Guide · updated 5 October 2026
How much do solar panels cost in Northern Ireland?
Short answer: our typical installed price for a home system of 10 × 440 W panels (4.4 kW) is £4,000 to £5,000, or £7,000 to £10,000 with a batteryS61. For comparison, the 2025-26 median for home systems up to 4 kW was £1,595 per kWS42S43. Panels and batteries for homes are 0% VAT in NI until 31 March 2027S55. Businesses can get a 20% NISEP grant, up to £30,000S56.
Worked examples
Homes
Three example systems, worked out from our typical installed prices and published figures. They are examples, not customers. Your free survey gives your own figures.
Worked example
Home A: 10 panels (4.4 kW), no battery
A typical NI home using 3,200 kWh a yearS47.
System
10 × 440 W panels, 4.4 kW, single-phase
Cost
£4,000 to £5,000
Makes
3,585 kWh a year
First-year saving
£367
Payback
10.9 to 13.6 years
Payback counts savings on your bill only, not export payments. We confirm at your survey whether export payments apply to yours.
How we worked this out
- Cost: £4,000 to £5,000, our typical installed price for 10 × 440 W panels (4.4 kW)S61, at 0% VATS55
- Output: 4.4 kW × 823 kWh per kW a year, the measured average for all NI solar in 2025S40, less 1% first-year wearS60 = 3,585 kWh
- Used at home: 30% (1,076 kWh), measured for 4 kW systemsS53. Saves 1,076 × 34.15p = £367S47S48
- Exported: 2,509 kWh. Not counted: export payments are left out of these figures.
- Simple payback: £4,000 ÷ £367 = 10.9 years, to £5,000 ÷ £367 = 13.6 years. No price rises, finance or tax relief included.
Worked example
Home B: 10 panels (4.4 kW) with a battery
The same home, adding a battery to use more of its own power.
System
10 × 440 W panels, 4.4 kW, single-phase, plus a battery
Cost
£7,000 to £10,000
Makes
3,585 kWh a year
First-year saving
£735 to £857
Payback
8.2 to 13.6 years
Payback counts savings on your bill only, not export payments. We confirm at your survey whether export payments apply to yours.
How we worked this out
- Cost: £7,000 to £10,000, our typical installed price for 10 × 440 W panels (4.4 kW) with a batteryS61, at 0% VATS55
- Output: 4.4 kW × 823 kWh per kW a year, the measured average for all NI solar in 2025S40, less 1% first-year wearS60 = 3,585 kWh
- Used at home: shown as 60% to 70% (2,151 to 2,510 kWh). This is a range, not a measured figure: your survey works it out for your homeS54. Saves £735 to £857 at 34.15pS47S48
- Exported: 1,434 to 1,075 kWh. Not counted: export payments are left out of these figures.
- Simple payback: £7,000 ÷ £857 = 8.2 years, to £10,000 ÷ £735 = 13.6 years. No price rises, finance or tax relief included.
Worked example
Home C: 10 panels (4.4 kW), battery and an EV tariff
A higher-use home with an electric car, using 6,000 kWh a year, on an overnight EV tariff.
System
10 × 440 W panels, 4.4 kW, single-phase, plus a battery
Cost
£7,000 to £10,000
Makes
3,585 kWh a year
First-year saving
£904 to £1,038
Payback
6.7 to 11.1 years
Payback counts savings on your bill only, not export payments. We confirm at your survey whether export payments apply to yours.
How we worked this out
- Cost: as Home B, £7,000 to £10,000S61, at 0% VATS55. Usage of 6,000 kWh a year is our example, not a published average.
- Tariff: Power NI EV Nightshift, 37.20p a kWh by day and 17.79p overnight (1am to 8am in winter), inc VATS62
- Output: 4.4 kW × 823 kWh per kW a year, the measured average for all NI solar in 2025S40, less 1% first-year wearS60 = 3,585 kWh
- Used at home: shown as 60% to 70% (2,151 to 2,510 kWh), a range, not a measured figureS54. Saves £800 to £934 at the 37.20p day rateS62
- Exported: 1,434 to 1,075 kWh. Not counted: export payments are left out of these figures.
- Winter top-up: from November to February (120 days) the battery also fills overnight and covers 5 kWh of daytime use. 600 kWh × 37.20p = £223, less 667 kWh to charge it × 17.79p = £119. Net £104. The 5 kWh a day and the 10% charging loss are our assumptions.
- Charging the car overnight saves money on its own, with or without solar, so it is not counted here.
- Simple payback: £7,000 ÷ £1,038 = 6.7 years, to £10,000 ÷ £904 = 11.1 years. No price rises, finance or tax relief included.
Worked examples
Businesses
Two example systems, worked out from published figures. They are examples, not customers. Your free survey gives your own figures.
Worked example
Business A: 68 panels (29.92 kW) on a small commercial unit
A site using at least 50,000 kWh a year, mostly on weekdays.
System
68 × 440 W panels, 29.92 kW, three-phase
Cost
£36,024, or £28,819 after grant
Makes
24,378 kWh a year
First-year saving
£3,531 to £5,296
Payback
5.4 to 8.2 years with grant
Payback counts savings on your bill only, not export payments. We confirm at your survey whether export payments apply to yours.
How we worked this out
- Cost: 29.92 kW × £1,204 per kW, the 2025-26 median for 10 to 50 kWS42S43, excluding VAT
- NISEP grant: 20% (£7,205), cap £30,000S56S57. No order can be placed before the grant offer.
- Output: 29.92 kW × 823 kWh per kW a year, the measured average for all NI solar in 2025S40, less 1% first-year wearS60 = 24,378 kWh
- Used on site: shown as 60% to 90% (14,627 to 21,940 kWh). Saves £3,531 to £5,296 at 24.14p, the UK business averageS51. Small businesses often pay moreS52, which shortens payback.
- Exported: 9,751 to 2,438 kWh. Not counted: export payments are left out of these figures.
- Without the grant: 6.8 to 10.2 years. Capital allowancesS31 are not included.
Worked example
Business B: 227 panels (99.88 kW) on a larger site
A site using at least 200,000 kWh a year.
System
227 × 440 W panels, 99.88 kW, three-phase
Cost
£120,256, or £96,205 after grant
Makes
81,379 kWh a year
First-year saving
£11,787 to £17,680
Payback
5.4 to 8.2 years with grant
No export payments counted: Power NI’s export price covers systems up to 50 kW.
How we worked this out
- Cost: 99.88 kW × £1,204 per kW, the 2025-26 median for 10 to 50 kWS42S43, excluding VAT. No published figure above 50 kW and cost per kW falls with size, so this is likely high. Grid connection costs not included.
- NISEP grant: 20% (£24,051), cap £30,000S56S57. No order can be placed before the grant offer.
- Output: 99.88 kW × 823 kWh per kW a year, the measured average for all NI solar in 2025S40, less 1% first-year wearS60 = 81,379 kWh
- Used on site: shown as 60% to 90% (48,827 to 73,241 kWh). Saves £11,787 to £17,680 at 24.14p, the UK business averageS51. Small businesses often pay moreS52, which shortens payback.
- Export valued at £0: the Power NI export price covers systems up to 50 kWS50.
- Without the grant: 6.8 to 10.2 years. Capital allowancesS31 are not included.
Worked examples
Farms
Two example systems, worked out from published figures. They are examples, not customers. Your free survey gives your own figures.
Worked example
Farm A: 91 panels (40.04 kW) on a dairy shed
A dairy producing 1.5 million litres a year, using about 63,500 kWhS59.
System
91 × 440 W panels, 40.04 kW, three-phase
Cost
£48,208, no grant counted
Makes
32,623 kWh a year
First-year saving
£3,938 to £6,300
Payback
7.7 to 12.2 years
Payback counts savings on your bill only, not export payments. We confirm at your survey whether export payments apply to yours.
Farm businesses may qualify for the NISEP business grant; we check this at survey.
How we worked this out
- Cost: 40.04 kW × £1,204 per kW, the 2025-26 median for 10 to 50 kWS42S43, excluding VAT
- Farm use: 1,500,000 litres × 42.34 Wh per litreS59. 62% of dairy use falls between 9am and midnightS59. East-west sheds may make less: your survey checks your roof.
- Output: 40.04 kW × 823 kWh per kW a year, the measured average for all NI solar in 2025S40, less 1% first-year wearS60 = 32,623 kWh
- Used on the farm: shown as 50% to 80% (16,312 to 26,098 kWh). Saves £3,938 to £6,300 at 24.14p, the UK business averageS51. Small businesses often pay moreS52, which shortens payback.
- Exported: 16,311 to 6,525 kWh. Not counted: export payments are left out of these figures.
- Simple payback: £48,208 ÷ £6,300 = 7.7 years, to £48,208 ÷ £3,938 = 12.2 years. No grant counted. Capital allowancesS31 are not included.
Worked example
Farm B: 113 panels (49.72 kW) on a larger dairy
A dairy producing 3 million litres a year, using about 127,000 kWhS59, with milking, cooling and water heating through the day.
System
113 × 440 W panels, 49.72 kW, three-phase
Cost
£59,863, no grant counted
Makes
40,510 kWh a year
First-year saving
£6,845 to £8,801
Payback
6.8 to 8.7 years
Payback counts savings on your bill only, not export payments. We confirm at your survey whether export payments apply to yours.
Farm businesses may qualify for the NISEP business grant; we check this at survey.
How we worked this out
- Cost: 49.72 kW × £1,204 per kW, the 2025-26 median for 10 to 50 kWS42S43, excluding VAT
- Farm use: 3,000,000 litres × 42.34 Wh per litreS59. The system makes about a third of that, and 62% of dairy use falls between 9am and midnightS59, so more of it is used on the farm than on Farm A. Sized just under 50 kW so the Power NI export price appliesS50. Three-phase, approved under G99/NI firstS21.
- Output: 49.72 kW × 823 kWh per kW a year, the measured average for all NI solar in 2025S40, less 1% first-year wearS60 = 40,510 kWh
- Used on the farm: shown as 70% to 90% (28,357 to 36,459 kWh). Saves £6,845 to £8,801 at 24.14p, the UK business averageS51. Small businesses often pay moreS52, which shortens payback.
- Exported: 12,153 to 4,051 kWh. Not counted: export payments are left out of these figures.
- Simple payback: £59,863 ÷ £8,801 = 6.8 years, to £59,863 ÷ £6,845 = 8.7 years. No grant counted. Capital allowancesS31 are not included.
How we work it out
Our method
- Simple payback is the cost after any grant, divided by the first-year saving on the bill. Export payments are not counted. It leaves out price rises, finance, tax relief and maintenance.
- Where a figure is not published, we say so and show a range rather than a single number.
- Your survey replaces our assumptions with your roof, your usage and your tariff.
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