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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CH66 (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
£796
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,727
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 932 kWh/kW — 2 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 932 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)
932 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: £796, 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 1863 kWh 745 kWh 1118 kWh £207 £112 £318 £4,069 12.8 yrs £2,299
3 kW 2795 kWh 1118 kWh 1677 kWh £310 £168 £478 £6,104 12.8 yrs £3,448
4 kW 3726 kWh 1491 kWh 2236 kWh £413 £224 £637 £8,138 12.8 yrs £4,598
5 kW 4658 kWh 1863 kWh 2795 kWh £516 £279 £796 £10,173 12.8 yrs £5,747
6 kW 5590 kWh 2236 kWh 3354 kWh £620 £335 £955 £12,207 12.8 yrs £6,896
7 kW 6521 kWh 2609 kWh 3913 kWh £723 £391 £1,114 £14,242 12.8 yrs £8,046
8 kW 7453 kWh 2981 kWh 4472 kWh £826 £447 £1,274 £16,276 12.8 yrs £9,195

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: £961, 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 1863 kWh 1118 kWh 745 kWh £310 £75 £384 £6,169 16.0 yrs £1,519
3 kW 2795 kWh 1677 kWh 1118 kWh £465 £112 £577 £8,204 14.2 yrs £3,329
4 kW 3726 kWh 2236 kWh 1491 kWh £620 £149 £769 £10,238 13.3 yrs £5,139
5 kW 4658 kWh 2795 kWh 1863 kWh £775 £186 £961 £12,273 12.8 yrs £6,949
6 kW 5590 kWh 3354 kWh 2236 kWh £930 £224 £1,153 £14,307 12.4 yrs £8,758
7 kW 6521 kWh 3913 kWh 2609 kWh £1,085 £261 £1,345 £16,342 12.1 yrs £10,568
8 kW 7453 kWh 4472 kWh 2981 kWh £1,240 £298 £1,538 £18,376 12.0 yrs £12,378

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: £1,044, 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 1863 kWh 1304 kWh 559 kWh £362 £56 £417 £7,569 18.1 yrs £780
3 kW 2795 kWh 1956 kWh 838 kWh £542 £84 £626 £9,604 15.3 yrs £2,920
4 kW 3726 kWh 2609 kWh 1118 kWh £723 £112 £835 £11,638 13.9 yrs £5,060
5 kW 4658 kWh 3261 kWh 1397 kWh £904 £140 £1,044 £13,673 13.1 yrs £7,199
6 kW 5590 kWh 3913 kWh 1677 kWh £1,085 £168 £1,252 £15,707 12.5 yrs £9,339
7 kW 6521 kWh 4565 kWh 1956 kWh £1,265 £196 £1,461 £17,742 12.1 yrs £11,479
8 kW 7453 kWh 5217 kWh 2236 kWh £1,446 £224 £1,670 £19,776 11.8 yrs £13,619

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: £1,068, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1863 kWh 1360 kWh 503 kWh £377 £50 £427 £9,319 21.8 yrs £-772
3 kW 2795 kWh 2040 kWh 755 kWh £566 £75 £641 £11,354 17.7 yrs £1,467
4 kW 3726 kWh 2720 kWh 1006 kWh £754 £101 £855 £13,388 15.7 yrs £3,706
5 kW 4658 kWh 3400 kWh 1258 kWh £943 £126 £1,068 £15,423 14.4 yrs £5,945
6 kW 5590 kWh 4080 kWh 1509 kWh £1,131 £151 £1,282 £17,457 13.6 yrs £8,184
7 kW 6521 kWh 4761 kWh 1761 kWh £1,320 £176 £1,496 £19,492 13.0 yrs £10,423
8 kW 7453 kWh 5441 kWh 2012 kWh £1,508 £201 £1,709 £21,526 12.6 yrs £12,662

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: £1,085, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1863 kWh 1397 kWh 466 kWh £387 £47 £434 £11,069 25.5 yrs £-2,390
3 kW 2795 kWh 2096 kWh 699 kWh £581 £70 £651 £13,104 20.1 yrs £-85
4 kW 3726 kWh 2795 kWh 932 kWh £775 £93 £868 £15,138 17.4 yrs £2,220
5 kW 4658 kWh 3494 kWh 1165 kWh £968 £116 £1,085 £17,173 15.8 yrs £4,525
6 kW 5590 kWh 4192 kWh 1397 kWh £1,162 £140 £1,302 £19,207 14.8 yrs £6,830
7 kW 6521 kWh 4891 kWh 1630 kWh £1,356 £163 £1,519 £21,242 14.0 yrs £9,135
8 kW 7453 kWh 5590 kWh 1863 kWh £1,549 £186 £1,736 £23,276 13.4 yrs £11,440

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: £1,101, 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 1863 kWh 1435 kWh 429 kWh £398 £43 £441 £13,519 30.7 yrs £-4,708
3 kW 2795 kWh 2152 kWh 643 kWh £597 £64 £661 £15,554 23.5 yrs £-2,337
4 kW 3726 kWh 2869 kWh 857 kWh £795 £86 £881 £17,588 20.0 yrs £34
5 kW 4658 kWh 3587 kWh 1071 kWh £994 £107 £1,101 £19,623 17.8 yrs £2,405
6 kW 5590 kWh 4304 kWh 1286 kWh £1,193 £129 £1,322 £21,657 16.4 yrs £4,776
7 kW 6521 kWh 5021 kWh 1500 kWh £1,392 £150 £1,542 £23,692 15.4 yrs £7,147
8 kW 7453 kWh 5739 kWh 1714 kWh £1,591 £171 £1,762 £25,726 14.6 yrs £9,518

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 CH66

Figures below are tailored to CH66 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1076 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1328 of 2997
11.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£920 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2499 of 2997
27.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£255 fixed • ~£920 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.72p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
69.95p/day
Local Sunshine
932kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~932 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: 75% • Flats: 12% • Bungalows: 12% Based on 8,660 properties

Coverage

Cheshire West and Chester (100%)

Areas Covered

Ledsham & Manor, Sutton Villages, Netherpool, Willaston & Thornton, Strawberry, Central & Grange, Whitby Groves, Saughall & Mollington + 3 more

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

L66 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈0.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~932 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH66
CH34 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CH66
CH65 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈2.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CH66
L65 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈2.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CH66
L62 (Wirral)
≈6.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CH66
CH62 (Wirral)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CH66

Similar sunshine across the UK

S74 (Barnsley)
~932 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH66
WF1 (Wakefield)
~932 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CH66
DG7 (Dumfries and Galloway)
~931 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CH66