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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BT20 (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
36.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£330
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£-3,947
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 918 kWh/kW — 73 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 918 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)
918 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: £275, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 36.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 734 kWh 1101 kWh £0 £110 £110 £4,069 36.9 yrs £-1,866
3 kW 2753 kWh 1101 kWh 1652 kWh £0 £165 £165 £6,104 36.9 yrs £-2,800
4 kW 3671 kWh 1468 kWh 2203 kWh £0 £220 £220 £8,138 36.9 yrs £-3,733
5 kW 4589 kWh 1836 kWh 2753 kWh £0 £275 £275 £10,173 36.9 yrs £-4,666
6 kW 5507 kWh 2203 kWh 3304 kWh £0 £330 £330 £12,207 36.9 yrs £-5,599
7 kW 6424 kWh 2570 kWh 3855 kWh £0 £385 £385 £14,242 36.9 yrs £-6,532
8 kW 7342 kWh 2937 kWh 4405 kWh £0 £441 £441 £16,276 36.9 yrs £-7,465

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: £184, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 66.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 1101 kWh 734 kWh £0 £73 £73 £6,169 84.0 yrs £-4,701
3 kW 2753 kWh 1652 kWh 1101 kWh £0 £110 £110 £8,204 74.5 yrs £-6,001
4 kW 3671 kWh 2203 kWh 1468 kWh £0 £147 £147 £10,238 69.7 yrs £-7,301
5 kW 4589 kWh 2753 kWh 1836 kWh £0 £184 £184 £12,273 66.9 yrs £-8,601
6 kW 5507 kWh 3304 kWh 2203 kWh £0 £220 £220 £14,307 65.0 yrs £-9,902
7 kW 6424 kWh 3855 kWh 2570 kWh £0 £257 £257 £16,342 63.6 yrs £-11,202
8 kW 7342 kWh 4405 kWh 2937 kWh £0 £294 £294 £18,376 62.6 yrs £-12,502

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: £138, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 99.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 1285 kWh 551 kWh £0 £55 £55 £7,569 137.5 yrs £-6,468
3 kW 2753 kWh 1927 kWh 826 kWh £0 £83 £83 £9,604 116.3 yrs £-7,952
4 kW 3671 kWh 2570 kWh 1101 kWh £0 £110 £110 £11,638 105.7 yrs £-9,435
5 kW 4589 kWh 3212 kWh 1377 kWh £0 £138 £138 £13,673 99.3 yrs £-10,919
6 kW 5507 kWh 3855 kWh 1652 kWh £0 £165 £165 £15,707 95.1 yrs £-12,403
7 kW 6424 kWh 4497 kWh 1927 kWh £0 £193 £193 £17,742 92.1 yrs £-13,887
8 kW 7342 kWh 5140 kWh 2203 kWh £0 £220 £220 £19,776 89.8 yrs £-15,371

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: £124, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 124.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 1340 kWh 496 kWh £0 £50 £50 £9,319 188.0 yrs £-8,328
3 kW 2753 kWh 2010 kWh 743 kWh £0 £74 £74 £11,354 152.7 yrs £-9,867
4 kW 3671 kWh 2680 kWh 991 kWh £0 £99 £99 £13,388 135.1 yrs £-11,406
5 kW 4589 kWh 3350 kWh 1239 kWh £0 £124 £124 £15,423 124.5 yrs £-12,945
6 kW 5507 kWh 4020 kWh 1487 kWh £0 £149 £149 £17,457 117.4 yrs £-14,483
7 kW 6424 kWh 4690 kWh 1735 kWh £0 £173 £173 £19,492 112.4 yrs £-16,022
8 kW 7342 kWh 5360 kWh 1982 kWh £0 £198 £198 £21,526 108.6 yrs £-17,561

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: £115, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 149.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 1377 kWh 459 kWh £0 £46 £46 £11,069 241.2 yrs £-10,151
3 kW 2753 kWh 2065 kWh 688 kWh £0 £69 £69 £13,104 190.4 yrs £-11,727
4 kW 3671 kWh 2753 kWh 918 kWh £0 £92 £92 £15,138 164.9 yrs £-13,302
5 kW 4589 kWh 3442 kWh 1147 kWh £0 £115 £115 £17,173 149.7 yrs £-14,878
6 kW 5507 kWh 4130 kWh 1377 kWh £0 £138 £138 £19,207 139.5 yrs £-16,454
7 kW 6424 kWh 4818 kWh 1606 kWh £0 £161 £161 £21,242 132.3 yrs £-18,029
8 kW 7342 kWh 5507 kWh 1836 kWh £0 £184 £184 £23,276 126.8 yrs £-19,605

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: £106, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 185.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 1413 kWh 422 kWh £0 £42 £42 £13,519 320.2 yrs £-12,675
3 kW 2753 kWh 2120 kWh 633 kWh £0 £63 £63 £15,554 245.6 yrs £-14,287
4 kW 3671 kWh 2827 kWh 844 kWh £0 £84 £84 £17,588 208.3 yrs £-15,899
5 kW 4589 kWh 3533 kWh 1055 kWh £0 £106 £106 £19,623 185.9 yrs £-17,512
6 kW 5507 kWh 4240 kWh 1267 kWh £0 £127 £127 £21,657 171.0 yrs £-19,124
7 kW 6424 kWh 4947 kWh 1478 kWh £0 £148 £148 £23,692 160.3 yrs £-20,736
8 kW 7342 kWh 5653 kWh 1689 kWh £0 £169 £169 £25,726 152.3 yrs £-22,349

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
918kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~918 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

Harbour, Castle, Ballyholme, Bryansburn, Broadway, Silverstream, Rathgael, Helen's Bay + 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 Northern Ireland

BT19 (Ards and North Down)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~956 kWh/kWp · +4% vs BT20
BT23 (Ards and North Down)
≈7.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~902 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BT20
BT21 (Ards and North Down)
≈8.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~922 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT20
BT18 (Ards and North Down)
≈10.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT20
BT16 (Lisburn and Castlereagh)
≈11.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~924 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BT20
BT38 (Mid and East Antrim)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~896 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BT20

Similar sunshine across the UK

SY21 (Powys)
~918 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT20
DG5 (Dumfries and Galloway)
~918 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT20
S10 (Sheffield)
~918 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT20