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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BT29 (Antrim and Newtownabbey)

See if solar pays off for you in Antrim and Newtownabbey — 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
39.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£313
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£-4,389
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 869 kWh/kW — 122 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 869 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)
869 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: £261, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 39.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1737 kWh 695 kWh 1042 kWh £0 £104 £104 £4,069 39.0 yrs £-1,984
3 kW 2606 kWh 1042 kWh 1564 kWh £0 £156 £156 £6,104 39.0 yrs £-2,976
4 kW 3475 kWh 1390 kWh 2085 kWh £0 £208 £208 £8,138 39.0 yrs £-3,968
5 kW 4343 kWh 1737 kWh 2606 kWh £0 £261 £261 £10,173 39.0 yrs £-4,960
6 kW 5212 kWh 2085 kWh 3127 kWh £0 £313 £313 £12,207 39.0 yrs £-5,953
7 kW 6081 kWh 2432 kWh 3648 kWh £0 £365 £365 £14,242 39.0 yrs £-6,945
8 kW 6949 kWh 2780 kWh 4170 kWh £0 £417 £417 £16,276 39.0 yrs £-7,937

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: £174, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 70.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1737 kWh 1042 kWh 695 kWh £0 £69 £69 £6,169 88.8 yrs £-4,779
3 kW 2606 kWh 1564 kWh 1042 kWh £0 £104 £104 £8,204 78.7 yrs £-6,119
4 kW 3475 kWh 2085 kWh 1390 kWh £0 £139 £139 £10,238 73.7 yrs £-7,458
5 kW 4343 kWh 2606 kWh 1737 kWh £0 £174 £174 £12,273 70.6 yrs £-8,798
6 kW 5212 kWh 3127 kWh 2085 kWh £0 £208 £208 £14,307 68.6 yrs £-10,137
7 kW 6081 kWh 3648 kWh 2432 kWh £0 £243 £243 £16,342 67.2 yrs £-11,477
8 kW 6949 kWh 4170 kWh 2780 kWh £0 £278 £278 £18,376 66.1 yrs £-12,817

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: £130, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 104.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1737 kWh 1216 kWh 521 kWh £0 £52 £52 £7,569 145.2 yrs £-6,527
3 kW 2606 kWh 1824 kWh 782 kWh £0 £78 £78 £9,604 122.8 yrs £-8,040
4 kW 3475 kWh 2432 kWh 1042 kWh £0 £104 £104 £11,638 111.6 yrs £-9,553
5 kW 4343 kWh 3040 kWh 1303 kWh £0 £130 £130 £13,673 104.9 yrs £-11,067
6 kW 5212 kWh 3648 kWh 1564 kWh £0 £156 £156 £15,707 100.5 yrs £-12,580
7 kW 6081 kWh 4257 kWh 1824 kWh £0 £182 £182 £17,742 97.3 yrs £-14,093
8 kW 6949 kWh 4865 kWh 2085 kWh £0 £208 £208 £19,776 94.9 yrs £-15,606

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: £117, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 131.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1737 kWh 1268 kWh 469 kWh £0 £47 £47 £9,319 198.7 yrs £-8,381
3 kW 2606 kWh 1902 kWh 704 kWh £0 £70 £70 £11,354 161.4 yrs £-9,946
4 kW 3475 kWh 2537 kWh 938 kWh £0 £94 £94 £13,388 142.7 yrs £-11,512
5 kW 4343 kWh 3171 kWh 1173 kWh £0 £117 £117 £15,423 131.5 yrs £-13,077
6 kW 5212 kWh 3805 kWh 1407 kWh £0 £141 £141 £17,457 124.0 yrs £-14,643
7 kW 6081 kWh 4439 kWh 1642 kWh £0 £164 £164 £19,492 118.7 yrs £-16,208
8 kW 6949 kWh 5073 kWh 1876 kWh £0 £188 £188 £21,526 114.7 yrs £-17,773

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: £109, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 158.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1737 kWh 1303 kWh 434 kWh £0 £43 £43 £11,069 254.8 yrs £-10,200
3 kW 2606 kWh 1955 kWh 652 kWh £0 £65 £65 £13,104 201.1 yrs £-11,801
4 kW 3475 kWh 2606 kWh 869 kWh £0 £87 £87 £15,138 174.3 yrs £-13,401
5 kW 4343 kWh 3258 kWh 1086 kWh £0 £109 £109 £17,173 158.1 yrs £-15,001
6 kW 5212 kWh 3909 kWh 1303 kWh £0 £130 £130 £19,207 147.4 yrs £-16,601
7 kW 6081 kWh 4561 kWh 1520 kWh £0 £152 £152 £21,242 139.7 yrs £-18,201
8 kW 6949 kWh 5212 kWh 1737 kWh £0 £174 £174 £23,276 134.0 yrs £-19,801

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: £100, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 196.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1737 kWh 1338 kWh 400 kWh £0 £40 £40 £13,519 338.3 yrs £-12,720
3 kW 2606 kWh 2007 kWh 599 kWh £0 £60 £60 £15,554 259.5 yrs £-14,355
4 kW 3475 kWh 2676 kWh 799 kWh £0 £80 £80 £17,588 220.1 yrs £-15,990
5 kW 4343 kWh 3344 kWh 999 kWh £0 £100 £100 £19,623 196.4 yrs £-17,625
6 kW 5212 kWh 4013 kWh 1199 kWh £0 £120 £120 £21,657 180.7 yrs £-19,260
7 kW 6081 kWh 4682 kWh 1399 kWh £0 £140 £140 £23,692 169.4 yrs £-20,894
8 kW 6949 kWh 5351 kWh 1598 kWh £0 £160 £160 £25,726 161.0 yrs £-22,529

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
869kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~869 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

Antrim and Newtownabbey (70%)|Lisburn and Castlereagh (30%)

Areas Covered

Aldergrove, Glenavy, Crumlin, Clady, Stonyford

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

BT41 (Antrim and Newtownabbey)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~866 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT29
BT17 (Belfast)
≈14.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~886 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT29
BT28 (Lisburn and Castlereagh)
≈14.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~895 kWh/kWp · +3% vs BT29
BT11 (Belfast)
≈14.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT29
BT67 (Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon)
≈16.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~890 kWh/kWp · +3% vs BT29
BT10 (Belfast)
≈16.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT29

Similar sunshine across the UK

BL0 (Bury)
~869 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT29
M6 (Salford)
~869 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT29
PA61 (Argyll and Bute)
~869 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT29