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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BB0 (Blackburn with Darwen)

See if solar pays off for you in Blackburn with Darwen — 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
14.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£728
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,029
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 North West, the current unit rate is 27.11p/kWh with a 51.16p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 864 kWh/kW — 6 below the regional median (870).

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 864 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
51.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
864 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: £728, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1729 kWh 692 kWh 1037 kWh £187 £104 £291 £4,069 14.0 yrs £1,755
3 kW 2593 kWh 1037 kWh 1556 kWh £281 £156 £437 £6,104 14.0 yrs £2,633
4 kW 3458 kWh 1383 kWh 2075 kWh £375 £207 £582 £8,138 14.0 yrs £3,511
5 kW 4322 kWh 1729 kWh 2593 kWh £469 £259 £728 £10,173 14.0 yrs £4,389
6 kW 5187 kWh 2075 kWh 3112 kWh £562 £311 £874 £12,207 14.0 yrs £5,266
7 kW 6051 kWh 2421 kWh 3631 kWh £656 £363 £1,019 £14,242 14.0 yrs £6,144
8 kW 6916 kWh 2766 kWh 4149 kWh £750 £415 £1,165 £16,276 14.0 yrs £7,022

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: £876, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1729 kWh 1037 kWh 692 kWh £281 £69 £350 £6,169 17.6 yrs £839
3 kW 2593 kWh 1556 kWh 1037 kWh £422 £104 £526 £8,204 15.6 yrs £2,308
4 kW 3458 kWh 2075 kWh 1383 kWh £562 £138 £701 £10,238 14.6 yrs £3,777
5 kW 4322 kWh 2593 kWh 1729 kWh £703 £173 £876 £12,273 14.0 yrs £5,247
6 kW 5187 kWh 3112 kWh 2075 kWh £844 £207 £1,051 £14,307 13.6 yrs £6,716
7 kW 6051 kWh 3631 kWh 2421 kWh £984 £242 £1,226 £16,342 13.3 yrs £8,186
8 kW 6916 kWh 4149 kWh 2766 kWh £1,125 £277 £1,402 £18,376 13.1 yrs £9,655

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: £950, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1729 kWh 1210 kWh 519 kWh £328 £52 £380 £7,569 19.9 yrs £30
3 kW 2593 kWh 1815 kWh 778 kWh £492 £78 £570 £9,604 16.8 yrs £1,796
4 kW 3458 kWh 2421 kWh 1037 kWh £656 £104 £760 £11,638 15.3 yrs £3,561
5 kW 4322 kWh 3026 kWh 1297 kWh £820 £130 £950 £13,673 14.4 yrs £5,326
6 kW 5187 kWh 3631 kWh 1556 kWh £984 £156 £1,140 £15,707 13.8 yrs £7,091
7 kW 6051 kWh 4236 kWh 1815 kWh £1,148 £182 £1,330 £17,742 13.3 yrs £8,856
8 kW 6916 kWh 4841 kWh 2075 kWh £1,312 £207 £1,520 £19,776 13.0 yrs £10,621

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: £972, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1729 kWh 1262 kWh 467 kWh £342 £47 £389 £9,319 24.0 yrs £-1,542
3 kW 2593 kWh 1893 kWh 700 kWh £513 £70 £583 £11,354 19.5 yrs £312
4 kW 3458 kWh 2524 kWh 934 kWh £684 £93 £778 £13,388 17.2 yrs £2,166
5 kW 4322 kWh 3155 kWh 1167 kWh £855 £117 £972 £15,423 15.9 yrs £4,020
6 kW 5187 kWh 3786 kWh 1400 kWh £1,026 £140 £1,167 £17,457 15.0 yrs £5,874
7 kW 6051 kWh 4417 kWh 1634 kWh £1,198 £163 £1,361 £19,492 14.3 yrs £7,727
8 kW 6916 kWh 5049 kWh 1867 kWh £1,369 £187 £1,555 £21,526 13.8 yrs £9,581

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: £987, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1729 kWh 1297 kWh 432 kWh £352 £43 £395 £11,069 28.0 yrs £-3,174
3 kW 2593 kWh 1945 kWh 648 kWh £527 £65 £592 £13,104 22.1 yrs £-1,261
4 kW 3458 kWh 2593 kWh 864 kWh £703 £86 £790 £15,138 19.2 yrs £652
5 kW 4322 kWh 3242 kWh 1081 kWh £879 £108 £987 £17,173 17.4 yrs £2,565
6 kW 5187 kWh 3890 kWh 1297 kWh £1,055 £130 £1,184 £19,207 16.2 yrs £4,479
7 kW 6051 kWh 4538 kWh 1513 kWh £1,230 £151 £1,382 £21,242 15.4 yrs £6,392
8 kW 6916 kWh 5187 kWh 1729 kWh £1,406 £173 £1,579 £23,276 14.7 yrs £8,305

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: £1,002, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1729 kWh 1331 kWh 398 kWh £361 £40 £401 £13,519 33.7 yrs £-5,505
3 kW 2593 kWh 1997 kWh 596 kWh £541 £60 £601 £15,554 25.9 yrs £-3,533
4 kW 3458 kWh 2663 kWh 795 kWh £722 £80 £801 £17,588 21.9 yrs £-1,561
5 kW 4322 kWh 3328 kWh 994 kWh £902 £99 £1,002 £19,623 19.6 yrs £411
6 kW 5187 kWh 3994 kWh 1193 kWh £1,083 £119 £1,202 £21,657 18.0 yrs £2,384
7 kW 6051 kWh 4659 kWh 1392 kWh £1,263 £139 £1,402 £23,692 16.9 yrs £4,356
8 kW 6916 kWh 5325 kWh 1591 kWh £1,444 £159 £1,603 £25,726 16.1 yrs £6,328

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 BB0

Figures below are tailored to BB0 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2377 of 2997
12.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£839 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1966 of 2997
22.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£839 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
864kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~864 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Blackburn with Darwen (100%)

Areas Covered

Audley & Queen's Park

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 North West

BB1 (Blackburn with Darwen)
≈0.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~857 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BB0
BB2 (Blackburn with Darwen)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~857 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BB0
BB5 (Hyndburn)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~855 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BB0
BB6 (Ribble Valley)
≈6.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~860 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BB0
BB3 (Blackburn with Darwen)
≈6.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~855 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BB0
BB12 (Burnley)
≈12.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~848 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BB0

Similar sunshine across the UK

AB23 (Aberdeen City)
~864 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BB0
PH2 (Perth and Kinross)
~864 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BB0
KA2 (East Ayrshire)
~865 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BB0