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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BT19 (Ards and North Down)

See if solar pays off for you in Ards and North Down — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

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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
35.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£344
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£-3,604
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 Northern Ireland, the current unit rate is 0.00p/kWh with a 0.00p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 956 kWh/kW — 35 below the regional median (991).

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 956 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 0.0p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
0.0p/kWh
Standing charge
0.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
956 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: £287, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 35.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1912 kWh 765 kWh 1147 kWh £0 £115 £115 £4,069 35.5 yrs £-1,775
3 kW 2868 kWh 1147 kWh 1721 kWh £0 £172 £172 £6,104 35.5 yrs £-2,662
4 kW 3823 kWh 1529 kWh 2294 kWh £0 £229 £229 £8,138 35.5 yrs £-3,550
5 kW 4779 kWh 1912 kWh 2868 kWh £0 £287 £287 £10,173 35.5 yrs £-4,437
6 kW 5735 kWh 2294 kWh 3441 kWh £0 £344 £344 £12,207 35.5 yrs £-5,325
7 kW 6691 kWh 2676 kWh 4015 kWh £0 £401 £401 £14,242 35.5 yrs £-6,212
8 kW 7647 kWh 3059 kWh 4588 kWh £0 £459 £459 £16,276 35.5 yrs £-7,100

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: £191, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 64.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1912 kWh 1147 kWh 765 kWh £0 £76 £76 £6,169 80.7 yrs £-4,640
3 kW 2868 kWh 1721 kWh 1147 kWh £0 £115 £115 £8,204 71.5 yrs £-5,909
4 kW 3823 kWh 2294 kWh 1529 kWh £0 £153 £153 £10,238 66.9 yrs £-7,179
5 kW 4779 kWh 2868 kWh 1912 kWh £0 £191 £191 £12,273 64.2 yrs £-8,449
6 kW 5735 kWh 3441 kWh 2294 kWh £0 £229 £229 £14,307 62.4 yrs £-9,719
7 kW 6691 kWh 4015 kWh 2676 kWh £0 £268 £268 £16,342 61.1 yrs £-10,989
8 kW 7647 kWh 4588 kWh 3059 kWh £0 £306 £306 £18,376 60.1 yrs £-12,259

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: £143, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 95.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1912 kWh 1338 kWh 574 kWh £0 £57 £57 £7,569 132.0 yrs £-6,422
3 kW 2868 kWh 2007 kWh 860 kWh £0 £86 £86 £9,604 111.6 yrs £-7,883
4 kW 3823 kWh 2676 kWh 1147 kWh £0 £115 £115 £11,638 101.5 yrs £-9,344
5 kW 4779 kWh 3346 kWh 1434 kWh £0 £143 £143 £13,673 95.4 yrs £-10,805
6 kW 5735 kWh 4015 kWh 1721 kWh £0 £172 £172 £15,707 91.3 yrs £-12,266
7 kW 6691 kWh 4684 kWh 2007 kWh £0 £201 £201 £17,742 88.4 yrs £-13,727
8 kW 7647 kWh 5353 kWh 2294 kWh £0 £229 £229 £19,776 86.2 yrs £-15,188

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: £129, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 119.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1912 kWh 1396 kWh 516 kWh £0 £52 £52 £9,319 180.5 yrs £-8,287
3 kW 2868 kWh 2093 kWh 774 kWh £0 £77 £77 £11,354 146.6 yrs £-9,805
4 kW 3823 kWh 2791 kWh 1032 kWh £0 £103 £103 £13,388 129.7 yrs £-11,323
5 kW 4779 kWh 3489 kWh 1290 kWh £0 £129 £129 £15,423 119.5 yrs £-12,842
6 kW 5735 kWh 4187 kWh 1548 kWh £0 £155 £155 £17,457 112.7 yrs £-14,360
7 kW 6691 kWh 4884 kWh 1807 kWh £0 £181 £181 £19,492 107.9 yrs £-15,878
8 kW 7647 kWh 5582 kWh 2065 kWh £0 £206 £206 £21,526 104.3 yrs £-17,397

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: £119, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 143.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1912 kWh 1434 kWh 478 kWh £0 £48 £48 £11,069 231.6 yrs £-10,113
3 kW 2868 kWh 2151 kWh 717 kWh £0 £72 £72 £13,104 182.8 yrs £-11,670
4 kW 3823 kWh 2868 kWh 956 kWh £0 £96 £96 £15,138 158.4 yrs £-13,226
5 kW 4779 kWh 3584 kWh 1195 kWh £0 £119 £119 £17,173 143.7 yrs £-14,783
6 kW 5735 kWh 4301 kWh 1434 kWh £0 £143 £143 £19,207 134.0 yrs £-16,339
7 kW 6691 kWh 5018 kWh 1673 kWh £0 £167 £167 £21,242 127.0 yrs £-17,896
8 kW 7647 kWh 5735 kWh 1912 kWh £0 £191 £191 £23,276 121.8 yrs £-19,453

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: £110, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 178.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1912 kWh 1472 kWh 440 kWh £0 £44 £44 £13,519 307.5 yrs £-12,640
3 kW 2868 kWh 2208 kWh 660 kWh £0 £66 £66 £15,554 235.8 yrs £-14,234
4 kW 3823 kWh 2944 kWh 879 kWh £0 £88 £88 £17,588 200.0 yrs £-15,829
5 kW 4779 kWh 3680 kWh 1099 kWh £0 £110 £110 £19,623 178.5 yrs £-17,424
6 kW 5735 kWh 4416 kWh 1319 kWh £0 £132 £132 £21,657 164.2 yrs £-19,019
7 kW 6691 kWh 5152 kWh 1539 kWh £0 £154 £154 £23,692 153.9 yrs £-20,614
8 kW 7647 kWh 5888 kWh 1759 kWh £0 £176 £176 £25,726 146.3 yrs £-22,209

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
0.00p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
0.00p/day
Local Sunshine
956kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~956 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

Ards and North Down (100%)

Areas Covered

Bloomfield, Silverbirch, Groomsport, Ballygrainey, Ballymagee, Helen's Bay, Ballycrochan, Rathmore + 4 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 Northern Ireland

BT20 (Ards and North Down)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · -4% vs BT19
BT21 (Ards and North Down)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~922 kWh/kWp · -4% vs BT19
BT23 (Ards and North Down)
≈7.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~902 kWh/kWp · -6% vs BT19
BT16 (Lisburn and Castlereagh)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~924 kWh/kWp · -3% vs BT19
BT18 (Ards and North Down)
≈11.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · -4% vs BT19
BT38 (Mid and East Antrim)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~896 kWh/kWp · -6% vs BT19

Similar sunshine across the UK

DN10 (Bassetlaw)
~956 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT19
DN11 (Doncaster)
~956 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT19
DN20 (North Lincolnshire)
~956 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT19