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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in B91 (Solihull)

See if solar pays off for you in Solihull — 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
13.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£927
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,976
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 951 kWh/kW — 9 above the regional median (942).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 951 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)
951 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: £773, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1902 kWh 761 kWh 1141 kWh £195 £114 £309 £4,069 13.2 yrs £2,113
3 kW 2852 kWh 1141 kWh 1711 kWh £293 £171 £464 £6,104 13.2 yrs £3,170
4 kW 3803 kWh 1521 kWh 2282 kWh £390 £228 £618 £8,138 13.2 yrs £4,226
5 kW 4754 kWh 1902 kWh 2852 kWh £488 £285 £773 £10,173 13.2 yrs £5,283
6 kW 5705 kWh 2282 kWh 3423 kWh £585 £342 £927 £12,207 13.2 yrs £6,340
7 kW 6655 kWh 2662 kWh 3993 kWh £683 £399 £1,082 £14,242 13.2 yrs £7,396
8 kW 7606 kWh 3042 kWh 4564 kWh £780 £456 £1,236 £16,276 13.2 yrs £8,453

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: £921, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1902 kWh 1141 kWh 761 kWh £293 £76 £369 £6,169 16.7 yrs £1,203
3 kW 2852 kWh 1711 kWh 1141 kWh £439 £114 £553 £8,204 14.8 yrs £2,854
4 kW 3803 kWh 2282 kWh 1521 kWh £585 £152 £737 £10,238 13.9 yrs £4,506
5 kW 4754 kWh 2852 kWh 1902 kWh £731 £190 £921 £12,273 13.3 yrs £6,157
6 kW 5705 kWh 3423 kWh 2282 kWh £878 £228 £1,106 £14,307 12.9 yrs £7,808
7 kW 6655 kWh 3993 kWh 2662 kWh £1,024 £266 £1,290 £16,342 12.7 yrs £9,460
8 kW 7606 kWh 4564 kWh 3042 kWh £1,170 £304 £1,474 £18,376 12.5 yrs £11,111

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: £996, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1902 kWh 1331 kWh 570 kWh £341 £57 £398 £7,569 19.0 yrs £398
3 kW 2852 kWh 1997 kWh 856 kWh £512 £86 £597 £9,604 16.1 yrs £2,346
4 kW 3803 kWh 2662 kWh 1141 kWh £683 £114 £797 £11,638 14.6 yrs £4,295
5 kW 4754 kWh 3328 kWh 1426 kWh £853 £143 £996 £13,673 13.7 yrs £6,244
6 kW 5705 kWh 3993 kWh 1711 kWh £1,024 £171 £1,195 £15,707 13.1 yrs £8,193
7 kW 6655 kWh 4659 kWh 1997 kWh £1,194 £200 £1,394 £17,742 12.7 yrs £10,142
8 kW 7606 kWh 5324 kWh 2282 kWh £1,365 £228 £1,593 £19,776 12.4 yrs £12,090

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: £1,018, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1902 kWh 1388 kWh 513 kWh £356 £51 £407 £9,319 22.9 yrs £-1,174
3 kW 2852 kWh 2082 kWh 770 kWh £534 £77 £611 £11,354 18.6 yrs £864
4 kW 3803 kWh 2776 kWh 1027 kWh £712 £103 £815 £13,388 16.4 yrs £2,902
5 kW 4754 kWh 3470 kWh 1284 kWh £890 £128 £1,018 £15,423 15.1 yrs £4,940
6 kW 5705 kWh 4164 kWh 1540 kWh £1,068 £154 £1,222 £17,457 14.3 yrs £6,978
7 kW 6655 kWh 4858 kWh 1797 kWh £1,246 £180 £1,425 £19,492 13.7 yrs £9,016
8 kW 7606 kWh 5552 kWh 2054 kWh £1,424 £205 £1,629 £21,526 13.2 yrs £11,054

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: £1,033, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1902 kWh 1426 kWh 475 kWh £366 £48 £413 £11,069 26.8 yrs £-2,805
3 kW 2852 kWh 2139 kWh 713 kWh £548 £71 £620 £13,104 21.1 yrs £-708
4 kW 3803 kWh 2852 kWh 951 kWh £731 £95 £826 £15,138 18.3 yrs £1,390
5 kW 4754 kWh 3565 kWh 1188 kWh £914 £119 £1,033 £17,173 16.6 yrs £3,487
6 kW 5705 kWh 4278 kWh 1426 kWh £1,097 £143 £1,240 £19,207 15.5 yrs £5,585
7 kW 6655 kWh 4991 kWh 1664 kWh £1,280 £166 £1,446 £21,242 14.7 yrs £7,682
8 kW 7606 kWh 5705 kWh 1902 kWh £1,463 £190 £1,653 £23,276 14.1 yrs £9,780

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: £1,048, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1902 kWh 1464 kWh 437 kWh £375 £44 £419 £13,519 32.3 yrs £-5,136
3 kW 2852 kWh 2196 kWh 656 kWh £563 £66 £629 £15,554 24.7 yrs £-2,979
4 kW 3803 kWh 2928 kWh 875 kWh £751 £87 £838 £17,588 21.0 yrs £-822
5 kW 4754 kWh 3660 kWh 1093 kWh £939 £109 £1,048 £19,623 18.7 yrs £1,335
6 kW 5705 kWh 4393 kWh 1312 kWh £1,126 £131 £1,257 £21,657 17.2 yrs £3,492
7 kW 6655 kWh 5125 kWh 1531 kWh £1,314 £153 £1,467 £23,692 16.1 yrs £5,649
8 kW 7606 kWh 5857 kWh 1749 kWh £1,502 £175 £1,677 £25,726 15.3 yrs £7,806

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 B91

Figures below are tailored to B91 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #591 of 2182
5.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1732 of 2997
11.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,061 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1054 of 2997
18.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£193 fixed • ~£1,061 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.64p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.00p/day
Local Sunshine
951kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~951 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 60% • Flats: 35% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 8,471 properties

Coverage

Solihull (100%)

Areas Covered

St Alphege, Silhill, Olton, Shirley South, Shirley East, Bickenhill, Knowle, Lyndon

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

B92 (Solihull)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~957 kWh/kWp · +1% vs B91
B90 (Solihull)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~945 kWh/kWp · -1% vs B91
B93 (Solihull)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~962 kWh/kWp · +1% vs B91
B27 (Birmingham)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~946 kWh/kWp · -1% vs B91
B28 (Birmingham)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~943 kWh/kWp · -1% vs B91
B26 (Birmingham)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~942 kWh/kWp · -1% vs B91

Similar sunshine across the UK

CH46 (Wirral)
~951 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B91
CH28 (Wirral)
~951 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B91
L46 (Wirral)
~951 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B91