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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CH2 (Cheshire West and Chester)

See if solar pays off for you in Cheshire West and Chester — 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
12.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£795
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,699
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 Wales and Mersey, the current unit rate is 27.72p/kWh with a 69.95p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 930 kWh/kW — 0 above the regional median (930).

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 930 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.7p/kWh
Standing charge
70.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
930 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: £795, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 744 kWh 1116 kWh £206 £112 £318 £4,069 12.8 yrs £2,290
3 kW 2791 kWh 1116 kWh 1675 kWh £309 £167 £477 £6,104 12.8 yrs £3,435
4 kW 3721 kWh 1489 kWh 2233 kWh £413 £223 £636 £8,138 12.8 yrs £4,580
5 kW 4652 kWh 1861 kWh 2791 kWh £516 £279 £795 £10,173 12.8 yrs £5,725
6 kW 5582 kWh 2233 kWh 3349 kWh £619 £335 £954 £12,207 12.8 yrs £6,870
7 kW 6512 kWh 2605 kWh 3907 kWh £722 £391 £1,113 £14,242 12.8 yrs £8,015
8 kW 7443 kWh 2977 kWh 4466 kWh £825 £447 £1,272 £16,276 12.8 yrs £9,160

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: £960, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 1116 kWh 744 kWh £309 £74 £384 £6,169 16.1 yrs £1,509
3 kW 2791 kWh 1675 kWh 1116 kWh £464 £112 £576 £8,204 14.2 yrs £3,313
4 kW 3721 kWh 2233 kWh 1489 kWh £619 £149 £768 £10,238 13.3 yrs £5,118
5 kW 4652 kWh 2791 kWh 1861 kWh £774 £186 £960 £12,273 12.8 yrs £6,922
6 kW 5582 kWh 3349 kWh 2233 kWh £928 £223 £1,152 £14,307 12.4 yrs £8,726
7 kW 6512 kWh 3907 kWh 2605 kWh £1,083 £260 £1,344 £16,342 12.2 yrs £10,531
8 kW 7443 kWh 4466 kWh 2977 kWh £1,238 £298 £1,536 £18,376 12.0 yrs £12,335

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: £1,042, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 1302 kWh 558 kWh £361 £56 £417 £7,569 18.2 yrs £768
3 kW 2791 kWh 1954 kWh 837 kWh £542 £84 £625 £9,604 15.4 yrs £2,902
4 kW 3721 kWh 2605 kWh 1116 kWh £722 £112 £834 £11,638 14.0 yrs £5,036
5 kW 4652 kWh 3256 kWh 1395 kWh £903 £140 £1,042 £13,673 13.1 yrs £7,171
6 kW 5582 kWh 3907 kWh 1675 kWh £1,083 £167 £1,251 £15,707 12.6 yrs £9,305
7 kW 6512 kWh 4559 kWh 1954 kWh £1,264 £195 £1,459 £17,742 12.2 yrs £11,439
8 kW 7443 kWh 5210 kWh 2233 kWh £1,444 £223 £1,667 £19,776 11.9 yrs £13,573

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: £1,067, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 1358 kWh 502 kWh £377 £50 £427 £9,319 21.8 yrs £-784
3 kW 2791 kWh 2037 kWh 754 kWh £565 £75 £640 £11,354 17.7 yrs £1,449
4 kW 3721 kWh 2717 kWh 1005 kWh £753 £100 £854 £13,388 15.7 yrs £3,682
5 kW 4652 kWh 3396 kWh 1256 kWh £941 £126 £1,067 £15,423 14.5 yrs £5,915
6 kW 5582 kWh 4075 kWh 1507 kWh £1,130 £151 £1,280 £17,457 13.6 yrs £8,148
7 kW 6512 kWh 4754 kWh 1758 kWh £1,318 £176 £1,494 £19,492 13.0 yrs £10,381
8 kW 7443 kWh 5433 kWh 2010 kWh £1,506 £201 £1,707 £21,526 12.6 yrs £12,614

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: £1,083, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 1395 kWh 465 kWh £387 £47 £433 £11,069 25.5 yrs £-2,402
3 kW 2791 kWh 2093 kWh 698 kWh £580 £70 £650 £13,104 20.2 yrs £-103
4 kW 3721 kWh 2791 kWh 930 kWh £774 £93 £867 £15,138 17.5 yrs £2,196
5 kW 4652 kWh 3489 kWh 1163 kWh £967 £116 £1,083 £17,173 15.9 yrs £4,495
6 kW 5582 kWh 4186 kWh 1395 kWh £1,160 £140 £1,300 £19,207 14.8 yrs £6,794
7 kW 6512 kWh 4884 kWh 1628 kWh £1,354 £163 £1,517 £21,242 14.0 yrs £9,093
8 kW 7443 kWh 5582 kWh 1861 kWh £1,547 £186 £1,733 £23,276 13.4 yrs £11,392

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: £1,100, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 1433 kWh 428 kWh £397 £43 £440 £13,519 30.7 yrs £-4,720
3 kW 2791 kWh 2149 kWh 642 kWh £596 £64 £660 £15,554 23.6 yrs £-2,355
4 kW 3721 kWh 2865 kWh 856 kWh £794 £86 £880 £17,588 20.0 yrs £10
5 kW 4652 kWh 3582 kWh 1070 kWh £993 £107 £1,100 £19,623 17.8 yrs £2,375
6 kW 5582 kWh 4298 kWh 1284 kWh £1,191 £128 £1,320 £21,657 16.4 yrs £4,739
7 kW 6512 kWh 5014 kWh 1498 kWh £1,390 £150 £1,540 £23,692 15.4 yrs £7,104
8 kW 7443 kWh 5731 kWh 1712 kWh £1,589 £171 £1,760 £25,726 14.6 yrs £9,469

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 CH2

Figures below are tailored to CH2 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1370 of 2182
4.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1319 of 2997
11.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£919 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2506 of 2997
27.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£255 fixed • ~£919 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.72p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
69.95p/day
Local Sunshine
930kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~930 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: 68% • Flats: 22% • Bungalows: 8% Based on 8,772 properties

Coverage

Cheshire West and Chester (100%)

Areas Covered

Newton & Hoole, Upton, Gowy Rural, Chester City & the Garden Quarter, Saughall & Mollington, Sandstone, Whitby Groves, Wolverham

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 Wales and Mersey

CH99 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈1.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH2
CH1 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH2
CH3 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH2
CH70 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~931 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH2
CH4 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~942 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CH2
CH88 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈5.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH2

Similar sunshine across the UK

NE25 (North Tyneside)
~930 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH2
NP11 (Caerphilly)
~930 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH2
WV12 (Walsall)
~931 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH2