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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CA23 (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
13.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£752
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,615
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 892 kWh/kW — 22 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 892 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)
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: £752, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 714 kWh 1071 kWh £194 £107 £301 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,943
3 kW 2677 kWh 1071 kWh 1606 kWh £290 £161 £451 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,915
4 kW 3569 kWh 1428 kWh 2142 kWh £387 £214 £601 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,886
5 kW 4462 kWh 1785 kWh 2677 kWh £484 £268 £752 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,858
6 kW 5354 kWh 2142 kWh 3212 kWh £581 £321 £902 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,829
7 kW 6246 kWh 2498 kWh 3748 kWh £677 £375 £1,052 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,801
8 kW 7138 kWh 2855 kWh 4283 kWh £774 £428 £1,202 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,772

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: £904, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1785 kWh 1071 kWh 714 kWh £290 £71 £362 £6,169 17.1 yrs £1,064
3 kW 2677 kWh 1606 kWh 1071 kWh £435 £107 £543 £8,204 15.1 yrs £2,647
4 kW 3569 kWh 2142 kWh 1428 kWh £581 £143 £723 £10,238 14.2 yrs £4,229
5 kW 4462 kWh 2677 kWh 1785 kWh £726 £178 £904 £12,273 13.6 yrs £5,811
6 kW 5354 kWh 3212 kWh 2142 kWh £871 £214 £1,085 £14,307 13.2 yrs £7,393
7 kW 6246 kWh 3748 kWh 2498 kWh £1,016 £250 £1,266 £16,342 12.9 yrs £8,975
8 kW 7138 kWh 4283 kWh 2855 kWh £1,161 £286 £1,447 £18,376 12.7 yrs £10,558

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: £981, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1785 kWh 1249 kWh 535 kWh £339 £54 £392 £7,569 19.3 yrs £275
3 kW 2677 kWh 1874 kWh 803 kWh £508 £80 £588 £9,604 16.3 yrs £2,163
4 kW 3569 kWh 2498 kWh 1071 kWh £677 £107 £784 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,050
5 kW 4462 kWh 3123 kWh 1338 kWh £847 £134 £981 £13,673 13.9 yrs £5,938
6 kW 5354 kWh 3748 kWh 1606 kWh £1,016 £161 £1,177 £15,707 13.3 yrs £7,825
7 kW 6246 kWh 4372 kWh 1874 kWh £1,185 £187 £1,373 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,713
8 kW 7138 kWh 4997 kWh 2142 kWh £1,355 £214 £1,569 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,600

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: £1,003, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 1303 kWh 482 kWh £353 £48 £401 £9,319 23.2 yrs £-1,292
3 kW 2677 kWh 1954 kWh 723 kWh £530 £72 £602 £11,354 18.9 yrs £687
4 kW 3569 kWh 2606 kWh 964 kWh £706 £96 £803 £13,388 16.7 yrs £2,667
5 kW 4462 kWh 3257 kWh 1205 kWh £883 £120 £1,003 £15,423 15.4 yrs £4,646
6 kW 5354 kWh 3908 kWh 1446 kWh £1,060 £145 £1,204 £17,457 14.5 yrs £6,625
7 kW 6246 kWh 4560 kWh 1686 kWh £1,236 £169 £1,405 £19,492 13.9 yrs £8,604
8 kW 7138 kWh 5211 kWh 1927 kWh £1,413 £193 £1,605 £21,526 13.4 yrs £10,583

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: £1,019, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1785 kWh 1338 kWh 446 kWh £363 £45 £407 £11,069 27.2 yrs £-2,920
3 kW 2677 kWh 2008 kWh 669 kWh £544 £67 £611 £13,104 21.4 yrs £-879
4 kW 3569 kWh 2677 kWh 892 kWh £726 £89 £815 £15,138 18.6 yrs £1,161
5 kW 4462 kWh 3346 kWh 1115 kWh £907 £112 £1,019 £17,173 16.9 yrs £3,201
6 kW 5354 kWh 4015 kWh 1338 kWh £1,089 £134 £1,222 £19,207 15.7 yrs £5,241
7 kW 6246 kWh 4685 kWh 1562 kWh £1,270 £156 £1,426 £21,242 14.9 yrs £7,282
8 kW 7138 kWh 5354 kWh 1785 kWh £1,451 £178 £1,630 £23,276 14.3 yrs £9,322

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: £1,034, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 1374 kWh 410 kWh £373 £41 £414 £13,519 32.7 yrs £-5,247
3 kW 2677 kWh 2061 kWh 616 kWh £559 £62 £620 £15,554 25.1 yrs £-3,146
4 kW 3569 kWh 2748 kWh 821 kWh £745 £82 £827 £17,588 21.3 yrs £-1,045
5 kW 4462 kWh 3435 kWh 1026 kWh £931 £103 £1,034 £19,623 19.0 yrs £1,056
6 kW 5354 kWh 4122 kWh 1231 kWh £1,118 £123 £1,241 £21,657 17.5 yrs £3,158
7 kW 6246 kWh 4810 kWh 1437 kWh £1,304 £144 £1,448 £23,692 16.4 yrs £5,259
8 kW 7138 kWh 5497 kWh 1642 kWh £1,490 £164 £1,654 £25,726 15.6 yrs £7,360

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 CA23

Figures below are tailored to CA23 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #365 of 2182
5.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1963 of 2997
11.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£866 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1750 of 2997
21.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£866 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/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
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 86% • Flats: 2% • Bungalows: 11% Based on 394 properties

Coverage

Cumberland (100%)

Areas Covered

Cleator Moor West, Cleator Moor East and Frizington, Egremont

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

CA25 (Cumberland)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~893 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA23
CA24 (Cumberland)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~894 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA23
CA26 (Cumberland)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~868 kWh/kWp · -3% vs CA23
CA22 (Cumberland)
≈3.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~938 kWh/kWp · +5% vs CA23
CA27 (Cumberland)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~949 kWh/kWp · +6% vs CA23
CA28 (Cumberland)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +3% vs CA23

Similar sunshine across the UK

KA24 (North Ayrshire)
~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CA23
BT6 (Belfast)
~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CA23
EH5 (City of Edinburgh)
~892 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA23