your own electricity use. Our quotes are free. Call 0121 330 1151, 9am to 7pm, 7 days.