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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BL1 (Bolton)

See if solar pays off for you in Bolton — 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
13.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£586
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,520
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 870 kWh/kW — 0 above the regional median (870).

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 870 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)
870 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: £733, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 696 kWh 1044 kWh £189 £104 £293 £4,069 13.9 yrs £1,794
3 kW 2611 kWh 1044 kWh 1566 kWh £283 £157 £440 £6,104 13.9 yrs £2,691
4 kW 3481 kWh 1392 kWh 2089 kWh £377 £209 £586 £8,138 13.9 yrs £3,588
5 kW 4351 kWh 1740 kWh 2611 kWh £472 £261 £733 £10,173 13.9 yrs £4,485
6 kW 5221 kWh 2089 kWh 3133 kWh £566 £313 £879 £12,207 13.9 yrs £5,382
7 kW 6091 kWh 2437 kWh 3655 kWh £661 £365 £1,026 £14,242 13.9 yrs £6,279
8 kW 6962 kWh 2785 kWh 4177 kWh £755 £418 £1,173 £16,276 13.9 yrs £7,176

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: £882, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 1044 kWh 696 kWh £283 £70 £353 £6,169 17.5 yrs £885
3 kW 2611 kWh 1566 kWh 1044 kWh £425 £104 £529 £8,204 15.5 yrs £2,378
4 kW 3481 kWh 2089 kWh 1392 kWh £566 £139 £705 £10,238 14.5 yrs £3,871
5 kW 4351 kWh 2611 kWh 1740 kWh £708 £174 £882 £12,273 13.9 yrs £5,363
6 kW 5221 kWh 3133 kWh 2089 kWh £849 £209 £1,058 £14,307 13.5 yrs £6,856
7 kW 6091 kWh 3655 kWh 2437 kWh £991 £244 £1,234 £16,342 13.2 yrs £8,348
8 kW 6962 kWh 4177 kWh 2785 kWh £1,132 £278 £1,411 £18,376 13.0 yrs £9,841

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: £956, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 1218 kWh 522 kWh £330 £52 £382 £7,569 19.8 yrs £81
3 kW 2611 kWh 1827 kWh 783 kWh £495 £78 £574 £9,604 16.7 yrs £1,871
4 kW 3481 kWh 2437 kWh 1044 kWh £661 £104 £765 £11,638 15.2 yrs £3,662
5 kW 4351 kWh 3046 kWh 1305 kWh £826 £131 £956 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,452
6 kW 5221 kWh 3655 kWh 1566 kWh £991 £157 £1,147 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,242
7 kW 6091 kWh 4264 kWh 1827 kWh £1,156 £183 £1,339 £17,742 13.3 yrs £9,033
8 kW 6962 kWh 4873 kWh 2089 kWh £1,321 £209 £1,530 £19,776 12.9 yrs £10,823

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: £979, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 1271 kWh 470 kWh £344 £47 £391 £9,319 23.8 yrs £-1,491
3 kW 2611 kWh 1906 kWh 705 kWh £517 £70 £587 £11,354 19.3 yrs £389
4 kW 3481 kWh 2541 kWh 940 kWh £689 £94 £783 £13,388 17.1 yrs £2,269
5 kW 4351 kWh 3176 kWh 1175 kWh £861 £117 £979 £15,423 15.8 yrs £4,149
6 kW 5221 kWh 3812 kWh 1410 kWh £1,033 £141 £1,174 £17,457 14.9 yrs £6,028
7 kW 6091 kWh 4447 kWh 1645 kWh £1,206 £164 £1,370 £19,492 14.2 yrs £7,908
8 kW 6962 kWh 5082 kWh 1880 kWh £1,378 £188 £1,566 £21,526 13.7 yrs £9,788

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: £993, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 1305 kWh 435 kWh £354 £44 £397 £11,069 27.9 yrs £-3,121
3 kW 2611 kWh 1958 kWh 653 kWh £531 £65 £596 £13,104 22.0 yrs £-1,182
4 kW 3481 kWh 2611 kWh 870 kWh £708 £87 £795 £15,138 19.0 yrs £757
5 kW 4351 kWh 3263 kWh 1088 kWh £885 £109 £993 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,697
6 kW 5221 kWh 3916 kWh 1305 kWh £1,062 £131 £1,192 £19,207 16.1 yrs £4,636
7 kW 6091 kWh 4569 kWh 1523 kWh £1,239 £152 £1,391 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,575
8 kW 6962 kWh 5221 kWh 1740 kWh £1,415 £174 £1,590 £23,276 14.6 yrs £8,514

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: £1,008, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1740 kWh 1340 kWh 400 kWh £363 £40 £403 £13,519 33.5 yrs £-5,452
3 kW 2611 kWh 2010 kWh 600 kWh £545 £60 £605 £15,554 25.7 yrs £-3,453
4 kW 3481 kWh 2680 kWh 801 kWh £727 £80 £807 £17,588 21.8 yrs £-1,455
5 kW 4351 kWh 3350 kWh 1001 kWh £908 £100 £1,008 £19,623 19.5 yrs £544
6 kW 5221 kWh 4020 kWh 1201 kWh £1,090 £120 £1,210 £21,657 17.9 yrs £2,543
7 kW 6091 kWh 4690 kWh 1401 kWh £1,272 £140 £1,412 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,542
8 kW 6962 kWh 5360 kWh 1601 kWh £1,453 £160 £1,613 £25,726 15.9 yrs £6,541

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 BL1

Figures below are tailored to BL1 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1950 of 2182
4.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2291 of 2997
12.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£676 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2474 of 2997
27.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£676 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
870kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~870 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: 64% • Flats: 30% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 18,317 properties

Coverage

Bolton (100%)

Areas Covered

Halliwell, Queens Park & Central, Smithills, Astley Bridge, Heaton, Lostock & Chew Moor, Tonge with the Haulgh, Bradshaw + 3 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 North West

BL11 (Bolton)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~870 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BL1
BL2 (Bolton)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~871 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BL1
BL3 (Bolton)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BL1
BL78 (Bolton)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~871 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BL1
BL7 (Bolton)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BL1
BL4 (Bolton)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BL1

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL26 (Conwy)
~870 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BL1
EH48 (West Lothian)
~870 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BL1
EH8 (City of Edinburgh)
~870 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BL1