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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CA15 (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
13.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£771
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,103
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 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 915 kWh/kW — 45 above the regional median (870).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 915 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)
915 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: £771, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1831 kWh 732 kWh 1099 kWh £199 £110 £308 £4,069 13.2 yrs £2,099
3 kW 2746 kWh 1099 kWh 1648 kWh £298 £165 £463 £6,104 13.2 yrs £3,149
4 kW 3662 kWh 1465 kWh 2197 kWh £397 £220 £617 £8,138 13.2 yrs £4,198
5 kW 4577 kWh 1831 kWh 2746 kWh £496 £275 £771 £10,173 13.2 yrs £5,248
6 kW 5493 kWh 2197 kWh 3296 kWh £596 £330 £925 £12,207 13.2 yrs £6,298
7 kW 6408 kWh 2563 kWh 3845 kWh £695 £385 £1,079 £14,242 13.2 yrs £7,347
8 kW 7324 kWh 2930 kWh 4394 kWh £794 £439 £1,234 £16,276 13.2 yrs £8,397

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: £928, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1831 kWh 1099 kWh 732 kWh £298 £73 £371 £6,169 16.6 yrs £1,252
3 kW 2746 kWh 1648 kWh 1099 kWh £447 £110 £557 £8,204 14.7 yrs £2,928
4 kW 3662 kWh 2197 kWh 1465 kWh £596 £146 £742 £10,238 13.8 yrs £4,605
5 kW 4577 kWh 2746 kWh 1831 kWh £745 £183 £928 £12,273 13.2 yrs £6,281
6 kW 5493 kWh 3296 kWh 2197 kWh £893 £220 £1,113 £14,307 12.9 yrs £7,957
7 kW 6408 kWh 3845 kWh 2563 kWh £1,042 £256 £1,299 £16,342 12.6 yrs £9,633
8 kW 7324 kWh 4394 kWh 2930 kWh £1,191 £293 £1,484 £18,376 12.4 yrs £11,309

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: £1,006, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1831 kWh 1282 kWh 549 kWh £347 £55 £402 £7,569 18.8 yrs £479
3 kW 2746 kWh 1923 kWh 824 kWh £521 £82 £604 £9,604 15.9 yrs £2,468
4 kW 3662 kWh 2563 kWh 1099 kWh £695 £110 £805 £11,638 14.5 yrs £4,458
5 kW 4577 kWh 3204 kWh 1373 kWh £869 £137 £1,006 £13,673 13.6 yrs £6,447
6 kW 5493 kWh 3845 kWh 1648 kWh £1,042 £165 £1,207 £15,707 13.0 yrs £8,437
7 kW 6408 kWh 4486 kWh 1923 kWh £1,216 £192 £1,408 £17,742 12.6 yrs £10,426
8 kW 7324 kWh 5127 kWh 2197 kWh £1,390 £220 £1,610 £19,776 12.3 yrs £12,415

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: £1,029, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1831 kWh 1337 kWh 494 kWh £362 £49 £412 £9,319 22.6 yrs £-1,083
3 kW 2746 kWh 2005 kWh 742 kWh £544 £74 £618 £11,354 18.4 yrs £1,000
4 kW 3662 kWh 2673 kWh 989 kWh £725 £99 £824 £13,388 16.3 yrs £3,084
5 kW 4577 kWh 3342 kWh 1236 kWh £906 £124 £1,029 £15,423 15.0 yrs £5,167
6 kW 5493 kWh 4010 kWh 1483 kWh £1,087 £148 £1,235 £17,457 14.1 yrs £7,251
7 kW 6408 kWh 4678 kWh 1730 kWh £1,268 £173 £1,441 £19,492 13.5 yrs £9,334
8 kW 7324 kWh 5346 kWh 1977 kWh £1,449 £198 £1,647 £21,526 13.1 yrs £11,417

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: £1,045, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1831 kWh 1373 kWh 458 kWh £372 £46 £418 £11,069 26.5 yrs £-2,708
3 kW 2746 kWh 2060 kWh 687 kWh £558 £69 £627 £13,104 20.9 yrs £-562
4 kW 3662 kWh 2746 kWh 915 kWh £745 £92 £836 £15,138 18.1 yrs £1,584
5 kW 4577 kWh 3433 kWh 1144 kWh £931 £114 £1,045 £17,173 16.4 yrs £3,730
6 kW 5493 kWh 4120 kWh 1373 kWh £1,117 £137 £1,254 £19,207 15.3 yrs £5,876
7 kW 6408 kWh 4806 kWh 1602 kWh £1,303 £160 £1,463 £21,242 14.5 yrs £8,023
8 kW 7324 kWh 5493 kWh 1831 kWh £1,489 £183 £1,672 £23,276 13.9 yrs £10,169

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: £1,061, Upfront: £19,623, 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 1831 kWh 1410 kWh 421 kWh £382 £42 £424 £13,519 31.9 yrs £-5,033
3 kW 2746 kWh 2115 kWh 632 kWh £573 £63 £636 £15,554 24.4 yrs £-2,824
4 kW 3662 kWh 2820 kWh 842 kWh £764 £84 £849 £17,588 20.7 yrs £-615
5 kW 4577 kWh 3525 kWh 1053 kWh £956 £105 £1,061 £19,623 18.5 yrs £1,594
6 kW 5493 kWh 4230 kWh 1263 kWh £1,147 £126 £1,273 £21,657 17.0 yrs £3,802
7 kW 6408 kWh 4934 kWh 1474 kWh £1,338 £147 £1,485 £23,692 16.0 yrs £6,011
8 kW 7324 kWh 5639 kWh 1685 kWh £1,529 £168 £1,697 £25,726 15.2 yrs £8,220

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 CA15

Figures below are tailored to CA15 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #980 of 2182
5.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1655 of 2997
11.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£889 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1617 of 2997
21.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£889 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
915kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~915 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 73% • Flats: 12% • Bungalows: 15% Based on 4,717 properties

Coverage

Cumberland (100%)

Areas Covered

Maryport South, Maryport North, Dearham and Broughton, Aspatria, Seaton

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

CA14 (Cumberland)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~903 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CA15
CA95 (Cumberland)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CA15
CA13 (Cumberland)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~812 kWh/kWp · -11% vs CA15
CA26 (Cumberland)
≈18.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~868 kWh/kWp · -5% vs CA15
CA28 (Cumberland)
≈19.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA15
CA5 (Cumberland)
≈20.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~854 kWh/kWp · -7% vs CA15

Similar sunshine across the UK

LS28 (Leeds)
~916 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA15
NE64 (Northumberland)
~915 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CA15
BD11 (Kirklees)
~915 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CA15