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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in B98 (Redditch)

See if solar pays off for you in Redditch — 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
13.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£783
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,410
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 964 kWh/kW — 22 above the regional median (942).

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 964 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)
964 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: £783, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1927 kWh 771 kWh 1156 kWh £198 £116 £313 £4,069 13.0 yrs £2,197
3 kW 2891 kWh 1156 kWh 1735 kWh £297 £173 £470 £6,104 13.0 yrs £3,296
4 kW 3855 kWh 1542 kWh 2313 kWh £395 £231 £627 £8,138 13.0 yrs £4,395
5 kW 4818 kWh 1927 kWh 2891 kWh £494 £289 £783 £10,173 13.0 yrs £5,493
6 kW 5782 kWh 2313 kWh 3469 kWh £593 £347 £940 £12,207 13.0 yrs £6,592
7 kW 6746 kWh 2698 kWh 4047 kWh £692 £405 £1,097 £14,242 13.0 yrs £7,690
8 kW 7710 kWh 3084 kWh 4626 kWh £791 £463 £1,253 £16,276 13.0 yrs £8,789

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: £934, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1927 kWh 1156 kWh 771 kWh £297 £77 £374 £6,169 16.5 yrs £1,303
3 kW 2891 kWh 1735 kWh 1156 kWh £445 £116 £560 £8,204 14.6 yrs £3,005
4 kW 3855 kWh 2313 kWh 1542 kWh £593 £154 £747 £10,238 13.7 yrs £4,706
5 kW 4818 kWh 2891 kWh 1927 kWh £741 £193 £934 £12,273 13.1 yrs £6,408
6 kW 5782 kWh 3469 kWh 2313 kWh £890 £231 £1,121 £14,307 12.8 yrs £8,109
7 kW 6746 kWh 4047 kWh 2698 kWh £1,038 £270 £1,308 £16,342 12.5 yrs £9,811
8 kW 7710 kWh 4626 kWh 3084 kWh £1,186 £308 £1,494 £18,376 12.3 yrs £11,512

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: £1,009, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1927 kWh 1349 kWh 578 kWh £346 £58 £404 £7,569 18.7 yrs £506
3 kW 2891 kWh 2024 kWh 867 kWh £519 £87 £606 £9,604 15.9 yrs £2,509
4 kW 3855 kWh 2698 kWh 1156 kWh £692 £116 £807 £11,638 14.4 yrs £4,512
5 kW 4818 kWh 3373 kWh 1446 kWh £865 £145 £1,009 £13,673 13.5 yrs £6,515
6 kW 5782 kWh 4047 kWh 1735 kWh £1,038 £173 £1,211 £15,707 13.0 yrs £8,518
7 kW 6746 kWh 4722 kWh 2024 kWh £1,211 £202 £1,413 £17,742 12.6 yrs £10,521
8 kW 7710 kWh 5397 kWh 2313 kWh £1,384 £231 £1,615 £19,776 12.2 yrs £12,524

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: £1,032, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1927 kWh 1407 kWh 520 kWh £361 £52 £413 £9,319 22.6 yrs £-1,063
3 kW 2891 kWh 2110 kWh 781 kWh £541 £78 £619 £11,354 18.3 yrs £1,030
4 kW 3855 kWh 2814 kWh 1041 kWh £722 £104 £826 £13,388 16.2 yrs £3,124
5 kW 4818 kWh 3517 kWh 1301 kWh £902 £130 £1,032 £15,423 14.9 yrs £5,217
6 kW 5782 kWh 4221 kWh 1561 kWh £1,082 £156 £1,238 £17,457 14.1 yrs £7,310
7 kW 6746 kWh 4924 kWh 1821 kWh £1,263 £182 £1,445 £19,492 13.5 yrs £9,404
8 kW 7710 kWh 5628 kWh 2082 kWh £1,443 £208 £1,651 £21,526 13.0 yrs £11,497

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: £1,047, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1927 kWh 1446 kWh 482 kWh £371 £48 £419 £11,069 26.4 yrs £-2,693
3 kW 2891 kWh 2168 kWh 723 kWh £556 £72 £628 £13,104 20.9 yrs £-539
4 kW 3855 kWh 2891 kWh 964 kWh £741 £96 £838 £15,138 18.1 yrs £1,615
5 kW 4818 kWh 3614 kWh 1205 kWh £927 £120 £1,047 £17,173 16.4 yrs £3,768
6 kW 5782 kWh 4337 kWh 1446 kWh £1,112 £145 £1,256 £19,207 15.3 yrs £5,922
7 kW 6746 kWh 5059 kWh 1686 kWh £1,297 £169 £1,466 £21,242 14.5 yrs £8,076
8 kW 7710 kWh 5782 kWh 1927 kWh £1,483 £193 £1,675 £23,276 13.9 yrs £10,229

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: £1,062, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1927 kWh 1484 kWh 443 kWh £381 £44 £425 £13,519 31.8 yrs £-5,022
3 kW 2891 kWh 2226 kWh 665 kWh £571 £66 £637 £15,554 24.4 yrs £-2,808
4 kW 3855 kWh 2968 kWh 887 kWh £761 £89 £850 £17,588 20.7 yrs £-594
5 kW 4818 kWh 3710 kWh 1108 kWh £951 £111 £1,062 £19,623 18.5 yrs £1,620
6 kW 5782 kWh 4452 kWh 1330 kWh £1,142 £133 £1,275 £21,657 17.0 yrs £3,834
7 kW 6746 kWh 5194 kWh 1552 kWh £1,332 £155 £1,487 £23,692 15.9 yrs £6,048
8 kW 7710 kWh 5936 kWh 1773 kWh £1,522 £177 £1,699 £25,726 15.1 yrs £8,262

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 B98

Figures below are tailored to B98 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1313 of 2182
4.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1564 of 2997
11.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£896 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1733 of 2997
21.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£193 fixed • ~£896 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.64p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.00p/day
Local Sunshine
964kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~964 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: 73% • Flats: 20% • Bungalows: 5% Based on 11,339 properties

Coverage

Redditch (95%)|Bromsgrove (4%)|Stratford-on-Avon (1%)

Areas Covered

Central, Greenlands & Lakeside, Matchborough & Woodrow, North, Winyates, Headless Cross & Oakenshaw, Alvechurch South, Tanworth-in-Arden + 2 more

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

B97 (Redditch)
≈1.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~961 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B98
B80 (Stratford-on-Avon)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~963 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B98
B96 (Redditch)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~960 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B98
B48 (Bromsgrove)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~948 kWh/kWp · -2% vs B98
B60 (Bromsgrove)
≈9.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~958 kWh/kWp · -1% vs B98
B47 (Bromsgrove)
≈9.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~953 kWh/kWp · -1% vs B98

Similar sunshine across the UK

DN21 (West Lindsey)
~964 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B98
HU20 (East Riding of Yorkshire)
~964 kWh/kWp · -0% vs B98
DN38 (North Lincolnshire)
~964 kWh/kWp · +0% vs B98