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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BS34 (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
12.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£828
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,517
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 989 kWh/kW — 24 below the regional median (1013).

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 989 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)
989 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: £828, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1979 kWh 792 kWh 1187 kWh £212 £119 £331 £4,069 12.3 yrs £2,552
3 kW 2968 kWh 1187 kWh 1781 kWh £318 £178 £497 £6,104 12.3 yrs £3,828
4 kW 3958 kWh 1583 kWh 2375 kWh £425 £237 £662 £8,138 12.3 yrs £5,103
5 kW 4947 kWh 1979 kWh 2968 kWh £531 £297 £828 £10,173 12.3 yrs £6,379
6 kW 5937 kWh 2375 kWh 3562 kWh £637 £356 £993 £12,207 12.3 yrs £7,655
7 kW 6926 kWh 2771 kWh 4156 kWh £743 £416 £1,159 £14,242 12.3 yrs £8,931
8 kW 7916 kWh 3166 kWh 4749 kWh £849 £475 £1,324 £16,276 12.3 yrs £10,207

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: £994, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1979 kWh 1187 kWh 792 kWh £318 £79 £398 £6,169 15.5 yrs £1,783
3 kW 2968 kWh 1781 kWh 1187 kWh £478 £119 £596 £8,204 13.8 yrs £3,725
4 kW 3958 kWh 2375 kWh 1583 kWh £637 £158 £795 £10,238 12.9 yrs £5,666
5 kW 4947 kWh 2968 kWh 1979 kWh £796 £198 £994 £12,273 12.3 yrs £7,608
6 kW 5937 kWh 3562 kWh 2375 kWh £955 £237 £1,193 £14,307 12.0 yrs £9,549
7 kW 6926 kWh 4156 kWh 2771 kWh £1,115 £277 £1,392 £16,342 11.7 yrs £11,491
8 kW 7916 kWh 4749 kWh 3166 kWh £1,274 £317 £1,590 £18,376 11.6 yrs £13,433

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: £1,077, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1979 kWh 1385 kWh 594 kWh £372 £59 £431 £7,569 17.6 yrs £1,049
3 kW 2968 kWh 2078 kWh 891 kWh £557 £89 £646 £9,604 14.9 yrs £3,323
4 kW 3958 kWh 2771 kWh 1187 kWh £743 £119 £862 £11,638 13.5 yrs £5,598
5 kW 4947 kWh 3463 kWh 1484 kWh £929 £148 £1,077 £13,673 12.7 yrs £7,872
6 kW 5937 kWh 4156 kWh 1781 kWh £1,115 £178 £1,293 £15,707 12.2 yrs £10,147
7 kW 6926 kWh 4848 kWh 2078 kWh £1,300 £208 £1,508 £17,742 11.8 yrs £12,421
8 kW 7916 kWh 5541 kWh 2375 kWh £1,486 £237 £1,724 £19,776 11.5 yrs £14,695

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: £1,102, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1979 kWh 1445 kWh 534 kWh £387 £53 £441 £9,319 21.1 yrs £-501
3 kW 2968 kWh 2167 kWh 801 kWh £581 £80 £661 £11,354 17.2 yrs £1,873
4 kW 3958 kWh 2889 kWh 1069 kWh £775 £107 £882 £13,388 15.2 yrs £4,247
5 kW 4947 kWh 3612 kWh 1336 kWh £969 £134 £1,102 £15,423 14.0 yrs £6,621
6 kW 5937 kWh 4334 kWh 1603 kWh £1,162 £160 £1,323 £17,457 13.2 yrs £8,996
7 kW 6926 kWh 5056 kWh 1870 kWh £1,356 £187 £1,543 £19,492 12.6 yrs £11,370
8 kW 7916 kWh 5779 kWh 2137 kWh £1,550 £214 £1,764 £21,526 12.2 yrs £13,744

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: £1,119, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1979 kWh 1484 kWh 495 kWh £398 £49 £448 £11,069 24.7 yrs £-2,118
3 kW 2968 kWh 2226 kWh 742 kWh £597 £74 £671 £13,104 19.5 yrs £323
4 kW 3958 kWh 2968 kWh 989 kWh £796 £99 £895 £15,138 16.9 yrs £2,763
5 kW 4947 kWh 3711 kWh 1237 kWh £995 £124 £1,119 £17,173 15.3 yrs £5,204
6 kW 5937 kWh 4453 kWh 1484 kWh £1,194 £148 £1,343 £19,207 14.3 yrs £7,645
7 kW 6926 kWh 5195 kWh 1732 kWh £1,393 £173 £1,566 £21,242 13.6 yrs £10,086
8 kW 7916 kWh 5937 kWh 1979 kWh £1,592 £198 £1,790 £23,276 13.0 yrs £12,527

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: £1,135, Upfront: £19,623, 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 1979 kWh 1524 kWh 455 kWh £409 £46 £454 £13,519 29.8 yrs £-4,435
3 kW 2968 kWh 2286 kWh 683 kWh £613 £68 £681 £15,554 22.8 yrs £-1,928
4 kW 3958 kWh 3048 kWh 910 kWh £817 £91 £908 £17,588 19.4 yrs £580
5 kW 4947 kWh 3809 kWh 1138 kWh £1,022 £114 £1,135 £19,623 17.3 yrs £3,087
6 kW 5937 kWh 4571 kWh 1365 kWh £1,226 £137 £1,363 £21,657 15.9 yrs £5,595
7 kW 6926 kWh 5333 kWh 1593 kWh £1,430 £159 £1,590 £23,692 14.9 yrs £8,102
8 kW 7916 kWh 6095 kWh 1821 kWh £1,635 £182 £1,817 £25,726 14.2 yrs £10,609

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 BS34

Figures below are tailored to BS34 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1759 of 2182
4.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #770 of 2997
10.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£952 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1531 of 2997
20.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£952 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
989kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~989 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: 68% • Flats: 26% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 10,894 properties

Coverage

South Gloucestershire (100%)

Areas Covered

Patchway Coniston, Stoke Gifford, Charlton & Cribbs, Filton, Bradley Stoke North, Winterbourne, Stoke Park & Cheswick, Henbury and Brentry + 1 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

BS80 (South Gloucestershire)
≈0.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,032 kWh/kWp · +4% vs BS34
BS32 (South Gloucestershire)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~988 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS34
BS12 (South Gloucestershire)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~983 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BS34
BS10 (Bristol, City of)
≈3.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS34
BS7 (Bristol, City of)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS34
BS9 (Bristol, City of)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BS34

Similar sunshine across the UK

EN8 (Broxbourne)
~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS34
HP3 (Dacorum)
~989 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BS34
OX3 (Oxford)
~990 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BS34