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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BT22 (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
35.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£342
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£-3,653
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 950 kWh/kW — 40 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 950 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)
950 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: £285, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 35.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1901 kWh 760 kWh 1141 kWh £0 £114 £114 £4,069 35.7 yrs £-1,788
3 kW 2851 kWh 1141 kWh 1711 kWh £0 £171 £171 £6,104 35.7 yrs £-2,682
4 kW 3802 kWh 1521 kWh 2281 kWh £0 £228 £228 £8,138 35.7 yrs £-3,576
5 kW 4752 kWh 1901 kWh 2851 kWh £0 £285 £285 £10,173 35.7 yrs £-4,470
6 kW 5703 kWh 2281 kWh 3422 kWh £0 £342 £342 £12,207 35.7 yrs £-5,364
7 kW 6653 kWh 2661 kWh 3992 kWh £0 £399 £399 £14,242 35.7 yrs £-6,258
8 kW 7604 kWh 3042 kWh 4562 kWh £0 £456 £456 £16,276 35.7 yrs £-7,151

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: £190, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 64.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1901 kWh 1141 kWh 760 kWh £0 £76 £76 £6,169 81.1 yrs £-4,648
3 kW 2851 kWh 1711 kWh 1141 kWh £0 £114 £114 £8,204 71.9 yrs £-5,922
4 kW 3802 kWh 2281 kWh 1521 kWh £0 £152 £152 £10,238 67.3 yrs £-7,197
5 kW 4752 kWh 2851 kWh 1901 kWh £0 £190 £190 £12,273 64.6 yrs £-8,471
6 kW 5703 kWh 3422 kWh 2281 kWh £0 £228 £228 £14,307 62.7 yrs £-9,745
7 kW 6653 kWh 3992 kWh 2661 kWh £0 £266 £266 £16,342 61.4 yrs £-11,019
8 kW 7604 kWh 4562 kWh 3042 kWh £0 £304 £304 £18,376 60.4 yrs £-12,293

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: 95.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1901 kWh 1331 kWh 570 kWh £0 £57 £57 £7,569 132.7 yrs £-6,428
3 kW 2851 kWh 1996 kWh 855 kWh £0 £86 £86 £9,604 112.3 yrs £-7,893
4 kW 3802 kWh 2661 kWh 1141 kWh £0 £114 £114 £11,638 102.0 yrs £-9,357
5 kW 4752 kWh 3327 kWh 1426 kWh £0 £143 £143 £13,673 95.9 yrs £-10,821
6 kW 5703 kWh 3992 kWh 1711 kWh £0 £171 £171 £15,707 91.8 yrs £-12,285
7 kW 6653 kWh 4657 kWh 1996 kWh £0 £200 £200 £17,742 88.9 yrs £-13,750
8 kW 7604 kWh 5323 kWh 2281 kWh £0 £228 £228 £19,776 86.7 yrs £-15,214

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: £128, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 120.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1901 kWh 1388 kWh 513 kWh £0 £51 £51 £9,319 181.6 yrs £-8,293
3 kW 2851 kWh 2082 kWh 770 kWh £0 £77 £77 £11,354 147.5 yrs £-9,814
4 kW 3802 kWh 2775 kWh 1027 kWh £0 £103 £103 £13,388 130.4 yrs £-11,335
5 kW 4752 kWh 3469 kWh 1283 kWh £0 £128 £128 £15,423 120.2 yrs £-12,856
6 kW 5703 kWh 4163 kWh 1540 kWh £0 £154 £154 £17,457 113.4 yrs £-14,378
7 kW 6653 kWh 4857 kWh 1796 kWh £0 £180 £180 £19,492 108.5 yrs £-15,899
8 kW 7604 kWh 5551 kWh 2053 kWh £0 £205 £205 £21,526 104.8 yrs £-17,420

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: 144.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1901 kWh 1426 kWh 475 kWh £0 £48 £48 £11,069 232.9 yrs £-10,119
3 kW 2851 kWh 2139 kWh 713 kWh £0 £71 £71 £13,104 183.8 yrs £-11,678
4 kW 3802 kWh 2851 kWh 950 kWh £0 £95 £95 £15,138 159.3 yrs £-13,237
5 kW 4752 kWh 3564 kWh 1188 kWh £0 £119 £119 £17,173 144.5 yrs £-14,796
6 kW 5703 kWh 4277 kWh 1426 kWh £0 £143 £143 £19,207 134.7 yrs £-16,356
7 kW 6653 kWh 4990 kWh 1663 kWh £0 £166 £166 £21,242 127.7 yrs £-17,915
8 kW 7604 kWh 5703 kWh 1901 kWh £0 £190 £190 £23,276 122.4 yrs £-19,474

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: £109, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 179.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1901 kWh 1464 kWh 437 kWh £0 £44 £44 £13,519 309.2 yrs £-12,645
3 kW 2851 kWh 2196 kWh 656 kWh £0 £66 £66 £15,554 237.2 yrs £-14,242
4 kW 3802 kWh 2927 kWh 874 kWh £0 £87 £87 £17,588 201.1 yrs £-15,839
5 kW 4752 kWh 3659 kWh 1093 kWh £0 £109 £109 £19,623 179.5 yrs £-17,436
6 kW 5703 kWh 4391 kWh 1312 kWh £0 £131 £131 £21,657 165.1 yrs £-19,034
7 kW 6653 kWh 5123 kWh 1530 kWh £0 £153 £153 £23,692 154.8 yrs £-20,631
8 kW 7604 kWh 5855 kWh 1749 kWh £0 £175 £175 £25,726 147.1 yrs £-22,228

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
950kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~950 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

Carrowdore, Ballywalter, Kircubbin, Portaferry, Portavogie, Loughries

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

BT23 (Ards and North Down)
≈15.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~902 kWh/kWp · -5% vs BT22
BT21 (Ards and North Down)
≈16.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~922 kWh/kWp · -3% vs BT22
BT19 (Ards and North Down)
≈18.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~956 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BT22
BT20 (Ards and North Down)
≈20.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · -3% vs BT22
BT16 (Lisburn and Castlereagh)
≈20.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~924 kWh/kWp · -3% vs BT22
BT30 (Newry, Mourne and Down)
≈22.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~976 kWh/kWp · +3% vs BT22

Similar sunshine across the UK

S25 (Rotherham)
~951 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT22
NE23 (Northumberland)
~950 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT22
B91 (Solihull)
~951 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT22