Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in BT54 (Causeway Coast and Glens)

See if solar pays off for you in Causeway Coast and Glens — 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
39.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£310
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£-4,468
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

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 860 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)
860 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: £258, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 39.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1720 kWh 688 kWh 1032 kWh £0 £103 £103 £4,069 39.4 yrs £-2,005
3 kW 2580 kWh 1032 kWh 1548 kWh £0 £155 £155 £6,104 39.4 yrs £-3,008
4 kW 3440 kWh 1376 kWh 2064 kWh £0 £206 £206 £8,138 39.4 yrs £-4,010
5 kW 4300 kWh 1720 kWh 2580 kWh £0 £258 £258 £10,173 39.4 yrs £-5,013
6 kW 5160 kWh 2064 kWh 3096 kWh £0 £310 £310 £12,207 39.4 yrs £-6,016
7 kW 6019 kWh 2408 kWh 3612 kWh £0 £361 £361 £14,242 39.4 yrs £-7,018
8 kW 6879 kWh 2752 kWh 4128 kWh £0 £413 £413 £16,276 39.4 yrs £-8,021

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: £172, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 71.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1720 kWh 1032 kWh 688 kWh £0 £69 £69 £6,169 89.7 yrs £-4,793
3 kW 2580 kWh 1548 kWh 1032 kWh £0 £103 £103 £8,204 79.5 yrs £-6,140
4 kW 3440 kWh 2064 kWh 1376 kWh £0 £138 £138 £10,238 74.4 yrs £-7,486
5 kW 4300 kWh 2580 kWh 1720 kWh £0 £172 £172 £12,273 71.4 yrs £-8,833
6 kW 5160 kWh 3096 kWh 2064 kWh £0 £206 £206 £14,307 69.3 yrs £-10,179
7 kW 6019 kWh 3612 kWh 2408 kWh £0 £241 £241 £16,342 67.9 yrs £-11,526
8 kW 6879 kWh 4128 kWh 2752 kWh £0 £275 £275 £18,376 66.8 yrs £-12,873

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: £129, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 106.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1720 kWh 1204 kWh 516 kWh £0 £52 £52 £7,569 146.7 yrs £-6,537
3 kW 2580 kWh 1806 kWh 774 kWh £0 £77 £77 £9,604 124.1 yrs £-8,056
4 kW 3440 kWh 2408 kWh 1032 kWh £0 £103 £103 £11,638 112.8 yrs £-9,574
5 kW 4300 kWh 3010 kWh 1290 kWh £0 £129 £129 £13,673 106.0 yrs £-11,093
6 kW 5160 kWh 3612 kWh 1548 kWh £0 £155 £155 £15,707 101.5 yrs £-12,611
7 kW 6019 kWh 4214 kWh 1806 kWh £0 £181 £181 £17,742 98.2 yrs £-14,130
8 kW 6879 kWh 4816 kWh 2064 kWh £0 £206 £206 £19,776 95.8 yrs £-15,648

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: £116, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 132.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1720 kWh 1255 kWh 464 kWh £0 £46 £46 £9,319 200.7 yrs £-8,390
3 kW 2580 kWh 1883 kWh 697 kWh £0 £70 £70 £11,354 163.0 yrs £-9,960
4 kW 3440 kWh 2511 kWh 929 kWh £0 £93 £93 £13,388 144.2 yrs £-11,531
5 kW 4300 kWh 3139 kWh 1161 kWh £0 £116 £116 £15,423 132.9 yrs £-13,101
6 kW 5160 kWh 3766 kWh 1393 kWh £0 £139 £139 £17,457 125.3 yrs £-14,671
7 kW 6019 kWh 4394 kWh 1625 kWh £0 £163 £163 £19,492 119.9 yrs £-16,241
8 kW 6879 kWh 5022 kWh 1857 kWh £0 £186 £186 £21,526 115.9 yrs £-17,811

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: £107, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 159.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1720 kWh 1290 kWh 430 kWh £0 £43 £43 £11,069 257.4 yrs £-10,209
3 kW 2580 kWh 1935 kWh 645 kWh £0 £64 £64 £13,104 203.2 yrs £-11,814
4 kW 3440 kWh 2580 kWh 860 kWh £0 £86 £86 £15,138 176.0 yrs £-13,418
5 kW 4300 kWh 3225 kWh 1075 kWh £0 £107 £107 £17,173 159.8 yrs £-15,023
6 kW 5160 kWh 3870 kWh 1290 kWh £0 £129 £129 £19,207 148.9 yrs £-16,627
7 kW 6019 kWh 4515 kWh 1505 kWh £0 £150 £150 £21,242 141.2 yrs £-18,232
8 kW 6879 kWh 5160 kWh 1720 kWh £0 £172 £172 £23,276 135.3 yrs £-19,836

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: £99, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 198.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1720 kWh 1324 kWh 396 kWh £0 £40 £40 £13,519 341.8 yrs £-12,728
3 kW 2580 kWh 1986 kWh 593 kWh £0 £59 £59 £15,554 262.1 yrs £-14,367
4 kW 3440 kWh 2649 kWh 791 kWh £0 £79 £79 £17,588 222.3 yrs £-16,006
5 kW 4300 kWh 3311 kWh 989 kWh £0 £99 £99 £19,623 198.4 yrs £-17,645
6 kW 5160 kWh 3973 kWh 1187 kWh £0 £119 £119 £21,657 182.5 yrs £-19,284
7 kW 6019 kWh 4635 kWh 1384 kWh £0 £138 £138 £23,692 171.1 yrs £-20,923
8 kW 6879 kWh 5297 kWh 1582 kWh £0 £158 £158 £25,726 162.6 yrs £-22,562

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
860kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~860 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

Causeway Coast and Glens (100%)

Areas Covered

Ballycastle, Kinbane, Torr Head and Rathlin, Giant's Causeway

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.