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Solar Panels in BT46 (Mid Ulster)

See if solar pays off for you in Mid Ulster — 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
39.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£307
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£-4,541
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 852 kWh/kW — 139 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 852 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)
852 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: £256, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 39.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1704 kWh 681 kWh 1022 kWh £0 £102 £102 £4,069 39.8 yrs £-2,025
3 kW 2555 kWh 1022 kWh 1533 kWh £0 £153 £153 £6,104 39.8 yrs £-3,037
4 kW 3407 kWh 1363 kWh 2044 kWh £0 £204 £204 £8,138 39.8 yrs £-4,049
5 kW 4259 kWh 1704 kWh 2555 kWh £0 £256 £256 £10,173 39.8 yrs £-5,062
6 kW 5111 kWh 2044 kWh 3067 kWh £0 £307 £307 £12,207 39.8 yrs £-6,074
7 kW 5963 kWh 2385 kWh 3578 kWh £0 £358 £358 £14,242 39.8 yrs £-7,086
8 kW 6815 kWh 2726 kWh 4089 kWh £0 £409 £409 £16,276 39.8 yrs £-8,099

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: £170, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 72.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1704 kWh 1022 kWh 681 kWh £0 £68 £68 £6,169 90.5 yrs £-4,806
3 kW 2555 kWh 1533 kWh 1022 kWh £0 £102 £102 £8,204 80.3 yrs £-6,159
4 kW 3407 kWh 2044 kWh 1363 kWh £0 £136 £136 £10,238 75.1 yrs £-7,512
5 kW 4259 kWh 2555 kWh 1704 kWh £0 £170 £170 £12,273 72.0 yrs £-8,865
6 kW 5111 kWh 3067 kWh 2044 kWh £0 £204 £204 £14,307 70.0 yrs £-10,218
7 kW 5963 kWh 3578 kWh 2385 kWh £0 £239 £239 £16,342 68.5 yrs £-11,571
8 kW 6815 kWh 4089 kWh 2726 kWh £0 £273 £273 £18,376 67.4 yrs £-12,924

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: £128, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 107.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1704 kWh 1193 kWh 511 kWh £0 £51 £51 £7,569 148.1 yrs £-6,547
3 kW 2555 kWh 1789 kWh 767 kWh £0 £77 £77 £9,604 125.3 yrs £-8,070
4 kW 3407 kWh 2385 kWh 1022 kWh £0 £102 £102 £11,638 113.9 yrs £-9,594
5 kW 4259 kWh 2981 kWh 1278 kWh £0 £128 £128 £13,673 107.0 yrs £-11,117
6 kW 5111 kWh 3578 kWh 1533 kWh £0 £153 £153 £15,707 102.4 yrs £-12,640
7 kW 5963 kWh 4174 kWh 1789 kWh £0 £179 £179 £17,742 99.2 yrs £-14,164
8 kW 6815 kWh 4770 kWh 2044 kWh £0 £204 £204 £19,776 96.7 yrs £-15,687

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: £115, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 134.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1704 kWh 1244 kWh 460 kWh £0 £46 £46 £9,319 202.6 yrs £-8,399
3 kW 2555 kWh 1866 kWh 690 kWh £0 £69 £69 £11,354 164.5 yrs £-9,974
4 kW 3407 kWh 2487 kWh 920 kWh £0 £92 £92 £13,388 145.5 yrs £-11,548
5 kW 4259 kWh 3109 kWh 1150 kWh £0 £115 £115 £15,423 134.1 yrs £-13,123
6 kW 5111 kWh 3731 kWh 1380 kWh £0 £138 £138 £17,457 126.5 yrs £-14,697
7 kW 5963 kWh 4353 kWh 1610 kWh £0 £161 £161 £19,492 121.1 yrs £-16,272
8 kW 6815 kWh 4975 kWh 1840 kWh £0 £184 £184 £21,526 117.0 yrs £-17,846

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: £106, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 161.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1704 kWh 1278 kWh 426 kWh £0 £43 £43 £11,069 259.9 yrs £-10,217
3 kW 2555 kWh 1917 kWh 639 kWh £0 £64 £64 £13,104 205.1 yrs £-11,826
4 kW 3407 kWh 2555 kWh 852 kWh £0 £85 £85 £15,138 177.7 yrs £-13,434
5 kW 4259 kWh 3194 kWh 1065 kWh £0 £106 £106 £17,173 161.3 yrs £-15,043
6 kW 5111 kWh 3833 kWh 1278 kWh £0 £128 £128 £19,207 150.3 yrs £-16,652
7 kW 5963 kWh 4472 kWh 1491 kWh £0 £149 £149 £21,242 142.5 yrs £-18,260
8 kW 6815 kWh 5111 kWh 1704 kWh £0 £170 £170 £23,276 136.6 yrs £-19,869

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: £98, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 200.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1704 kWh 1312 kWh 392 kWh £0 £39 £39 £13,519 345.0 yrs £-12,735
3 kW 2555 kWh 1968 kWh 588 kWh £0 £59 £59 £15,554 264.6 yrs £-14,378
4 kW 3407 kWh 2624 kWh 784 kWh £0 £78 £78 £17,588 224.4 yrs £-16,021
5 kW 4259 kWh 3280 kWh 980 kWh £0 £98 £98 £19,623 200.3 yrs £-17,663
6 kW 5111 kWh 3935 kWh 1176 kWh £0 £118 £118 £21,657 184.2 yrs £-19,306
7 kW 5963 kWh 4591 kWh 1371 kWh £0 £137 £137 £23,692 172.7 yrs £-20,949
8 kW 6815 kWh 5247 kWh 1567 kWh £0 £157 £157 £25,726 164.1 yrs £-22,591

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
852kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~852 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

Mid Ulster (98%)|Causeway Coast and Glens (2%)

Areas Covered

Swatragh, Maghera, Tamlaght O'Crilly, Lower Glenshane, Valley, Tobermore, Garvagh

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

BT45 (Mid Ulster)
≈11.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~867 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT46
BT80 (Mid Ulster)
≈23.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~873 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT46
BT44 (Causeway Coast and Glens)
≈24.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~868 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BT46
BT42 (Mid and East Antrim)
≈24.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~838 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BT46
BT43 (Mid and East Antrim)
≈25.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~838 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BT46
BT53 (Causeway Coast and Glens)
≈26.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~842 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BT46

Similar sunshine across the UK

SK6 (Stockport)
~852 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT46
AB44 (Aberdeenshire)
~852 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT46
EH27 (West Lothian)
~852 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT46