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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BL5 (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
13.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£738
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,277
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 876 kWh/kW — 6 above 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 876 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)
876 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: £738, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1753 kWh 701 kWh 1052 kWh £190 £105 £295 £4,069 13.8 yrs £1,835
3 kW 2629 kWh 1052 kWh 1577 kWh £285 £158 £443 £6,104 13.8 yrs £2,752
4 kW 3505 kWh 1402 kWh 2103 kWh £380 £210 £590 £8,138 13.8 yrs £3,670
5 kW 4381 kWh 1753 kWh 2629 kWh £475 £263 £738 £10,173 13.8 yrs £4,587
6 kW 5258 kWh 2103 kWh 3155 kWh £570 £315 £886 £12,207 13.8 yrs £5,505
7 kW 6134 kWh 2454 kWh 3680 kWh £665 £368 £1,033 £14,242 13.8 yrs £6,422
8 kW 7010 kWh 2804 kWh 4206 kWh £760 £421 £1,181 £16,276 13.8 yrs £7,339

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: £888, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1753 kWh 1052 kWh 701 kWh £285 £70 £355 £6,169 17.4 yrs £934
3 kW 2629 kWh 1577 kWh 1052 kWh £428 £105 £533 £8,204 15.4 yrs £2,451
4 kW 3505 kWh 2103 kWh 1402 kWh £570 £140 £710 £10,238 14.4 yrs £3,969
5 kW 4381 kWh 2629 kWh 1753 kWh £713 £175 £888 £12,273 13.8 yrs £5,486
6 kW 5258 kWh 3155 kWh 2103 kWh £855 £210 £1,065 £14,307 13.4 yrs £7,003
7 kW 6134 kWh 3680 kWh 2454 kWh £998 £245 £1,243 £16,342 13.1 yrs £8,520
8 kW 7010 kWh 4206 kWh 2804 kWh £1,140 £280 £1,421 £18,376 12.9 yrs £10,037

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: £963, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1753 kWh 1227 kWh 526 kWh £333 £53 £385 £7,569 19.7 yrs £134
3 kW 2629 kWh 1840 kWh 789 kWh £499 £79 £578 £9,604 16.6 yrs £1,951
4 kW 3505 kWh 2454 kWh 1052 kWh £665 £105 £770 £11,638 15.1 yrs £3,768
5 kW 4381 kWh 3067 kWh 1314 kWh £831 £131 £963 £13,673 14.2 yrs £5,585
6 kW 5258 kWh 3680 kWh 1577 kWh £998 £158 £1,155 £15,707 13.6 yrs £7,402
7 kW 6134 kWh 4294 kWh 1840 kWh £1,164 £184 £1,348 £17,742 13.2 yrs £9,219
8 kW 7010 kWh 4907 kWh 2103 kWh £1,330 £210 £1,541 £19,776 12.8 yrs £11,036

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: £985, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1753 kWh 1279 kWh 473 kWh £347 £47 £394 £9,319 23.6 yrs £-1,436
3 kW 2629 kWh 1919 kWh 710 kWh £520 £71 £591 £11,354 19.2 yrs £471
4 kW 3505 kWh 2559 kWh 946 kWh £694 £95 £788 £13,388 17.0 yrs £2,378
5 kW 4381 kWh 3198 kWh 1183 kWh £867 £118 £985 £15,423 15.7 yrs £4,285
6 kW 5258 kWh 3838 kWh 1420 kWh £1,040 £142 £1,182 £17,457 14.8 yrs £6,192
7 kW 6134 kWh 4478 kWh 1656 kWh £1,214 £166 £1,380 £19,492 14.1 yrs £8,099
8 kW 7010 kWh 5117 kWh 1893 kWh £1,387 £189 £1,577 £21,526 13.7 yrs £10,006

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: £1,000, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1753 kWh 1314 kWh 438 kWh £356 £44 £400 £11,069 27.7 yrs £-3,066
3 kW 2629 kWh 1972 kWh 657 kWh £534 £66 £600 £13,104 21.8 yrs £-1,099
4 kW 3505 kWh 2629 kWh 876 kWh £713 £88 £800 £15,138 18.9 yrs £868
5 kW 4381 kWh 3286 kWh 1095 kWh £891 £110 £1,000 £17,173 17.2 yrs £2,835
6 kW 5258 kWh 3943 kWh 1314 kWh £1,069 £131 £1,200 £19,207 16.0 yrs £4,802
7 kW 6134 kWh 4600 kWh 1533 kWh £1,247 £153 £1,401 £21,242 15.2 yrs £6,769
8 kW 7010 kWh 5258 kWh 1753 kWh £1,425 £175 £1,601 £23,276 14.5 yrs £8,735

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: £1,015, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1753 kWh 1349 kWh 403 kWh £366 £40 £406 £13,519 33.3 yrs £-5,396
3 kW 2629 kWh 2024 kWh 605 kWh £549 £60 £609 £15,554 25.5 yrs £-3,369
4 kW 3505 kWh 2699 kWh 806 kWh £732 £81 £812 £17,588 21.7 yrs £-1,342
5 kW 4381 kWh 3374 kWh 1008 kWh £915 £101 £1,015 £19,623 19.3 yrs £685
6 kW 5258 kWh 4048 kWh 1209 kWh £1,097 £121 £1,218 £21,657 17.8 yrs £2,711
7 kW 6134 kWh 4723 kWh 1411 kWh £1,280 £141 £1,421 £23,692 16.7 yrs £4,738
8 kW 7010 kWh 5398 kWh 1612 kWh £1,463 £161 £1,625 £25,726 15.8 yrs £6,765

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 BL5

Figures below are tailored to BL5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1270 of 2182
4.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2294 of 2997
12.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£850 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1833 of 2997
22.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£850 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
876kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~876 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: 75% • Flats: 14% • Bungalows: 10% Based on 6,720 properties

Coverage

Bolton (100%)

Areas Covered

Westhoughton South, Westhoughton North & Hunger Hill, Hulton, Horwich South & Blackrod, Horwich North, Halliwell

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

M46 (Wigan)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BL5
WN2 (Wigan)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BL5
BL6 (Bolton)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~882 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BL5
M29 (Wigan)
≈5.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BL5
WN7 (Wigan)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~900 kWh/kWp · +3% vs BL5
BL3 (Bolton)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BL5

Similar sunshine across the UK

EX35 (North Devon)
~876 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BL5
BT70 (Mid Ulster)
~877 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BL5
LD3 (Powys)
~876 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BL5