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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in B70 (Sandwell)

See if solar pays off for you in Sandwell — 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
13.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£606
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,013
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 932 kWh/kW — 10 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 932 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)
932 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: £758, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1864 kWh 746 kWh 1118 kWh £191 £112 £303 £4,069 13.4 yrs £1,991
3 kW 2796 kWh 1118 kWh 1678 kWh £287 £168 £455 £6,104 13.4 yrs £2,987
4 kW 3728 kWh 1491 kWh 2237 kWh £382 £224 £606 £8,138 13.4 yrs £3,983
5 kW 4660 kWh 1864 kWh 2796 kWh £478 £280 £758 £10,173 13.4 yrs £4,979
6 kW 5592 kWh 2237 kWh 3355 kWh £574 £336 £909 £12,207 13.4 yrs £5,974
7 kW 6524 kWh 2610 kWh 3915 kWh £669 £391 £1,061 £14,242 13.4 yrs £6,970
8 kW 7456 kWh 2983 kWh 4474 kWh £765 £447 £1,212 £16,276 13.4 yrs £7,966

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: £903, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1864 kWh 1118 kWh 746 kWh £287 £75 £361 £6,169 17.1 yrs £1,058
3 kW 2796 kWh 1678 kWh 1118 kWh £430 £112 £542 £8,204 15.1 yrs £2,636
4 kW 3728 kWh 2237 kWh 1491 kWh £574 £149 £723 £10,238 14.2 yrs £4,215
5 kW 4660 kWh 2796 kWh 1864 kWh £717 £186 £903 £12,273 13.6 yrs £5,794
6 kW 5592 kWh 3355 kWh 2237 kWh £860 £224 £1,084 £14,307 13.2 yrs £7,373
7 kW 6524 kWh 3915 kWh 2610 kWh £1,004 £261 £1,265 £16,342 12.9 yrs £8,952
8 kW 7456 kWh 4474 kWh 2983 kWh £1,147 £298 £1,445 £18,376 12.7 yrs £10,531

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: £976, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1864 kWh 1305 kWh 559 kWh £335 £56 £390 £7,569 19.4 yrs £241
3 kW 2796 kWh 1957 kWh 839 kWh £502 £84 £586 £9,604 16.4 yrs £2,111
4 kW 3728 kWh 2610 kWh 1118 kWh £669 £112 £781 £11,638 14.9 yrs £3,981
5 kW 4660 kWh 3262 kWh 1398 kWh £836 £140 £976 £13,673 14.0 yrs £5,852
6 kW 5592 kWh 3915 kWh 1678 kWh £1,004 £168 £1,171 £15,707 13.4 yrs £7,722
7 kW 6524 kWh 4567 kWh 1957 kWh £1,171 £196 £1,367 £17,742 13.0 yrs £9,593
8 kW 7456 kWh 5219 kWh 2237 kWh £1,338 £224 £1,562 £19,776 12.7 yrs £11,463

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: £998, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1864 kWh 1361 kWh 503 kWh £349 £50 £399 £9,319 23.3 yrs £-1,334
3 kW 2796 kWh 2041 kWh 755 kWh £523 £75 £599 £11,354 19.0 yrs £623
4 kW 3728 kWh 2722 kWh 1007 kWh £698 £101 £798 £13,388 16.8 yrs £2,581
5 kW 4660 kWh 3402 kWh 1258 kWh £872 £126 £998 £15,423 15.5 yrs £4,539
6 kW 5592 kWh 4082 kWh 1510 kWh £1,047 £151 £1,198 £17,457 14.6 yrs £6,497
7 kW 6524 kWh 4763 kWh 1762 kWh £1,221 £176 £1,397 £19,492 13.9 yrs £8,455
8 kW 7456 kWh 5443 kWh 2013 kWh £1,396 £201 £1,597 £21,526 13.5 yrs £10,413

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: £1,013, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1864 kWh 1398 kWh 466 kWh £358 £47 £405 £11,069 27.3 yrs £-2,968
3 kW 2796 kWh 2097 kWh 699 kWh £538 £70 £608 £13,104 21.6 yrs £-952
4 kW 3728 kWh 2796 kWh 932 kWh £717 £93 £810 £15,138 18.7 yrs £1,065
5 kW 4660 kWh 3495 kWh 1165 kWh £896 £117 £1,013 £17,173 17.0 yrs £3,081
6 kW 5592 kWh 4194 kWh 1398 kWh £1,075 £140 £1,215 £19,207 15.8 yrs £5,097
7 kW 6524 kWh 4893 kWh 1631 kWh £1,255 £163 £1,418 £21,242 15.0 yrs £7,113
8 kW 7456 kWh 5592 kWh 1864 kWh £1,434 £186 £1,620 £23,276 14.4 yrs £9,129

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: £1,027, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1864 kWh 1435 kWh 429 kWh £368 £43 £411 £13,519 32.9 yrs £-5,301
3 kW 2796 kWh 2153 kWh 643 kWh £552 £64 £616 £15,554 25.2 yrs £-3,227
4 kW 3728 kWh 2871 kWh 857 kWh £736 £86 £822 £17,588 21.4 yrs £-1,152
5 kW 4660 kWh 3588 kWh 1072 kWh £920 £107 £1,027 £19,623 19.1 yrs £922
6 kW 5592 kWh 4306 kWh 1286 kWh £1,104 £129 £1,233 £21,657 17.6 yrs £2,997
7 kW 6524 kWh 5024 kWh 1501 kWh £1,288 £150 £1,438 £23,692 16.5 yrs £5,071
8 kW 7456 kWh 5741 kWh 1715 kWh £1,472 £171 £1,644 £25,726 15.7 yrs £7,146

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 B70

Figures below are tailored to B70 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1988 of 2182
4.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1959 of 2997
11.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£694 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2535 of 2997
27.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£193 fixed • ~£694 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.64p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.00p/day
Local Sunshine
932kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~932 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: 56% • Flats: 38% • Bungalows: 5% Based on 9,212 properties

Coverage

Sandwell (100%)

Areas Covered

Greets Green and Lyng, West Bromwich Central, Wednesbury South, Great Bridge, Hateley Heath

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

B69 (Sandwell)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B70
B71 (Sandwell)
≈2.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~935 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B70
B67 (Sandwell)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~933 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B70
B66 (Sandwell)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~933 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B70
DY4 (Sandwell)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~932 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B70
B68 (Sandwell)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~933 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B70

Similar sunshine across the UK

NE2 (Newcastle upon Tyne)
~932 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B70
S65 (Rotherham)
~932 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B70
CW3 (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
~932 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B70