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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CH33 (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).

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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
12.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£807
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,014
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 945 kWh/kW — 15 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 945 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)
945 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: £807, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1890 kWh 756 kWh 1134 kWh £210 £113 £323 £4,069 12.6 yrs £2,391
3 kW 2835 kWh 1134 kWh 1701 kWh £314 £170 £484 £6,104 12.6 yrs £3,586
4 kW 3780 kWh 1512 kWh 2268 kWh £419 £227 £646 £8,138 12.6 yrs £4,781
5 kW 4725 kWh 1890 kWh 2835 kWh £524 £284 £807 £10,173 12.6 yrs £5,976
6 kW 5670 kWh 2268 kWh 3402 kWh £629 £340 £969 £12,207 12.6 yrs £7,172
7 kW 6615 kWh 2646 kWh 3969 kWh £734 £397 £1,130 £14,242 12.6 yrs £8,367
8 kW 7560 kWh 3024 kWh 4536 kWh £838 £454 £1,292 £16,276 12.6 yrs £9,562

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: £975, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1890 kWh 1134 kWh 756 kWh £314 £76 £390 £6,169 15.8 yrs £1,630
3 kW 2835 kWh 1701 kWh 1134 kWh £472 £113 £585 £8,204 14.0 yrs £3,495
4 kW 3780 kWh 2268 kWh 1512 kWh £629 £151 £780 £10,238 13.1 yrs £5,360
5 kW 4725 kWh 2835 kWh 1890 kWh £786 £189 £975 £12,273 12.6 yrs £7,226
6 kW 5670 kWh 3402 kWh 2268 kWh £943 £227 £1,170 £14,307 12.2 yrs £9,091
7 kW 6615 kWh 3969 kWh 2646 kWh £1,100 £265 £1,365 £16,342 12.0 yrs £10,956
8 kW 7560 kWh 4536 kWh 3024 kWh £1,257 £302 £1,560 £18,376 11.8 yrs £12,821

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: £1,059, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1890 kWh 1323 kWh 567 kWh £367 £57 £423 £7,569 17.9 yrs £900
3 kW 2835 kWh 1985 kWh 851 kWh £550 £85 £635 £9,604 15.1 yrs £3,100
4 kW 3780 kWh 2646 kWh 1134 kWh £734 £113 £847 £11,638 13.7 yrs £5,300
5 kW 4725 kWh 3308 kWh 1418 kWh £917 £142 £1,059 £13,673 12.9 yrs £7,500
6 kW 5670 kWh 3969 kWh 1701 kWh £1,100 £170 £1,270 £15,707 12.4 yrs £9,700
7 kW 6615 kWh 4631 kWh 1985 kWh £1,284 £198 £1,482 £17,742 12.0 yrs £11,900
8 kW 7560 kWh 5292 kWh 2268 kWh £1,467 £227 £1,694 £19,776 11.7 yrs £14,100

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: £1,084, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1890 kWh 1380 kWh 510 kWh £382 £51 £434 £9,319 21.5 yrs £-649
3 kW 2835 kWh 2070 kWh 765 kWh £574 £77 £650 £11,354 17.5 yrs £1,652
4 kW 3780 kWh 2760 kWh 1021 kWh £765 £102 £867 £13,388 15.4 yrs £3,952
5 kW 4725 kWh 3449 kWh 1276 kWh £956 £128 £1,084 £15,423 14.2 yrs £6,253
6 kW 5670 kWh 4139 kWh 1531 kWh £1,147 £153 £1,301 £17,457 13.4 yrs £8,553
7 kW 6615 kWh 4829 kWh 1786 kWh £1,339 £179 £1,517 £19,492 12.8 yrs £10,854
8 kW 7560 kWh 5519 kWh 2041 kWh £1,530 £204 £1,734 £21,526 12.4 yrs £13,154

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: £1,100, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1890 kWh 1418 kWh 473 kWh £393 £47 £440 £11,069 25.1 yrs £-2,265
3 kW 2835 kWh 2126 kWh 709 kWh £589 £71 £660 £13,104 19.8 yrs £102
4 kW 3780 kWh 2835 kWh 945 kWh £786 £95 £880 £15,138 17.2 yrs £2,470
5 kW 4725 kWh 3544 kWh 1181 kWh £982 £118 £1,100 £17,173 15.6 yrs £4,837
6 kW 5670 kWh 4253 kWh 1418 kWh £1,179 £142 £1,321 £19,207 14.5 yrs £7,205
7 kW 6615 kWh 4961 kWh 1654 kWh £1,375 £165 £1,541 £21,242 13.8 yrs £9,572
8 kW 7560 kWh 5670 kWh 1890 kWh £1,572 £189 £1,761 £23,276 13.2 yrs £11,940

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: £1,117, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1890 kWh 1455 kWh 435 kWh £403 £43 £447 £13,519 30.3 yrs £-4,581
3 kW 2835 kWh 2183 kWh 652 kWh £605 £65 £670 £15,554 23.2 yrs £-2,147
4 kW 3780 kWh 2911 kWh 869 kWh £807 £87 £894 £17,588 19.7 yrs £288
5 kW 4725 kWh 3638 kWh 1087 kWh £1,009 £109 £1,117 £19,623 17.6 yrs £2,722
6 kW 5670 kWh 4366 kWh 1304 kWh £1,210 £130 £1,341 £21,657 16.2 yrs £5,157
7 kW 6615 kWh 5094 kWh 1522 kWh £1,412 £152 £1,564 £23,692 15.1 yrs £7,591
8 kW 7560 kWh 5821 kWh 1739 kWh £1,614 £174 £1,788 £25,726 14.4 yrs £10,026

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 CH33

Figures below are tailored to CH33 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #1107 of 2997
10.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£933 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2445 of 2997
27.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£255 fixed • ~£933 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.72p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
69.95p/day
Local Sunshine
945kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~945 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Cheshire West and Chester (100%)

Areas Covered

Neston

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

CH64 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈0.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~945 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH33
L64 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈0.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~945 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH33
L60 (Wirral)
≈4.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~945 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH33
CH60 (Wirral)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~945 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH33
CH31 (Wirral)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~945 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH33
CH61 (Wirral)
≈6.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~955 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CH33

Similar sunshine across the UK

NE62 (Northumberland)
~945 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH33
B75 (Birmingham)
~945 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH33
NE63 (Northumberland)
~945 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH33