Fox ESS H-series hybrid upgrade: +£405
Replaces the standard string inverter with a Fox ESS H-series hybrid inverter so DC battery storage can be connected on day one or added later.
2026 Pricing Guide · Birmingham & Solihull
How much do solar panels cost in Birmingham? (2026)
Our popular 4 to 4.7 kWp domestic solar systems (8 to 10 panels) cost around £4,600 to £5,100, with a 10-panel (4.65 kWp) solar-only system priced at £5,085 in our instant design tool.
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
Quick summary: solar-only price bands in Birmingham & Solihull
Most national solar websites hide their pricing behind a callback form. At Solar City, we publish the exact indicative cash bands generated by our online instant design tool for homes across Birmingham, Solihull and our 40-mile West Midlands service area.
| System size band | Panels & kWp | Indicative cash band (solar only) | Specification & typical home |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 3 kWp | 6 to 7 panels (2.79 to 3.26 kWp) | Around £3,800 to £4,250 | 465W AIKO Neostar 2S panels with Fox ESS string inverter |
| About 4 to 4.7 kWp | 8 to 10 panels (3.72 to 4.65 kWp) | Around £4,600 to £5,100 | Typical 3-bedroom semi or detached roof (for example, 10 panels / 4.65 kWp is £5,085) |
| About 6 kWp | 13 panels (6.05 kWp) | Around £6,000 | Larger roof or dual-aspect array with Fox ESS string inverter |
| About 7 to 7.4 kWp | 15 to 16 panels (6.98 to 7.44 kWp) | Around £6,500 to £6,950 | High-demand household or multi-roof system |
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
Full 6 to 16 panel solar-only price table (465W AIKO + Fox ESS)
These figures are captured directly from our instant design tool using 465W AIKO Neostar 2S all-black panels and an auto-selected Fox ESS string inverter on a standard single roof plane. Systems above 16 panels are priced bespoke after a desktop review.
| Number of panels | Array size (kWp) | Indicative cash price (solar only) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 panels | 2.79 kWp | £3,802.50 |
| 7 panels | 3.26 kWp | £4,252.50 |
| 8 panels | 3.72 kWp | £4,590 |
| 9 panels | 4.18 kWp | £4,815 |
| 10 panels | 4.65 kWp | £5,085 |
| 11 panels | 5.12 kWp | £5,377.50 |
| 12 panels | 5.58 kWp | £5,490 |
| 13 panels | 6.05 kWp | £5,985 |
| 14 panels | 6.51 kWp | £6,210 |
| 15 panels | 6.98 kWp | £6,525 |
| 16 panels | 7.44 kWp | £6,952.50 |
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
Battery storage, hybrid inverter and EV charger add-ons
Adding battery storage lets you store surplus daytime solar electricity to run your home in the evening or charge from cheap off-peak overnight tariffs. Read our detailed Fox ESS battery and hybrid inverter guide for technical specs and local case studies.
Fox ESS EP6 (~5.2 kWh usable): +£945
Compact LFP battery module suited to moderate evening demand or stacked in pairs for ~10.4 kWh usable capacity.
Fox ESS EP12 (~10.4 kWh usable): +£2,160
Single-enclosure high-capacity battery for larger families, heat pumps or overnight tariff shifting. Optional EV charger: £693 each.
Worked examples: Solar + Fox ESS hybrid & battery
| Complete Fox ESS solar + battery configuration | Indicative cash price |
|---|---|
| 10 panels (4.65 kWp) + Fox H-series hybrid + Fox EP6 x1 (~5.2 kWh usable) | £6,435 |
| 10 panels (4.65 kWp) + Fox H-series hybrid + Fox EP12 x1 (~10.4 kWh usable) | £7,650 |
| 13 panels (6.05 kWp) + Fox H-series hybrid + Fox EP6 x2 (~10.4 kWh usable) | £8,280 |
Worked examples: All-in-one Sigenergy SigenStor systems
| Complete Sigenergy SigenStor configuration | Indicative cash price |
|---|---|
| 8 panels (3.96 kWp, 495W AIKO) + SigenStor EC 3.6 kW + 6.0 kWh battery | £7,402.50 |
| 8 panels (3.96 kWp, 495W AIKO) + SigenStor EC 3.6 kW + 9.04 kWh battery | £7,942.50 |
| 16 panels (7.92 kWp, 495W AIKO) + SigenStor EC 8.0 kW + 9.04 kWh battery | £10,980 |
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
Sample 10-panel generation, annual benefit and payback
For a sample 10-panel (4.65 kWp) solar-only array on a 35-degree pitched roof in Birmingham or Solihull (priced at £5,085 in the design tool before scaffolding), our design model estimates:
- Estimated annual generation: ~4,278 kWh per year (depending on roof azimuth, pitch and local shading)
- Estimated annual benefit: around £675-£900 per year combining self-consumed solar electricity and exported surplus
- Indicative simple payback: around 6.0 to 8.0 years modelled at 26p/kWh grid import and 12p/kWh Ofgem Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) export
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
What is included in every installation
All indicative figures from our residential solar installation team include:
- Full MCS certified installation by our own team
- G98 DNO notification (or G99 application support where required)
- IWA insurance-backed warranty
- 5-year defects warranty
- Online monitoring portal and customer app
Verify our MCS standards at mcscertified.com and read our West Midlands MCS installer guide.
What changes the price at survey?
An online tool cannot see inside your loft or around every chimney stack. When our surveyor visits your Birmingham or Solihull home, these are the four practical factors that confirm your final fixed quote:
1. Scaffolding and safe roof access
Scaffolding is priced per elevation that needs panels, typically around £400-£500 per side for a standard two-storey house. Three-storey townhouses, conservatories below the eaves or restricted side passages can require bridged or specialist scaffolding.
2. Multi-aspect roofs and shading
Splitting panels across two roof faces (for example east and west, or main roof plus garage) requires additional rails, roof hooks, DC isolators and scaffolding on the second elevation.
3. Roof covering (on-roof vs in-roof)
Standard concrete interlocking tiles are the fastest to bracket. Rosemary clay tiles, natural slate, flat roofs or integrated in-roof mounting trays (popular on new-build and re-roof projects) use different flashing and mounting hardware.
4. DNO G99 applications (>7.3 kW AC)
Systems up to 3.68 kW per phase connect under G98 notification. Larger inverters (and designs above 7.3 kW AC in our design tool) require a prior G99 application to the DNO, which can add a DNO assessment fee and lead time before installation.
Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
Birmingham solar panel cost FAQs
Direct answers on 2026 solar panel and battery costs across Birmingham, Solihull and the West Midlands.
How much does a typical 4 to 4.7 kWp (8 to 10 panel) solar panel system cost in Birmingham?
In our instant design tool, a 4 to 4.7 kWp solar-only system (8 to 10 panels) costs around £4,600 to £5,100: 8 panels (3.72 kWp) is £4,590, 9 panels (4.18 kWp) is £4,815, and 10 panels (4.65 kWp) using 465W AIKO Neostar 2S panels and a Fox ESS string inverter has an indicative cash price of £5,085. Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
How much does adding a home battery increase the price of solar panels?
In our design tool, upgrading from a string inverter to a Fox ESS H-series hybrid inverter adds £405, a Fox ESS EP6 battery (~5.2 kWh usable) adds £945, and a Fox ESS EP12 battery (~10.4 kWh usable) adds £2,160, bringing a 10-panel (4.65 kWp) system with a Fox EP6 to £6,435 or £7,650 with a Fox EP12. Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
Is scaffolding included in the instant design tool price?
No, scaffolding is priced separately after we assess your roof access and property height, typically around £400-£500 per roof side. Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
What is included in Solar City’s indicative solar installation prices?
Every Solar City installation includes full MCS-certified installation by our own team (NIC-1542), G98 DNO notification (or G99 application support where required), an IWA insurance-backed warranty, a 5-year defects warranty, and your online monitoring portal and customer app. Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
How much electricity and savings can a 10-panel system generate in Birmingham?
Based on our design tool assumptions for a 35-degree pitched roof in the Solihull and Birmingham area, a 10-panel (4.65 kWp) system generates around 4,278 kWh per year, delivering an estimated £675-£900 in annual bill savings and Smart Export Guarantee income, with an indicative payback of 6.0 to 8.0 years at 26p/kWh import and 12p/kWh export. Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
When does a domestic solar installation incur a DNO G99 application fee?
Single-phase systems up to 3.68 kW AC inverter rating are notified after installation under G98 at no DNO charge, whereas larger inverter setups (and designs above 7.3 kW AC in our tool) require a prior G99 application to National Grid Electricity Distribution, which can carry a DNO assessment fee and network check before installation. Every figure is indicative, from the Solar City design tool at solarcityuk.co.uk/design. Scaffolding is extra (around £400-£500 per side) and an on-site survey confirms your final design and price.
Price your own roof in 2 minutes
Draw on live satellite imagery in our instant design tool to see indicative cash prices for your address, or call our Tyseley team on 0121 707 9991.