Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BT37 (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
38.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£314
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£-4,368
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 871 kWh/kW — 120 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 871 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)
871 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: 38.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1742 kWh 697 kWh 1045 kWh £0 £105 £105 £4,069 38.9 yrs £-1,979
3 kW 2613 kWh 1045 kWh 1568 kWh £0 £157 £157 £6,104 38.9 yrs £-2,968
4 kW 3484 kWh 1394 kWh 2090 kWh £0 £209 £209 £8,138 38.9 yrs £-3,957
5 kW 4355 kWh 1742 kWh 2613 kWh £0 £261 £261 £10,173 38.9 yrs £-4,946
6 kW 5226 kWh 2090 kWh 3136 kWh £0 £314 £314 £12,207 38.9 yrs £-5,936
7 kW 6097 kWh 2439 kWh 3658 kWh £0 £366 £366 £14,242 38.9 yrs £-6,925
8 kW 6968 kWh 2787 kWh 4181 kWh £0 £418 £418 £16,276 38.9 yrs £-7,914

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: 70.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1742 kWh 1045 kWh 697 kWh £0 £70 £70 £6,169 88.5 yrs £-4,775
3 kW 2613 kWh 1568 kWh 1045 kWh £0 £105 £105 £8,204 78.5 yrs £-6,113
4 kW 3484 kWh 2090 kWh 1394 kWh £0 £139 £139 £10,238 73.5 yrs £-7,451
5 kW 4355 kWh 2613 kWh 1742 kWh £0 £174 £174 £12,273 70.4 yrs £-8,788
6 kW 5226 kWh 3136 kWh 2090 kWh £0 £209 £209 £14,307 68.4 yrs £-10,126
7 kW 6097 kWh 3658 kWh 2439 kWh £0 £244 £244 £16,342 67.0 yrs £-11,464
8 kW 6968 kWh 4181 kWh 2787 kWh £0 £279 £279 £18,376 65.9 yrs £-12,801

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: £131, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 104.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1742 kWh 1219 kWh 523 kWh £0 £52 £52 £7,569 144.8 yrs £-6,524
3 kW 2613 kWh 1829 kWh 784 kWh £0 £78 £78 £9,604 122.5 yrs £-8,036
4 kW 3484 kWh 2439 kWh 1045 kWh £0 £105 £105 £11,638 111.3 yrs £-9,548
5 kW 4355 kWh 3049 kWh 1307 kWh £0 £131 £131 £13,673 104.6 yrs £-11,059
6 kW 5226 kWh 3658 kWh 1568 kWh £0 £157 £157 £15,707 100.2 yrs £-12,571
7 kW 6097 kWh 4268 kWh 1829 kWh £0 £183 £183 £17,742 97.0 yrs £-14,083
8 kW 6968 kWh 4878 kWh 2090 kWh £0 £209 £209 £19,776 94.6 yrs £-15,595

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: £118, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 131.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1742 kWh 1272 kWh 470 kWh £0 £47 £47 £9,319 198.1 yrs £-8,378
3 kW 2613 kWh 1908 kWh 706 kWh £0 £71 £71 £11,354 160.9 yrs £-9,942
4 kW 3484 kWh 2543 kWh 941 kWh £0 £94 £94 £13,388 142.3 yrs £-11,507
5 kW 4355 kWh 3179 kWh 1176 kWh £0 £118 £118 £15,423 131.2 yrs £-13,071
6 kW 5226 kWh 3815 kWh 1411 kWh £0 £141 £141 £17,457 123.7 yrs £-14,635
7 kW 6097 kWh 4451 kWh 1646 kWh £0 £165 £165 £19,492 118.4 yrs £-16,199
8 kW 6968 kWh 5087 kWh 1881 kWh £0 £188 £188 £21,526 114.4 yrs £-17,763

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: 157.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1742 kWh 1307 kWh 436 kWh £0 £44 £44 £11,069 254.2 yrs £-10,198
3 kW 2613 kWh 1960 kWh 653 kWh £0 £65 £65 £13,104 200.6 yrs £-11,797
4 kW 3484 kWh 2613 kWh 871 kWh £0 £87 £87 £15,138 173.8 yrs £-13,396
5 kW 4355 kWh 3266 kWh 1089 kWh £0 £109 £109 £17,173 157.7 yrs £-14,995
6 kW 5226 kWh 3920 kWh 1307 kWh £0 £131 £131 £19,207 147.0 yrs £-16,594
7 kW 6097 kWh 4573 kWh 1524 kWh £0 £152 £152 £21,242 139.4 yrs £-18,193
8 kW 6968 kWh 5226 kWh 1742 kWh £0 £174 £174 £23,276 133.6 yrs £-19,792

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: 195.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1742 kWh 1341 kWh 401 kWh £0 £40 £40 £13,519 337.4 yrs £-12,718
3 kW 2613 kWh 2012 kWh 601 kWh £0 £60 £60 £15,554 258.8 yrs £-14,351
4 kW 3484 kWh 2683 kWh 801 kWh £0 £80 £80 £17,588 219.5 yrs £-15,985
5 kW 4355 kWh 3354 kWh 1002 kWh £0 £100 £100 £19,623 195.9 yrs £-17,619
6 kW 5226 kWh 4024 kWh 1202 kWh £0 £120 £120 £21,657 180.2 yrs £-19,253
7 kW 6097 kWh 4695 kWh 1402 kWh £0 £140 £140 £23,692 168.9 yrs £-20,887
8 kW 6968 kWh 5366 kWh 1603 kWh £0 £160 £160 £25,726 160.5 yrs £-22,521

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
871kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~871 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 (100%)

Areas Covered

Whitehouse, Monkstown, Rostulla, Abbey, Jordanstown, Rathcoole, O'Neill, Valley + 3 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

BT36 (Antrim and Newtownabbey)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~879 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BT37
BT15 (Belfast)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~886 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT37
BT3 (Belfast)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT37
BT18 (Ards and North Down)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · +5% vs BT37
BT14 (Belfast)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~886 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT37
BT99 (Belfast)
≈8.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT37

Similar sunshine across the UK

NE19 (Northumberland)
~871 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT37
BL2 (Bolton)
~871 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT37
KY13 (Perth and Kinross)
~871 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT37