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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BT6 (Belfast)

See if solar pays off for you in Belfast — 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
38.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£321
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£-4,177
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 892 kWh/kW — 98 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 892 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)
892 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: £268, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 38.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1784 kWh 714 kWh 1071 kWh £0 £107 £107 £4,069 38.0 yrs £-1,928
3 kW 2677 kWh 1071 kWh 1606 kWh £0 £161 £161 £6,104 38.0 yrs £-2,891
4 kW 3569 kWh 1428 kWh 2141 kWh £0 £214 £214 £8,138 38.0 yrs £-3,855
5 kW 4461 kWh 1784 kWh 2677 kWh £0 £268 £268 £10,173 38.0 yrs £-4,819
6 kW 5353 kWh 2141 kWh 3212 kWh £0 £321 £321 £12,207 38.0 yrs £-5,783
7 kW 6246 kWh 2498 kWh 3747 kWh £0 £375 £375 £14,242 38.0 yrs £-6,747
8 kW 7138 kWh 2855 kWh 4283 kWh £0 £428 £428 £16,276 38.0 yrs £-7,711

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: £178, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 68.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1784 kWh 1071 kWh 714 kWh £0 £71 £71 £6,169 86.4 yrs £-4,741
3 kW 2677 kWh 1606 kWh 1071 kWh £0 £107 £107 £8,204 76.6 yrs £-6,062
4 kW 3569 kWh 2141 kWh 1428 kWh £0 £143 £143 £10,238 71.7 yrs £-7,383
5 kW 4461 kWh 2677 kWh 1784 kWh £0 £178 £178 £12,273 68.8 yrs £-8,704
6 kW 5353 kWh 3212 kWh 2141 kWh £0 £214 £214 £14,307 66.8 yrs £-10,024
7 kW 6246 kWh 3747 kWh 2498 kWh £0 £250 £250 £16,342 65.4 yrs £-11,345
8 kW 7138 kWh 4283 kWh 2855 kWh £0 £286 £286 £18,376 64.4 yrs £-12,666

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: £134, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 102.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1784 kWh 1249 kWh 535 kWh £0 £54 £54 £7,569 141.4 yrs £-6,498
3 kW 2677 kWh 1874 kWh 803 kWh £0 £80 £80 £9,604 119.6 yrs £-7,997
4 kW 3569 kWh 2498 kWh 1071 kWh £0 £107 £107 £11,638 108.7 yrs £-9,497
5 kW 4461 kWh 3123 kWh 1338 kWh £0 £134 £134 £13,673 102.2 yrs £-10,996
6 kW 5353 kWh 3747 kWh 1606 kWh £0 £161 £161 £15,707 97.8 yrs £-12,495
7 kW 6246 kWh 4372 kWh 1874 kWh £0 £187 £187 £17,742 94.7 yrs £-13,994
8 kW 7138 kWh 4997 kWh 2141 kWh £0 £214 £214 £19,776 92.4 yrs £-15,493

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: £120, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 128.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1784 kWh 1303 kWh 482 kWh £0 £48 £48 £9,319 193.4 yrs £-8,355
3 kW 2677 kWh 1954 kWh 723 kWh £0 £72 £72 £11,354 157.1 yrs £-9,908
4 kW 3569 kWh 2605 kWh 964 kWh £0 £96 £96 £13,388 138.9 yrs £-11,461
5 kW 4461 kWh 3257 kWh 1205 kWh £0 £120 £120 £15,423 128.0 yrs £-13,014
6 kW 5353 kWh 3908 kWh 1445 kWh £0 £145 £145 £17,457 120.8 yrs £-14,566
7 kW 6246 kWh 4559 kWh 1686 kWh £0 £169 £169 £19,492 115.6 yrs £-16,119
8 kW 7138 kWh 5211 kWh 1927 kWh £0 £193 £193 £21,526 111.7 yrs £-17,672

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: £112, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 154.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1784 kWh 1338 kWh 446 kWh £0 £45 £45 £11,069 248.1 yrs £-10,177
3 kW 2677 kWh 2008 kWh 669 kWh £0 £67 £67 £13,104 195.8 yrs £-11,765
4 kW 3569 kWh 2677 kWh 892 kWh £0 £89 £89 £15,138 169.7 yrs £-13,354
5 kW 4461 kWh 3346 kWh 1115 kWh £0 £112 £112 £17,173 154.0 yrs £-14,942
6 kW 5353 kWh 4015 kWh 1338 kWh £0 £134 £134 £19,207 143.5 yrs £-16,530
7 kW 6246 kWh 4684 kWh 1561 kWh £0 £156 £156 £21,242 136.0 yrs £-18,119
8 kW 7138 kWh 5353 kWh 1784 kWh £0 £178 £178 £23,276 130.4 yrs £-19,707

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: £103, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 191.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1784 kWh 1374 kWh 410 kWh £0 £41 £41 £13,519 329.4 yrs £-12,698
3 kW 2677 kWh 2061 kWh 616 kWh £0 £62 £62 £15,554 252.6 yrs £-14,322
4 kW 3569 kWh 2748 kWh 821 kWh £0 £82 £82 £17,588 214.3 yrs £-15,946
5 kW 4461 kWh 3435 kWh 1026 kWh £0 £103 £103 £19,623 191.2 yrs £-17,570
6 kW 5353 kWh 4122 kWh 1231 kWh £0 £123 £123 £21,657 175.9 yrs £-19,194
7 kW 6246 kWh 4809 kWh 1437 kWh £0 £144 £144 £23,692 164.9 yrs £-20,819
8 kW 7138 kWh 5496 kWh 1642 kWh £0 £164 £164 £25,726 156.7 yrs £-22,443

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
892kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~892 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

Belfast (98%)|Lisburn and Castlereagh (2%)

Areas Covered

Woodstock, Ravenhill, Merok, Hillfoot, Cregagh, Beersbridge, Orangefield, Rosetta + 2 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

BT7 (Belfast)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~893 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT6
BT5 (Belfast)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT6
BT2 (Belfast)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~893 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT6
BT1 (Belfast)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BT6
BT99 (Belfast)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BT6
BT4 (Belfast)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT6

Similar sunshine across the UK

KA24 (North Ayrshire)
~892 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT6
CA23 (Cumberland)
~892 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BT6
SY19 (Powys)
~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BT6