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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in AL1 (St Albans)

See if solar pays off for you in St Albans — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

Solar Calculator

Change the settings below to see how costs and savings work for your situation.

System Size

Roof Direction

Battery Storage

Export Value

Your Numbers

Break-even
12.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£824
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,437
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

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How we calculate this

Solar generation: Based on typical south-facing roof at 35° angle. We account for weather, dirt, and system losses (14%).

How much you'll use directly:

  • Without battery: You'll use about 40% of what you generate. The rest gets sold back to the grid.
  • With 5 kWh battery: You'll use about 70% (battery stores extra for evening use).
  • With 10 kWh battery: You'll use about 75% (more storage means less exported).
  • Panel-only payback: Bigger systems don’t shorten payback—cost and savings rise together per kW.
  • Battery & payback: Batteries raise self-use and cut bills, but added hardware cost often lengthens break-even at typical UK rates.
  • When a battery can still make sense:
    • Evening-heavy usage patterns
    • Time-of-use tariffs / cheap night rates
    • Low export rate vs. high unit rate
    • Heat pump or EV charging synergy
    • Optional backup/resilience (system-dependent)
    • Lower evening-hour CO₂ vs. grid

Costs: Battery prices are typically £700 per kWh. Export tariffs vary by supplier (usually 5–15p per kWh).

Grid connection: Systems up to about 3.7 kW typically need just a notification (G98). Larger systems may need permission (G99).

These are typical values based on average usage patterns. Your actual results will vary based on your roof, shading, and how you use electricity.

Your area in context

In Eastern, the current unit rate is 26.53p/kWh with a 48.25p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 993 kWh/kW — 17 below the regional median (1009).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 993 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
48.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
993 kWh/kW
Export price (baseline)
10p/kWh

Browse the scenarios below. Each battery size has its own expand — open the one that matches your plan (or just explore). For each system size (2–8 kW) we show annual output, how much you use directly, what gets exported, annual benefit, upfront cost, break-even, and a 20-year net. Negative numbers are possible — that’s the honest trade-off when adding more battery than your usage profile justifies.

No battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £824, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1985 kWh 794 kWh 1191 kWh £211 £119 £330 £4,069 12.3 yrs £2,526
3 kW 2978 kWh 1191 kWh 1787 kWh £316 £179 £495 £6,104 12.3 yrs £3,789
4 kW 3970 kWh 1588 kWh 2382 kWh £421 £238 £660 £8,138 12.3 yrs £5,052
5 kW 4963 kWh 1985 kWh 2978 kWh £527 £298 £824 £10,173 12.3 yrs £6,315
6 kW 5955 kWh 2382 kWh 3573 kWh £632 £357 £989 £12,207 12.3 yrs £7,578
7 kW 6948 kWh 2779 kWh 4169 kWh £737 £417 £1,154 £14,242 12.3 yrs £8,841
8 kW 7940 kWh 3176 kWh 4764 kWh £843 £476 £1,319 £16,276 12.3 yrs £10,104

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £988, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1985 kWh 1191 kWh 794 kWh £316 £79 £395 £6,169 15.6 yrs £1,739
3 kW 2978 kWh 1787 kWh 1191 kWh £474 £119 £593 £8,204 13.8 yrs £3,658
4 kW 3970 kWh 2382 kWh 1588 kWh £632 £159 £791 £10,238 12.9 yrs £5,577
5 kW 4963 kWh 2978 kWh 1985 kWh £790 £199 £988 £12,273 12.4 yrs £7,496
6 kW 5955 kWh 3573 kWh 2382 kWh £948 £238 £1,186 £14,307 12.1 yrs £9,416
7 kW 6948 kWh 4169 kWh 2779 kWh £1,106 £278 £1,384 £16,342 11.8 yrs £11,335
8 kW 7940 kWh 4764 kWh 3176 kWh £1,264 £318 £1,582 £18,376 11.6 yrs £13,254

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,070, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1985 kWh 1390 kWh 596 kWh £369 £60 £428 £7,569 17.7 yrs £995
3 kW 2978 kWh 2084 kWh 893 kWh £553 £89 £642 £9,604 15.0 yrs £3,242
4 kW 3970 kWh 2779 kWh 1191 kWh £737 £119 £856 £11,638 13.6 yrs £5,490
5 kW 4963 kWh 3474 kWh 1489 kWh £922 £149 £1,070 £13,673 12.8 yrs £7,737
6 kW 5955 kWh 4169 kWh 1787 kWh £1,106 £179 £1,285 £15,707 12.2 yrs £9,985
7 kW 6948 kWh 4863 kWh 2084 kWh £1,290 £208 £1,499 £17,742 11.8 yrs £12,232
8 kW 7940 kWh 5558 kWh 2382 kWh £1,475 £238 £1,713 £19,776 11.5 yrs £14,479

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,095, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1985 kWh 1449 kWh 536 kWh £384 £54 £438 £9,319 21.3 yrs £-558
3 kW 2978 kWh 2174 kWh 804 kWh £577 £80 £657 £11,354 17.3 yrs £1,788
4 kW 3970 kWh 2898 kWh 1072 kWh £769 £107 £876 £13,388 15.3 yrs £4,133
5 kW 4963 kWh 3623 kWh 1340 kWh £961 £134 £1,095 £15,423 14.1 yrs £6,479
6 kW 5955 kWh 4347 kWh 1608 kWh £1,153 £161 £1,314 £17,457 13.3 yrs £8,825
7 kW 6948 kWh 5072 kWh 1876 kWh £1,346 £188 £1,533 £19,492 12.7 yrs £11,171
8 kW 7940 kWh 5796 kWh 2144 kWh £1,538 £214 £1,752 £21,526 12.3 yrs £13,517

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,111, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1985 kWh 1489 kWh 496 kWh £395 £50 £445 £11,069 24.9 yrs £-2,177
3 kW 2978 kWh 2233 kWh 744 kWh £592 £74 £667 £13,104 19.6 yrs £234
4 kW 3970 kWh 2978 kWh 993 kWh £790 £99 £889 £15,138 17.0 yrs £2,646
5 kW 4963 kWh 3722 kWh 1241 kWh £987 £124 £1,111 £17,173 15.4 yrs £5,057
6 kW 5955 kWh 4466 kWh 1489 kWh £1,185 £149 £1,334 £19,207 14.4 yrs £7,469
7 kW 6948 kWh 5211 kWh 1737 kWh £1,382 £174 £1,556 £21,242 13.7 yrs £9,880
8 kW 7940 kWh 5955 kWh 1985 kWh £1,580 £199 £1,778 £23,276 13.1 yrs £12,292

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,128, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1985 kWh 1528 kWh 457 kWh £406 £46 £451 £13,519 30.0 yrs £-4,496
3 kW 2978 kWh 2293 kWh 685 kWh £608 £68 £677 £15,554 23.0 yrs £-2,019
4 kW 3970 kWh 3057 kWh 913 kWh £811 £91 £902 £17,588 19.5 yrs £458
5 kW 4963 kWh 3821 kWh 1141 kWh £1,014 £114 £1,128 £19,623 17.4 yrs £2,936
6 kW 5955 kWh 4585 kWh 1370 kWh £1,217 £137 £1,353 £21,657 16.0 yrs £5,413
7 kW 6948 kWh 5350 kWh 1598 kWh £1,419 £160 £1,579 £23,692 15.0 yrs £7,890
8 kW 7940 kWh 6114 kWh 1826 kWh £1,622 £183 £1,805 £25,726 14.3 yrs £10,367

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

Figures are illustrative and use the same method as the calculator above. For exact results, adjust your roof direction, tariff, and usage in the calculator.

Insights for AL1

Figures below are tailored to AL1 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #2033 of 2182
4.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #752 of 2997
10.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£947 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1157 of 2997
18.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£947 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
993kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~993 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 47% • Flats: 48% • Bungalows: 2% Based on 12,483 properties

Coverage

St Albans (100%)

Areas Covered

Hill End, St Peters, Clarence, Sopwell, Cunningham, Bernards Heath, Marshalswick West, Verulam

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q4 2025

Installation costs: MCS certified installer data, March 2025

Property data: EPC open data (Open Government Licence), aggregated

All estimates are typical values. Actual results vary based on your specific situation, roof characteristics, and usage patterns.

Compare nearby areas

Nearby in Eastern

AL4 (St Albans)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AL1
AL3 (St Albans)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AL1
AL2 (St Albans)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AL1
AL10 (Welwyn Hatfield)
≈6.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~991 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AL1
WD7 (Hertsmere)
≈7.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~987 kWh/kWp · -1% vs AL1
AL9 (Welwyn Hatfield)
≈7.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~991 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AL1

Similar sunshine across the UK

SN17 (Swindon)
~993 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AL1
GU11 (Rushmoor)
~993 kWh/kWp · +0% vs AL1
TA24 (Somerset)
~992 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AL1