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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CA18 (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
13.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£877
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,724
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 868 kWh/kW — 2 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 868 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)
868 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: £731, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 694 kWh 1042 kWh £188 £104 £292 £4,069 13.9 yrs £1,779
3 kW 2604 kWh 1042 kWh 1562 kWh £282 £156 £439 £6,104 13.9 yrs £2,669
4 kW 3472 kWh 1389 kWh 2083 kWh £377 £208 £585 £8,138 13.9 yrs £3,559
5 kW 4340 kWh 1736 kWh 2604 kWh £471 £260 £731 £10,173 13.9 yrs £4,448
6 kW 5208 kWh 2083 kWh 3125 kWh £565 £312 £877 £12,207 13.9 yrs £5,338
7 kW 6076 kWh 2430 kWh 3646 kWh £659 £365 £1,023 £14,242 13.9 yrs £6,228
8 kW 6944 kWh 2778 kWh 4166 kWh £753 £417 £1,170 £16,276 13.9 yrs £7,117

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: £880, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1042 kWh 694 kWh £282 £69 £352 £6,169 17.5 yrs £867
3 kW 2604 kWh 1562 kWh 1042 kWh £424 £104 £528 £8,204 15.5 yrs £2,351
4 kW 3472 kWh 2083 kWh 1389 kWh £565 £139 £704 £10,238 14.5 yrs £3,835
5 kW 4340 kWh 2604 kWh 1736 kWh £706 £174 £880 £12,273 14.0 yrs £5,319
6 kW 5208 kWh 3125 kWh 2083 kWh £847 £208 £1,055 £14,307 13.6 yrs £6,802
7 kW 6076 kWh 3646 kWh 2430 kWh £988 £243 £1,231 £16,342 13.3 yrs £8,286
8 kW 6944 kWh 4166 kWh 2778 kWh £1,130 £278 £1,407 £18,376 13.1 yrs £9,770

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: £954, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1215 kWh 521 kWh £329 £52 £382 £7,569 19.8 yrs £62
3 kW 2604 kWh 1823 kWh 781 kWh £494 £78 £572 £9,604 16.8 yrs £1,842
4 kW 3472 kWh 2430 kWh 1042 kWh £659 £104 £763 £11,638 15.3 yrs £3,623
5 kW 4340 kWh 3038 kWh 1302 kWh £824 £130 £954 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,404
6 kW 5208 kWh 3646 kWh 1562 kWh £988 £156 £1,145 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,185
7 kW 6076 kWh 4253 kWh 1823 kWh £1,153 £182 £1,335 £17,742 13.3 yrs £8,965
8 kW 6944 kWh 4861 kWh 2083 kWh £1,318 £208 £1,526 £19,776 13.0 yrs £10,746

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: £976, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1267 kWh 469 kWh £344 £47 £390 £9,319 23.9 yrs £-1,510
3 kW 2604 kWh 1901 kWh 703 kWh £515 £70 £586 £11,354 19.4 yrs £360
4 kW 3472 kWh 2535 kWh 937 kWh £687 £94 £781 £13,388 17.1 yrs £2,230
5 kW 4340 kWh 3168 kWh 1172 kWh £859 £117 £976 £15,423 15.8 yrs £4,099
6 kW 5208 kWh 3802 kWh 1406 kWh £1,031 £141 £1,171 £17,457 14.9 yrs £5,969
7 kW 6076 kWh 4436 kWh 1641 kWh £1,202 £164 £1,367 £19,492 14.3 yrs £7,839
8 kW 6944 kWh 5069 kWh 1875 kWh £1,374 £187 £1,562 £21,526 13.8 yrs £9,709

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: £991, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1302 kWh 434 kWh £353 £43 £396 £11,069 27.9 yrs £-3,141
3 kW 2604 kWh 1953 kWh 651 kWh £529 £65 £595 £13,104 22.0 yrs £-1,212
4 kW 3472 kWh 2604 kWh 868 kWh £706 £87 £793 £15,138 19.1 yrs £717
5 kW 4340 kWh 3255 kWh 1085 kWh £882 £109 £991 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,647
6 kW 5208 kWh 3906 kWh 1302 kWh £1,059 £130 £1,189 £19,207 16.2 yrs £4,576
7 kW 6076 kWh 4557 kWh 1519 kWh £1,235 £152 £1,387 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,505
8 kW 6944 kWh 5208 kWh 1736 kWh £1,412 £174 £1,586 £23,276 14.7 yrs £8,434

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: £1,006, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1337 kWh 399 kWh £362 £40 £402 £13,519 33.6 yrs £-5,473
3 kW 2604 kWh 2005 kWh 599 kWh £544 £60 £603 £15,554 25.8 yrs £-3,484
4 kW 3472 kWh 2674 kWh 799 kWh £725 £80 £805 £17,588 21.9 yrs £-1,495
5 kW 4340 kWh 3342 kWh 998 kWh £906 £100 £1,006 £19,623 19.5 yrs £494
6 kW 5208 kWh 4010 kWh 1198 kWh £1,087 £120 £1,207 £21,657 17.9 yrs £2,482
7 kW 6076 kWh 4679 kWh 1398 kWh £1,268 £140 £1,408 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,471
8 kW 6944 kWh 5347 kWh 1597 kWh £1,450 £160 £1,609 £25,726 16.0 yrs £6,460

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 CA18

Figures below are tailored to CA18 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #578 of 2182
5.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2385 of 2997
12.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,011 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1148 of 2997
18.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£1,011 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
868kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~868 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: 75% • Flats: 16% • Bungalows: 9% Based on 114 properties

Coverage

Cumberland (100%)

Areas Covered

Millom Without

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

CA19 (Cumberland)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~887 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CA18
LA19 (Cumberland)
≈7.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~931 kWh/kWp · +7% vs CA18
CA20 (Cumberland)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~887 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CA18
CA21 (Cumberland)
≈12.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~950 kWh/kWp · +9% vs CA18
LA20 (Westmorland and Furness)
≈14.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~912 kWh/kWp · +5% vs CA18
CA22 (Cumberland)
≈16.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~938 kWh/kWp · +8% vs CA18

Similar sunshine across the UK

EH49 (West Lothian)
~868 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CA18
BT44 (Causeway Coast and Glens)
~868 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA18
EH52 (West Lothian)
~868 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CA18