Solar panel cost & savings in Dorset
A real cost, saving and payback range for a Dorset home like yours, not a national average. The figures on this page come from installs we have actually done, and we confirm your own exactly at a free survey.
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At a glance
The honest headline: typical cost, saving and payback
For an average Dorset home (3,500–4,000 kWh/yr usage), a 5kW solar and battery system starts from around £8,825 and typically saves £800–£1,000 in the first year, with payback in 6–8 years, as low as 4–5 years with sensible oversizing. These are illustrative ranges based on real New Gen installs, never a guarantee, your exact numbers depend on your roof, usage and tariff.
Typical cost
From £8,825
Typical year-one saving
£800–£1,000
Typical payback
6–8 years
See what solar could do for your home
Answer a few quick questions about your property and one of our team will put together a savings plan for you. A real person works it out, so the numbers hold up.
Most Dorset installs we do pay back in six to eight years, and as low as four to five with sensible oversizing. Your own figures depend on your usage, roof and tariff, which is exactly what the plan works out.
- A payback estimate for your roof and your usage, not a national average
- Worked out by hand by a New Gen engineer, not a calculator
- Free, and there is no obligation at the end of it
What a real system costs here
Honest pricing by system size, no hiding behind a form
5kW / 10-panel system + 10kWh battery
From £8,825 inc. scaffold
Our most common residential spec
Average residential order (hybrid inverter + battery)
~£10,000
Exact figure confirmed at survey, against your usage
0% VAT already applies to most residential solar and battery installs, and the Smart Export Guarantee pays you for what you export, see our grants, SEG and finance guide for the full breakdown.
£800–£1,000
Typical year-one saving
£1,600
Phil's own first-year saving, tracked against real bills
6–8 yrs
Typical payback (as low as 4–5 with sensible oversizing)
How it works, and what size your home needs
Solar panels convert daylight into electricity you use directly, store in a battery, or export for a Smart Export Guarantee payment.
Sized around your usage
We design around your real annual usage and tariff, not a one-size template. That's the biggest single reason two identical-looking Dorset houses can have different quotes: different usage, different system.
How much roof you need
A typical home needs roughly 21m² of usable, well-oriented roof for a 4.5kW system, around 8–10 panels. Shaded or north-facing roof space doesn't count towards that figure, we'll assess yours honestly at survey.
Is 6kW enough?
For most homes, yes, a 5–6kW system with a battery comfortably covers typical daytime and evening usage across Bournemouth, Poole and the wider BCP area. Larger households or EV owners sometimes need more, we'll size it around what you actually use.
Battery and export
A hybrid inverter and battery store what you don't use immediately, so it's available in the evening instead of being sold back cheaply. Anything genuinely left over exports for a Smart Export Guarantee payment.
The inverter matters as much as the panel
The inverter is the weakest link in a system, it's the part most likely to need attention over 25 years. We fit hybrid inverters with a strong warranty rather than the cheapest option on the shelf.
The honest answer
Is solar worth it? Including when we'd tell you not to bother
For most Dorset homes, yes, we aim to get every customer's payback under 7 years, with most landing 6–8 years. But we'll say so plainly when it isn't: a heavily shaded or purely north-facing roof, or a very low annual usage, can push payback out further than it's worth, and we'd rather turn the job down than fit a system that will disappoint you. It isn't a scam or a catch, it's real generation, a real export payment, and an honest number we'll show you before you commit, not after. We treat every customer as if their money is our own, which is exactly why we'll talk you out of oversizing a system your roof or usage can't justify, and why we'd rather you compare our quote against someone else's than take our word for it.
Grants, SEG & finance, the short version
Bringing the cost down: what's actually available
Most homeowners don't qualify for a means-tested grant, but 0% VAT already applies to most residential solar and battery installs (until 2027), and the Smart Export Guarantee pays you for the power you export. Finance is available too, built into our quoting platform, though for many customers a home-improvement loan from their own bank works out better than ours, and we'll say so. See the full breakdown on our dedicated grants, SEG and finance guide.
Written by the New Gen Renewables team, MCS & NAPIT-certified installers · last updated 2026 · 6 min read
What Dorset homeowners say
Real Google reviews from New Gen solar and battery installs.
5.0
Adam Khodabaccus
We recently had solar panels and battery storage installed at our property in Poole by New Gen Renewables, and I couldn't be more impressed with the service we received. From the very start, the team were incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and professional. They took the time to explain everything clearly and made the whole process feel smooth and stress-free. We're already seeing the benefits of going solar.
Sue Windsor
I saw excellent reviews and wanted to use a local company. I was definitely not disappointed. From the start of the quote process right through to the final day of installation, I was impressed by every level of the staff at New Gen. They were not only professional but very friendly and helpful, even helping me work out Apps and the best electric company to deal with.
Neil Smith
Great service from New-Gen! Very personal and very reasonably priced. Had 24 panels installed with inverter and 2 batteries. All working perfectly.
What is the average price to have solar panels fitted?
A common 5kW / 10-panel system with a 10kWh battery starts from £8,825 including scaffold, the average residential order (hybrid inverter + battery) is around £10,000. Your exact figure depends on your roof, usage and tariff.
How much do solar panels cost for a 3-bedroom house in the UK?
For a typical 3-bedroom home, a 4.5–5kW system is common, roughly 8–10 panels needing around 21m² of usable roof, starting from around £8,825 with a battery included.
Are solar panels worth it in the UK?
For most Dorset homes, yes, we aim for payback under 7 years, with most customers landing 6–8 years. We'll tell you honestly if your roof or usage doesn't stack up rather than oversell it.
What is the average payback period for solar panels?
Typically 6–8 years, and as low as 4–5 years with sensible oversizing. This is illustrative based on real Dorset installs, never guaranteed, your exact figure depends on your usage, roof and tariff.
What does Martin Lewis say about solar panels, is there a catch?
The honest reality is that solar isn't a scam, but it isn't universally worth it either, a heavily shaded or north-facing roof, or very low usage, can make payback too long to be worthwhile. We'll say so plainly rather than oversell you a system.
Is 6kW enough to power a house?
For most homes, yes, a 5–6kW system paired with a battery comfortably covers typical daytime and evening usage. We confirm the exact size for your home at a free survey.
Are there grants or finance available for solar panels?
Most homeowners don't qualify for a means-tested grant, but 0% VAT already applies to most residential installs, and the Smart Export Guarantee pays you for what you export. See our dedicated grants, SEG and finance guide for the full picture.
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