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 CA13 (Cumberland)

See if solar pays off for you in Cumberland — 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
14.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£821
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,318
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 North West, the current unit rate is 27.11p/kWh with a 51.16p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 812 kWh/kW — 58 below the regional median (870).

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 812 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
51.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
812 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: £684, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1625 kWh 650 kWh 975 kWh £176 £97 £274 £4,069 14.9 yrs £1,404
3 kW 2437 kWh 975 kWh 1462 kWh £264 £146 £411 £6,104 14.9 yrs £2,107
4 kW 3249 kWh 1300 kWh 1950 kWh £352 £195 £547 £8,138 14.9 yrs £2,809
5 kW 4062 kWh 1625 kWh 2437 kWh £440 £244 £684 £10,173 14.9 yrs £3,511
6 kW 4874 kWh 1950 kWh 2925 kWh £529 £292 £821 £12,207 14.9 yrs £4,213
7 kW 5687 kWh 2275 kWh 3412 kWh £617 £341 £958 £14,242 14.9 yrs £4,915
8 kW 6499 kWh 2600 kWh 3899 kWh £705 £390 £1,095 £16,276 14.9 yrs £5,618

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: £823, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1625 kWh 975 kWh 650 kWh £264 £65 £329 £6,169 18.7 yrs £416
3 kW 2437 kWh 1462 kWh 975 kWh £396 £97 £494 £8,204 16.6 yrs £1,675
4 kW 3249 kWh 1950 kWh 1300 kWh £529 £130 £659 £10,238 15.5 yrs £2,933
5 kW 4062 kWh 2437 kWh 1625 kWh £661 £162 £823 £12,273 14.9 yrs £4,191
6 kW 4874 kWh 2925 kWh 1950 kWh £793 £195 £988 £14,307 14.5 yrs £5,449
7 kW 5687 kWh 3412 kWh 2275 kWh £925 £227 £1,152 £16,342 14.2 yrs £6,707
8 kW 6499 kWh 3899 kWh 2600 kWh £1,057 £260 £1,317 £18,376 14.0 yrs £7,966

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: £893, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1625 kWh 1137 kWh 487 kWh £308 £49 £357 £7,569 21.2 yrs £-428
3 kW 2437 kWh 1706 kWh 731 kWh £462 £73 £536 £9,604 17.9 yrs £1,109
4 kW 3249 kWh 2275 kWh 975 kWh £617 £97 £714 £11,638 16.3 yrs £2,645
5 kW 4062 kWh 2843 kWh 1219 kWh £771 £122 £893 £13,673 15.3 yrs £4,181
6 kW 4874 kWh 3412 kWh 1462 kWh £925 £146 £1,071 £15,707 14.7 yrs £5,717
7 kW 5687 kWh 3981 kWh 1706 kWh £1,079 £171 £1,250 £17,742 14.2 yrs £7,253
8 kW 6499 kWh 4549 kWh 1950 kWh £1,233 £195 £1,428 £19,776 13.8 yrs £8,789

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: £914, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1625 kWh 1186 kWh 439 kWh £322 £44 £365 £9,319 25.5 yrs £-2,011
3 kW 2437 kWh 1779 kWh 658 kWh £482 £66 £548 £11,354 20.7 yrs £-391
4 kW 3249 kWh 2372 kWh 877 kWh £643 £88 £731 £13,388 18.3 yrs £1,228
5 kW 4062 kWh 2965 kWh 1097 kWh £804 £110 £914 £15,423 16.9 yrs £2,848
6 kW 4874 kWh 3558 kWh 1316 kWh £965 £132 £1,096 £17,457 15.9 yrs £4,467
7 kW 5687 kWh 4151 kWh 1535 kWh £1,125 £154 £1,279 £19,492 15.2 yrs £6,087
8 kW 6499 kWh 4744 kWh 1755 kWh £1,286 £175 £1,462 £21,526 14.7 yrs £7,707

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: £927, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1625 kWh 1219 kWh 406 kWh £330 £41 £371 £11,069 29.8 yrs £-3,650
3 kW 2437 kWh 1828 kWh 609 kWh £496 £61 £556 £13,104 23.5 yrs £-1,974
4 kW 3249 kWh 2437 kWh 812 kWh £661 £81 £742 £15,138 20.4 yrs £-299
5 kW 4062 kWh 3046 kWh 1015 kWh £826 £102 £927 £17,173 18.5 yrs £1,376
6 kW 4874 kWh 3656 kWh 1219 kWh £991 £122 £1,113 £19,207 17.3 yrs £3,051
7 kW 5687 kWh 4265 kWh 1422 kWh £1,156 £142 £1,298 £21,242 16.4 yrs £4,726
8 kW 6499 kWh 4874 kWh 1625 kWh £1,321 £162 £1,484 £23,276 15.7 yrs £6,401

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: £941, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1625 kWh 1251 kWh 374 kWh £339 £37 £377 £13,519 35.9 yrs £-5,988
3 kW 2437 kWh 1877 kWh 561 kWh £509 £56 £565 £15,554 27.5 yrs £-4,258
4 kW 3249 kWh 2502 kWh 747 kWh £678 £75 £753 £17,588 23.4 yrs £-2,527
5 kW 4062 kWh 3128 kWh 934 kWh £848 £93 £941 £19,623 20.8 yrs £-796
6 kW 4874 kWh 3753 kWh 1121 kWh £1,017 £112 £1,130 £21,657 19.2 yrs £935
7 kW 5687 kWh 4379 kWh 1308 kWh £1,187 £131 £1,318 £23,692 18.0 yrs £2,665
8 kW 6499 kWh 5004 kWh 1495 kWh £1,357 £149 £1,506 £25,726 17.1 yrs £4,396

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.

Insights for CA13

Figures below are tailored to CA13 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #769 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2748 of 2997
12.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£946 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1347 of 2997
19.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£946 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
812kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~812 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

Houses: 73% • Flats: 15% • Bungalows: 12% Based on 4,533 properties

Coverage

Cumberland (100%)

Areas Covered

Cockermouth North, Cockermouth South, Bothel and Wharrels, Dearham and Broughton, Maryport South

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 North West

CA15 (Cumberland)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~915 kWh/kWp · +13% vs CA13
CA14 (Cumberland)
≈11.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~903 kWh/kWp · +11% vs CA13
CA95 (Cumberland)
≈13.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +13% vs CA13
CA26 (Cumberland)
≈15.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~868 kWh/kWp · +7% vs CA13
CA12 (Cumberland)
≈16.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~767 kWh/kWp · -6% vs CA13
CA25 (Cumberland)
≈18.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~893 kWh/kWp · +10% vs CA13

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL48 (Gwynedd)
~812 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CA13
KA17 (East Ayrshire)
~813 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA13
HS5 (Na h-Eileanan Siar)
~812 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CA13