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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in B23 (Birmingham)

See if solar pays off for you in Birmingham — 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
13.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£612
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,174
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 Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.64p/kWh with a 53.00p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 942 kWh/kW — 0 below the regional median (942).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 942 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
53.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
942 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: £766, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 754 kWh 1130 kWh £193 £113 £306 £4,069 13.3 yrs £2,056
3 kW 2826 kWh 1130 kWh 1696 kWh £290 £170 £459 £6,104 13.3 yrs £3,084
4 kW 3768 kWh 1507 kWh 2261 kWh £386 £226 £612 £8,138 13.3 yrs £4,112
5 kW 4710 kWh 1884 kWh 2826 kWh £483 £283 £766 £10,173 13.3 yrs £5,140
6 kW 5652 kWh 2261 kWh 3391 kWh £580 £339 £919 £12,207 13.3 yrs £6,168
7 kW 6594 kWh 2637 kWh 3956 kWh £676 £396 £1,072 £14,242 13.3 yrs £7,196
8 kW 7536 kWh 3014 kWh 4521 kWh £773 £452 £1,225 £16,276 13.3 yrs £8,224

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: £913, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1130 kWh 754 kWh £290 £75 £365 £6,169 16.9 yrs £1,134
3 kW 2826 kWh 1696 kWh 1130 kWh £435 £113 £548 £8,204 15.0 yrs £2,752
4 kW 3768 kWh 2261 kWh 1507 kWh £580 £151 £730 £10,238 14.0 yrs £4,369
5 kW 4710 kWh 2826 kWh 1884 kWh £725 £188 £913 £12,273 13.4 yrs £5,986
6 kW 5652 kWh 3391 kWh 2261 kWh £869 £226 £1,096 £14,307 13.1 yrs £7,603
7 kW 6594 kWh 3956 kWh 2637 kWh £1,014 £264 £1,278 £16,342 12.8 yrs £9,221
8 kW 7536 kWh 4521 kWh 3014 kWh £1,159 £301 £1,461 £18,376 12.6 yrs £10,838

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: £987, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1319 kWh 565 kWh £338 £57 £395 £7,569 19.2 yrs £324
3 kW 2826 kWh 1978 kWh 848 kWh £507 £85 £592 £9,604 16.2 yrs £2,236
4 kW 3768 kWh 2637 kWh 1130 kWh £676 £113 £789 £11,638 14.7 yrs £4,148
5 kW 4710 kWh 3297 kWh 1413 kWh £845 £141 £987 £13,673 13.9 yrs £6,059
6 kW 5652 kWh 3956 kWh 1696 kWh £1,014 £170 £1,184 £15,707 13.3 yrs £7,971
7 kW 6594 kWh 4616 kWh 1978 kWh £1,183 £198 £1,381 £17,742 12.8 yrs £9,883
8 kW 7536 kWh 5275 kWh 2261 kWh £1,352 £226 £1,579 £19,776 12.5 yrs £11,795

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: £1,009, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1375 kWh 509 kWh £353 £51 £403 £9,319 23.1 yrs £-1,249
3 kW 2826 kWh 2063 kWh 763 kWh £529 £76 £605 £11,354 18.8 yrs £751
4 kW 3768 kWh 2750 kWh 1017 kWh £705 £102 £807 £13,388 16.6 yrs £2,751
5 kW 4710 kWh 3438 kWh 1272 kWh £882 £127 £1,009 £15,423 15.3 yrs £4,751
6 kW 5652 kWh 4126 kWh 1526 kWh £1,058 £153 £1,210 £17,457 14.4 yrs £6,752
7 kW 6594 kWh 4813 kWh 1780 kWh £1,234 £178 £1,412 £19,492 13.8 yrs £8,752
8 kW 7536 kWh 5501 kWh 2035 kWh £1,410 £203 £1,614 £21,526 13.3 yrs £10,752

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: £1,023, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1413 kWh 471 kWh £362 £47 £409 £11,069 27.0 yrs £-2,882
3 kW 2826 kWh 2119 kWh 706 kWh £543 £71 £614 £13,104 21.3 yrs £-822
4 kW 3768 kWh 2826 kWh 942 kWh £725 £94 £819 £15,138 18.5 yrs £1,237
5 kW 4710 kWh 3532 kWh 1177 kWh £906 £118 £1,023 £17,173 16.8 yrs £3,296
6 kW 5652 kWh 4239 kWh 1413 kWh £1,087 £141 £1,228 £19,207 15.6 yrs £5,355
7 kW 6594 kWh 4945 kWh 1648 kWh £1,268 £165 £1,433 £21,242 14.8 yrs £7,414
8 kW 7536 kWh 5652 kWh 1884 kWh £1,449 £188 £1,637 £23,276 14.2 yrs £9,474

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: £1,038, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1884 kWh 1451 kWh 433 kWh £372 £43 £415 £13,519 32.6 yrs £-5,214
3 kW 2826 kWh 2176 kWh 650 kWh £558 £65 £623 £15,554 25.0 yrs £-3,096
4 kW 3768 kWh 2901 kWh 867 kWh £744 £87 £831 £17,588 21.2 yrs £-977
5 kW 4710 kWh 3627 kWh 1083 kWh £930 £108 £1,038 £19,623 18.9 yrs £1,141
6 kW 5652 kWh 4352 kWh 1300 kWh £1,116 £130 £1,246 £21,657 17.4 yrs £3,259
7 kW 6594 kWh 5077 kWh 1517 kWh £1,302 £152 £1,453 £23,692 16.3 yrs £5,377
8 kW 7536 kWh 5802 kWh 1733 kWh £1,488 £173 £1,661 £25,726 15.5 yrs £7,495

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 B23

Figures below are tailored to B23 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1858 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1818 of 2997
11.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£701 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2472 of 2997
27.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£193 fixed • ~£701 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.64p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.00p/day
Local Sunshine
942kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~942 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 60% • Flats: 33% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 14,688 properties

Coverage

Birmingham (100%)

Areas Covered

Erdington, Stockland Green, Perry Common, Gravelly Hill, Sutton Vesey, Perry Barr

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 Midlands

B24 (Birmingham)
≈1.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~942 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B23
B44 (Birmingham)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~938 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B23
B6 (Birmingham)
≈3.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~940 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B23
B8 (Birmingham)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~939 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B23
B72 (Birmingham)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~942 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B23
B42 (Birmingham)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~936 kWh/kWp · -1% vs B23

Similar sunshine across the UK

NG8 (Nottingham)
~942 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B23
CH4 (Cheshire West and Chester)
~942 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B23
NG7 (Nottingham)
~942 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B23