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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BS12 (South Gloucestershire)

See if solar pays off for you in South Gloucestershire — 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
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£986
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,455
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 983 kWh/kW — 31 below the regional median (1013).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 983 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)
983 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: £822, 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 1966 kWh 786 kWh 1179 kWh £211 £118 £329 £4,069 12.4 yrs £2,507
3 kW 2949 kWh 1179 kWh 1769 kWh £316 £177 £493 £6,104 12.4 yrs £3,761
4 kW 3931 kWh 1573 kWh 2359 kWh £422 £236 £658 £8,138 12.4 yrs £5,015
5 kW 4914 kWh 1966 kWh 2949 kWh £527 £295 £822 £10,173 12.4 yrs £6,269
6 kW 5897 kWh 2359 kWh 3538 kWh £633 £354 £986 £12,207 12.4 yrs £7,522
7 kW 6880 kWh 2752 kWh 4128 kWh £738 £413 £1,151 £14,242 12.4 yrs £8,776
8 kW 7863 kWh 3145 kWh 4718 kWh £844 £472 £1,315 £16,276 12.4 yrs £10,030

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: £987, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1966 kWh 1179 kWh 786 kWh £316 £79 £395 £6,169 15.6 yrs £1,730
3 kW 2949 kWh 1769 kWh 1179 kWh £474 £118 £592 £8,204 13.8 yrs £3,645
4 kW 3931 kWh 2359 kWh 1573 kWh £633 £157 £790 £10,238 13.0 yrs £5,560
5 kW 4914 kWh 2949 kWh 1966 kWh £791 £197 £987 £12,273 12.4 yrs £7,475
6 kW 5897 kWh 3538 kWh 2359 kWh £949 £236 £1,185 £14,307 12.1 yrs £9,390
7 kW 6880 kWh 4128 kWh 2752 kWh £1,107 £275 £1,382 £16,342 11.8 yrs £11,305
8 kW 7863 kWh 4718 kWh 3145 kWh £1,265 £315 £1,580 £18,376 11.6 yrs £13,220

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: £1,070, 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 1966 kWh 1376 kWh 590 kWh £369 £59 £428 £7,569 17.7 yrs £991
3 kW 2949 kWh 2064 kWh 885 kWh £554 £88 £642 £9,604 15.0 yrs £3,237
4 kW 3931 kWh 2752 kWh 1179 kWh £738 £118 £856 £11,638 13.6 yrs £5,483
5 kW 4914 kWh 3440 kWh 1474 kWh £923 £147 £1,070 £13,673 12.8 yrs £7,728
6 kW 5897 kWh 4128 kWh 1769 kWh £1,107 £177 £1,284 £15,707 12.2 yrs £9,974
7 kW 6880 kWh 4816 kWh 2064 kWh £1,292 £206 £1,498 £17,742 11.8 yrs £12,220
8 kW 7863 kWh 5504 kWh 2359 kWh £1,476 £236 £1,712 £19,776 11.6 yrs £14,465

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: £1,095, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1966 kWh 1435 kWh 531 kWh £385 £53 £438 £9,319 21.3 yrs £-560
3 kW 2949 kWh 2152 kWh 796 kWh £577 £80 £657 £11,354 17.3 yrs £1,785
4 kW 3931 kWh 2870 kWh 1061 kWh £770 £106 £876 £13,388 15.3 yrs £4,129
5 kW 4914 kWh 3587 kWh 1327 kWh £962 £133 £1,095 £15,423 14.1 yrs £6,474
6 kW 5897 kWh 4305 kWh 1592 kWh £1,155 £159 £1,314 £17,457 13.3 yrs £8,819
7 kW 6880 kWh 5022 kWh 1858 kWh £1,347 £186 £1,533 £19,492 12.7 yrs £11,164
8 kW 7863 kWh 5740 kWh 2123 kWh £1,539 £212 £1,752 £21,526 12.3 yrs £13,509

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: £1,111, 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 1966 kWh 1474 kWh 491 kWh £395 £49 £445 £11,069 24.9 yrs £-2,178
3 kW 2949 kWh 2211 kWh 737 kWh £593 £74 £667 £13,104 19.7 yrs £233
4 kW 3931 kWh 2949 kWh 983 kWh £791 £98 £889 £15,138 17.0 yrs £2,644
5 kW 4914 kWh 3686 kWh 1229 kWh £989 £123 £1,111 £17,173 15.5 yrs £5,055
6 kW 5897 kWh 4423 kWh 1474 kWh £1,186 £147 £1,334 £19,207 14.4 yrs £7,466
7 kW 6880 kWh 5160 kWh 1720 kWh £1,384 £172 £1,556 £21,242 13.7 yrs £9,877
8 kW 7863 kWh 5897 kWh 1966 kWh £1,582 £197 £1,778 £23,276 13.1 yrs £12,288

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: £1,128, Upfront: £19,623, 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 1966 kWh 1514 kWh 452 kWh £406 £45 £451 £13,519 30.0 yrs £-4,496
3 kW 2949 kWh 2270 kWh 678 kWh £609 £68 £677 £15,554 23.0 yrs £-2,019
4 kW 3931 kWh 3027 kWh 904 kWh £812 £90 £902 £17,588 19.5 yrs £458
5 kW 4914 kWh 3784 kWh 1130 kWh £1,015 £113 £1,128 £19,623 17.4 yrs £2,935
6 kW 5897 kWh 4541 kWh 1356 kWh £1,218 £136 £1,353 £21,657 16.0 yrs £5,413
7 kW 6880 kWh 5298 kWh 1582 kWh £1,421 £158 £1,579 £23,692 15.0 yrs £7,890
8 kW 7863 kWh 6054 kWh 1808 kWh £1,624 £181 £1,805 £25,726 14.3 yrs £10,367

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 BS12

Figures below are tailored to BS12 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #917 of 2997
10.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,135 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #861 of 2997
17.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,135 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
983kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~983 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

South Gloucestershire (100%)

Areas Covered

Severn Vale, Thornbury, Stoke Gifford, Bradley Stoke North, Filton, Patchway Coniston, Pilning & Severn Beach, Charlton & Cribbs + 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 Southern Western

BS32 (South Gloucestershire)
≈0.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~988 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BS12
BS34 (South Gloucestershire)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BS12
BS80 (South Gloucestershire)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,032 kWh/kWp · +5% vs BS12
BS10 (Bristol, City of)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BS12
BS7 (Bristol, City of)
≈6.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BS12
BS16 (South Gloucestershire)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BS12

Similar sunshine across the UK

HP4 (Dacorum)
~983 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS12
HP22 (Buckinghamshire)
~983 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS12
HP13 (Buckinghamshire)
~983 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS12