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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BA1 (Bath and North East Somerset)

See if solar pays off for you in Bath and North East Somerset — 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
12.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£818
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,272
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 Southern Western, the current unit rate is 26.82p/kWh with a 54.03p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 978 kWh/kW — 36 below the regional median (1013).

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 978 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.8p/kWh
Standing charge
54.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
978 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: £818, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1955 kWh 782 kWh 1173 kWh £210 £117 £327 £4,069 12.4 yrs £2,473
3 kW 2933 kWh 1173 kWh 1760 kWh £315 £176 £491 £6,104 12.4 yrs £3,710
4 kW 3911 kWh 1564 kWh 2347 kWh £420 £235 £654 £8,138 12.4 yrs £4,946
5 kW 4889 kWh 1955 kWh 2933 kWh £524 £293 £818 £10,173 12.4 yrs £6,183
6 kW 5866 kWh 2347 kWh 3520 kWh £629 £352 £981 £12,207 12.4 yrs £7,419
7 kW 6844 kWh 2738 kWh 4106 kWh £734 £411 £1,145 £14,242 12.4 yrs £8,656
8 kW 7822 kWh 3129 kWh 4693 kWh £839 £469 £1,308 £16,276 12.4 yrs £9,892

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: £982, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1173 kWh 782 kWh £315 £78 £393 £6,169 15.7 yrs £1,689
3 kW 2933 kWh 1760 kWh 1173 kWh £472 £117 £589 £8,204 13.9 yrs £3,583
4 kW 3911 kWh 2347 kWh 1564 kWh £629 £156 £786 £10,238 13.0 yrs £5,477
5 kW 4889 kWh 2933 kWh 1955 kWh £787 £196 £982 £12,273 12.5 yrs £7,372
6 kW 5866 kWh 3520 kWh 2347 kWh £944 £235 £1,179 £14,307 12.1 yrs £9,266
7 kW 6844 kWh 4106 kWh 2738 kWh £1,101 £274 £1,375 £16,342 11.9 yrs £11,161
8 kW 7822 kWh 4693 kWh 3129 kWh £1,259 £313 £1,572 £18,376 11.7 yrs £13,055

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: £1,064, 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 1955 kWh 1369 kWh 587 kWh £367 £59 £426 £7,569 17.8 yrs £947
3 kW 2933 kWh 2053 kWh 880 kWh £551 £88 £639 £9,604 15.0 yrs £3,170
4 kW 3911 kWh 2738 kWh 1173 kWh £734 £117 £852 £11,638 13.7 yrs £5,393
5 kW 4889 kWh 3422 kWh 1467 kWh £918 £147 £1,064 £13,673 12.8 yrs £7,616
6 kW 5866 kWh 4106 kWh 1760 kWh £1,101 £176 £1,277 £15,707 12.3 yrs £9,840
7 kW 6844 kWh 4791 kWh 2053 kWh £1,285 £205 £1,490 £17,742 11.9 yrs £12,063
8 kW 7822 kWh 5475 kWh 2347 kWh £1,468 £235 £1,703 £19,776 11.6 yrs £14,286

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: £1,089, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1427 kWh 528 kWh £383 £53 £436 £9,319 21.4 yrs £-606
3 kW 2933 kWh 2141 kWh 792 kWh £574 £79 £653 £11,354 17.4 yrs £1,716
4 kW 3911 kWh 2855 kWh 1056 kWh £766 £106 £871 £13,388 15.4 yrs £4,038
5 kW 4889 kWh 3569 kWh 1320 kWh £957 £132 £1,089 £15,423 14.2 yrs £6,360
6 kW 5866 kWh 4282 kWh 1584 kWh £1,149 £158 £1,307 £17,457 13.4 yrs £8,682
7 kW 6844 kWh 4996 kWh 1848 kWh £1,340 £185 £1,525 £19,492 12.8 yrs £11,004
8 kW 7822 kWh 5710 kWh 2112 kWh £1,531 £211 £1,743 £21,526 12.4 yrs £13,325

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: £1,106, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1955 kWh 1467 kWh 489 kWh £393 £49 £442 £11,069 25.0 yrs £-2,225
3 kW 2933 kWh 2200 kWh 733 kWh £590 £73 £663 £13,104 19.8 yrs £163
4 kW 3911 kWh 2933 kWh 978 kWh £787 £98 £884 £15,138 17.1 yrs £2,551
5 kW 4889 kWh 3666 kWh 1222 kWh £983 £122 £1,106 £17,173 15.5 yrs £4,939
6 kW 5866 kWh 4400 kWh 1467 kWh £1,180 £147 £1,327 £19,207 14.5 yrs £7,326
7 kW 6844 kWh 5133 kWh 1711 kWh £1,377 £171 £1,548 £21,242 13.7 yrs £9,714
8 kW 7822 kWh 5866 kWh 1955 kWh £1,573 £196 £1,769 £23,276 13.2 yrs £12,102

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: £1,122, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1506 kWh 450 kWh £404 £45 £449 £13,519 30.1 yrs £-4,543
3 kW 2933 kWh 2259 kWh 675 kWh £606 £67 £673 £15,554 23.1 yrs £-2,090
4 kW 3911 kWh 3011 kWh 900 kWh £808 £90 £898 £17,588 19.6 yrs £364
5 kW 4889 kWh 3764 kWh 1124 kWh £1,010 £112 £1,122 £19,623 17.5 yrs £2,817
6 kW 5866 kWh 4517 kWh 1349 kWh £1,211 £135 £1,346 £21,657 16.1 yrs £5,271
7 kW 6844 kWh 5270 kWh 1574 kWh £1,413 £157 £1,571 £23,692 15.1 yrs £7,724
8 kW 7822 kWh 6023 kWh 1799 kWh £1,615 £180 £1,795 £25,726 14.3 yrs £10,178

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 BA1

Figures below are tailored to BA1 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1577 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #915 of 2997
10.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£941 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1605 of 2997
21.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£941 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
978kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~978 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: 43% • Flats: 48% • Bungalows: 3% Based on 14,096 properties

Coverage

Bath and North East Somerset (99%)|South Gloucestershire (1%)

Areas Covered

Kingsmead, Bathavon North, Lansdown, Walcot, Newbridge, Lambridge, Weston, Boyd Valley + 4 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 Southern Western

BA2 (Bath and North East Somerset)
≈1.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,000 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BA1
BS31 (Bath and North East Somerset)
≈10.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~985 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BA1
BS15 (South Gloucestershire)
≈12.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BA1
BA3 (Bath and North East Somerset)
≈13.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,000 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BA1
BS18 (Bath and North East Somerset)
≈13.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~985 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BA1
BS39 (Bath and North East Somerset)
≈13.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BA1

Similar sunshine across the UK

MK15 (Milton Keynes)
~978 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BA1
DN39 (North Lincolnshire)
~978 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BA1
L38 (Sefton)
~978 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BA1