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 CA4 (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
13.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£884
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,894
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 875 kWh/kW — 5 above 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 875 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)
875 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: £737, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 700 kWh 1050 kWh £190 £105 £295 £4,069 13.8 yrs £1,825
3 kW 2624 kWh 1050 kWh 1575 kWh £285 £157 £442 £6,104 13.8 yrs £2,737
4 kW 3499 kWh 1400 kWh 2099 kWh £379 £210 £589 £8,138 13.8 yrs £3,649
5 kW 4374 kWh 1750 kWh 2624 kWh £474 £262 £737 £10,173 13.8 yrs £4,562
6 kW 5248 kWh 2099 kWh 3149 kWh £569 £315 £884 £12,207 13.8 yrs £5,474
7 kW 6123 kWh 2449 kWh 3674 kWh £664 £367 £1,031 £14,242 13.8 yrs £6,386
8 kW 6998 kWh 2799 kWh 4199 kWh £759 £420 £1,179 £16,276 13.8 yrs £7,299

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: £886, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 1050 kWh 700 kWh £285 £70 £355 £6,169 17.4 yrs £922
3 kW 2624 kWh 1575 kWh 1050 kWh £427 £105 £532 £8,204 15.4 yrs £2,433
4 kW 3499 kWh 2099 kWh 1400 kWh £569 £140 £709 £10,238 14.4 yrs £3,944
5 kW 4374 kWh 2624 kWh 1750 kWh £711 £175 £886 £12,273 13.8 yrs £5,455
6 kW 5248 kWh 3149 kWh 2099 kWh £854 £210 £1,064 £14,307 13.5 yrs £6,966
7 kW 6123 kWh 3674 kWh 2449 kWh £996 £245 £1,241 £16,342 13.2 yrs £8,477
8 kW 6998 kWh 4199 kWh 2799 kWh £1,138 £280 £1,418 £18,376 13.0 yrs £9,988

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: £961, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 1225 kWh 525 kWh £332 £52 £384 £7,569 19.7 yrs £121
3 kW 2624 kWh 1837 kWh 787 kWh £498 £79 £577 £9,604 16.7 yrs £1,931
4 kW 3499 kWh 2449 kWh 1050 kWh £664 £105 £769 £11,638 15.1 yrs £3,741
5 kW 4374 kWh 3062 kWh 1312 kWh £830 £131 £961 £13,673 14.2 yrs £5,552
6 kW 5248 kWh 3674 kWh 1575 kWh £996 £157 £1,153 £15,707 13.6 yrs £7,362
7 kW 6123 kWh 4286 kWh 1837 kWh £1,162 £184 £1,346 £17,742 13.2 yrs £9,173
8 kW 6998 kWh 4899 kWh 2099 kWh £1,328 £210 £1,538 £19,776 12.9 yrs £10,983

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: £984, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 1277 kWh 472 kWh £346 £47 £393 £9,319 23.7 yrs £-1,450
3 kW 2624 kWh 1916 kWh 709 kWh £519 £71 £590 £11,354 19.2 yrs £451
4 kW 3499 kWh 2554 kWh 945 kWh £692 £94 £787 £13,388 17.0 yrs £2,351
5 kW 4374 kWh 3193 kWh 1181 kWh £866 £118 £984 £15,423 15.7 yrs £4,251
6 kW 5248 kWh 3831 kWh 1417 kWh £1,039 £142 £1,180 £17,457 14.8 yrs £6,151
7 kW 6123 kWh 4470 kWh 1653 kWh £1,212 £165 £1,377 £19,492 14.2 yrs £8,051
8 kW 6998 kWh 5109 kWh 1889 kWh £1,385 £189 £1,574 £21,526 13.7 yrs £9,951

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: £999, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 1312 kWh 437 kWh £356 £44 £399 £11,069 27.7 yrs £-3,080
3 kW 2624 kWh 1968 kWh 656 kWh £534 £66 £599 £13,104 21.9 yrs £-1,120
4 kW 3499 kWh 2624 kWh 875 kWh £711 £87 £799 £15,138 18.9 yrs £840
5 kW 4374 kWh 3280 kWh 1093 kWh £889 £109 £999 £17,173 17.2 yrs £2,800
6 kW 5248 kWh 3936 kWh 1312 kWh £1,067 £131 £1,198 £19,207 16.0 yrs £4,760
7 kW 6123 kWh 4592 kWh 1531 kWh £1,245 £153 £1,398 £21,242 15.2 yrs £6,720
8 kW 6998 kWh 5248 kWh 1750 kWh £1,423 £175 £1,598 £23,276 14.6 yrs £8,680

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: £1,014, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 1347 kWh 402 kWh £365 £40 £405 £13,519 33.3 yrs £-5,410
3 kW 2624 kWh 2021 kWh 604 kWh £548 £60 £608 £15,554 25.6 yrs £-3,390
4 kW 3499 kWh 2694 kWh 805 kWh £730 £80 £811 £17,588 21.7 yrs £-1,370
5 kW 4374 kWh 3368 kWh 1006 kWh £913 £101 £1,014 £19,623 19.4 yrs £650
6 kW 5248 kWh 4041 kWh 1207 kWh £1,096 £121 £1,216 £21,657 17.8 yrs £2,669
7 kW 6123 kWh 4715 kWh 1408 kWh £1,278 £141 £1,419 £23,692 16.7 yrs £4,689
8 kW 6998 kWh 5388 kWh 1610 kWh £1,461 £161 £1,622 £25,726 15.9 yrs £6,709

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 CA4

Figures below are tailored to CA4 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #39 of 2182
7.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~15 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2296 of 2997
12.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,019 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1095 of 2997
18.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£1,019 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
875kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~875 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: 69% • Flats: 8% • Bungalows: 22% Based on 2,528 properties

Coverage

Cumberland (72%)|Westmorland and Furness (28%)

Areas Covered

Wetheral, Corby and Hayton, Hesket and Lazonby, Alston and Fellside, Houghton and Irthington, Denton Holme, Dalston and Burgh

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

CA1 (Cumberland)
≈6.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~886 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CA4
CA99 (Cumberland)
≈7.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~886 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CA4
CA2 (Cumberland)
≈7.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CA4
CA3 (Cumberland)
≈8.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CA4
CA8 (Cumberland)
≈10.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~786 kWh/kWp · -10% vs CA4
CA6 (Cumberland)
≈14.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~893 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CA4

Similar sunshine across the UK

ST7 (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
~875 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA4
LL43 (Gwynedd)
~875 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA4
LL44 (Gwynedd)
~875 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CA4