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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BL6 (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
13.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£743
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,397
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 882 kWh/kW — 12 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 882 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)
882 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: £743, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1764 kWh 706 kWh 1058 kWh £191 £106 £297 £4,069 13.7 yrs £1,873
3 kW 2646 kWh 1058 kWh 1588 kWh £287 £159 £446 £6,104 13.7 yrs £2,810
4 kW 3528 kWh 1411 kWh 2117 kWh £383 £212 £594 £8,138 13.7 yrs £3,747
5 kW 4410 kWh 1764 kWh 2646 kWh £478 £265 £743 £10,173 13.7 yrs £4,683
6 kW 5292 kWh 2117 kWh 3175 kWh £574 £318 £891 £12,207 13.7 yrs £5,620
7 kW 6174 kWh 2470 kWh 3704 kWh £669 £370 £1,040 £14,242 13.7 yrs £6,557
8 kW 7056 kWh 2822 kWh 4233 kWh £765 £423 £1,188 £16,276 13.7 yrs £7,493

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: £894, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1764 kWh 1058 kWh 706 kWh £287 £71 £357 £6,169 17.3 yrs £981
3 kW 2646 kWh 1588 kWh 1058 kWh £430 £106 £536 £8,204 15.3 yrs £2,521
4 kW 3528 kWh 2117 kWh 1411 kWh £574 £141 £715 £10,238 14.3 yrs £4,061
5 kW 4410 kWh 2646 kWh 1764 kWh £717 £176 £894 £12,273 13.7 yrs £5,601
6 kW 5292 kWh 3175 kWh 2117 kWh £861 £212 £1,072 £14,307 13.3 yrs £7,142
7 kW 6174 kWh 3704 kWh 2470 kWh £1,004 £247 £1,251 £16,342 13.1 yrs £8,682
8 kW 7056 kWh 4233 kWh 2822 kWh £1,148 £282 £1,430 £18,376 12.9 yrs £10,222

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: £969, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1764 kWh 1235 kWh 529 kWh £335 £53 £388 £7,569 19.5 yrs £184
3 kW 2646 kWh 1852 kWh 794 kWh £502 £79 £581 £9,604 16.5 yrs £2,026
4 kW 3528 kWh 2470 kWh 1058 kWh £669 £106 £775 £11,638 15.0 yrs £3,868
5 kW 4410 kWh 3087 kWh 1323 kWh £837 £132 £969 £13,673 14.1 yrs £5,711
6 kW 5292 kWh 3704 kWh 1588 kWh £1,004 £159 £1,163 £15,707 13.5 yrs £7,553
7 kW 6174 kWh 4322 kWh 1852 kWh £1,172 £185 £1,357 £17,742 13.1 yrs £9,395
8 kW 7056 kWh 4939 kWh 2117 kWh £1,339 £212 £1,551 £19,776 12.8 yrs £11,237

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: £992, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1764 kWh 1288 kWh 476 kWh £349 £48 £397 £9,319 23.5 yrs £-1,385
3 kW 2646 kWh 1932 kWh 714 kWh £524 £71 £595 £11,354 19.1 yrs £548
4 kW 3528 kWh 2575 kWh 953 kWh £698 £95 £793 £13,388 16.9 yrs £2,481
5 kW 4410 kWh 3219 kWh 1191 kWh £873 £119 £992 £15,423 15.6 yrs £4,413
6 kW 5292 kWh 3863 kWh 1429 kWh £1,047 £143 £1,190 £17,457 14.7 yrs £6,346
7 kW 6174 kWh 4507 kWh 1667 kWh £1,222 £167 £1,389 £19,492 14.0 yrs £8,279
8 kW 7056 kWh 5151 kWh 1905 kWh £1,396 £191 £1,587 £21,526 13.6 yrs £10,211

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: £1,007, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1764 kWh 1323 kWh 441 kWh £359 £44 £403 £11,069 27.5 yrs £-3,014
3 kW 2646 kWh 1984 kWh 661 kWh £538 £66 £604 £13,104 21.7 yrs £-1,021
4 kW 3528 kWh 2646 kWh 882 kWh £717 £88 £806 £15,138 18.8 yrs £972
5 kW 4410 kWh 3307 kWh 1102 kWh £897 £110 £1,007 £17,173 17.1 yrs £2,965
6 kW 5292 kWh 3969 kWh 1323 kWh £1,076 £132 £1,208 £19,207 15.9 yrs £4,958
7 kW 6174 kWh 4630 kWh 1543 kWh £1,255 £154 £1,410 £21,242 15.1 yrs £6,951
8 kW 7056 kWh 5292 kWh 1764 kWh £1,435 £176 £1,611 £23,276 14.4 yrs £8,944

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: £1,022, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1764 kWh 1358 kWh 406 kWh £368 £41 £409 £13,519 33.1 yrs £-5,343
3 kW 2646 kWh 2037 kWh 609 kWh £552 £61 £613 £15,554 25.4 yrs £-3,290
4 kW 3528 kWh 2716 kWh 811 kWh £736 £81 £818 £17,588 21.5 yrs £-1,237
5 kW 4410 kWh 3396 kWh 1014 kWh £921 £101 £1,022 £19,623 19.2 yrs £817
6 kW 5292 kWh 4075 kWh 1217 kWh £1,105 £122 £1,226 £21,657 17.7 yrs £2,870
7 kW 6174 kWh 4754 kWh 1420 kWh £1,289 £142 £1,431 £23,692 16.6 yrs £4,924
8 kW 7056 kWh 5433 kWh 1623 kWh £1,473 £162 £1,635 £25,726 15.7 yrs £6,977

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 BL6

Figures below are tailored to BL6 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1407 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2188 of 2997
11.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£856 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1800 of 2997
21.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£856 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
882kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~882 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: 74% • Flats: 17% • Bungalows: 8% Based on 8,496 properties

Coverage

Bolton (98%)|Chorley (2%)

Areas Covered

Horwich South & Blackrod, Horwich North, Heaton, Lostock & Chew Moor, Adlington & Anderton, Westhoughton North & Hunger Hill, Smithills

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

BL5 (Bolton)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~876 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BL6
BL1 (Bolton)
≈6.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~870 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BL6
WN2 (Wigan)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BL6
BL3 (Bolton)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BL6
BL11 (Bolton)
≈7.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~870 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BL6
WN1 (Wigan)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~901 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BL6

Similar sunshine across the UK

KY12 (Fife)
~882 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BL6
EH91 (City of Edinburgh)
~882 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BL6
KY99 (Fife)
~882 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BL6