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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CV4 (Coventry)

See if solar pays off for you in Coventry — 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
13.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£777
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,243
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 East Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.55p/kWh with a 49.09p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 958 kWh/kW — 11 below the regional median (968).

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 958 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
49.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
958 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: £777, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1915 kWh 766 kWh 1149 kWh £196 £115 £311 £4,069 13.1 yrs £2,144
3 kW 2873 kWh 1149 kWh 1724 kWh £294 £172 £466 £6,104 13.1 yrs £3,216
4 kW 3830 kWh 1532 kWh 2298 kWh £391 £230 £621 £8,138 13.1 yrs £4,288
5 kW 4788 kWh 1915 kWh 2873 kWh £489 £287 £777 £10,173 13.1 yrs £5,360
6 kW 5746 kWh 2298 kWh 3447 kWh £587 £345 £932 £12,207 13.1 yrs £6,432
7 kW 6703 kWh 2681 kWh 4022 kWh £685 £402 £1,087 £14,242 13.1 yrs £7,504
8 kW 7661 kWh 3064 kWh 4597 kWh £783 £460 £1,243 £16,276 13.1 yrs £8,576

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: £926, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1915 kWh 1149 kWh 766 kWh £294 £77 £370 £6,169 16.7 yrs £1,235
3 kW 2873 kWh 1724 kWh 1149 kWh £440 £115 £555 £8,204 14.8 yrs £2,903
4 kW 3830 kWh 2298 kWh 1532 kWh £587 £153 £740 £10,238 13.8 yrs £4,571
5 kW 4788 kWh 2873 kWh 1915 kWh £734 £192 £926 £12,273 13.3 yrs £6,238
6 kW 5746 kWh 3447 kWh 2298 kWh £881 £230 £1,111 £14,307 12.9 yrs £7,906
7 kW 6703 kWh 4022 kWh 2681 kWh £1,028 £268 £1,296 £16,342 12.6 yrs £9,574
8 kW 7661 kWh 4597 kWh 3064 kWh £1,174 £306 £1,481 £18,376 12.4 yrs £11,241

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: £1,000, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1915 kWh 1341 kWh 575 kWh £343 £57 £400 £7,569 18.9 yrs £431
3 kW 2873 kWh 2011 kWh 862 kWh £514 £86 £600 £9,604 16.0 yrs £2,396
4 kW 3830 kWh 2681 kWh 1149 kWh £685 £115 £800 £11,638 14.5 yrs £4,362
5 kW 4788 kWh 3352 kWh 1436 kWh £856 £144 £1,000 £13,673 13.7 yrs £6,327
6 kW 5746 kWh 4022 kWh 1724 kWh £1,028 £172 £1,200 £15,707 13.1 yrs £8,293
7 kW 6703 kWh 4692 kWh 2011 kWh £1,199 £201 £1,400 £17,742 12.7 yrs £10,258
8 kW 7661 kWh 5363 kWh 2298 kWh £1,370 £230 £1,600 £19,776 12.4 yrs £12,224

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: £1,022, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1915 kWh 1398 kWh 517 kWh £357 £52 £409 £9,319 22.8 yrs £-1,140
3 kW 2873 kWh 2097 kWh 776 kWh £536 £78 £613 £11,354 18.5 yrs £914
4 kW 3830 kWh 2796 kWh 1034 kWh £714 £103 £818 £13,388 16.4 yrs £2,969
5 kW 4788 kWh 3495 kWh 1293 kWh £893 £129 £1,022 £15,423 15.1 yrs £5,024
6 kW 5746 kWh 4194 kWh 1551 kWh £1,072 £155 £1,227 £17,457 14.2 yrs £7,079
7 kW 6703 kWh 4893 kWh 1810 kWh £1,250 £181 £1,431 £19,492 13.6 yrs £9,134
8 kW 7661 kWh 5593 kWh 2068 kWh £1,429 £207 £1,636 £21,526 13.2 yrs £11,189

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: £1,037, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1915 kWh 1436 kWh 479 kWh £367 £48 £415 £11,069 26.7 yrs £-2,771
3 kW 2873 kWh 2155 kWh 718 kWh £551 £72 £622 £13,104 21.1 yrs £-657
4 kW 3830 kWh 2873 kWh 958 kWh £734 £96 £830 £15,138 18.2 yrs £1,458
5 kW 4788 kWh 3591 kWh 1197 kWh £918 £120 £1,037 £17,173 16.6 yrs £3,572
6 kW 5746 kWh 4309 kWh 1436 kWh £1,101 £144 £1,245 £19,207 15.4 yrs £5,686
7 kW 6703 kWh 5028 kWh 1676 kWh £1,285 £168 £1,452 £21,242 14.6 yrs £7,801
8 kW 7661 kWh 5746 kWh 1915 kWh £1,468 £192 £1,660 £23,276 14.0 yrs £9,915

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: £1,052, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1915 kWh 1475 kWh 441 kWh £377 £44 £421 £13,519 32.1 yrs £-5,102
3 kW 2873 kWh 2212 kWh 661 kWh £565 £66 £631 £15,554 24.6 yrs £-2,928
4 kW 3830 kWh 2949 kWh 881 kWh £754 £88 £842 £17,588 20.9 yrs £-754
5 kW 4788 kWh 3687 kWh 1101 kWh £942 £110 £1,052 £19,623 18.7 yrs £1,420
6 kW 5746 kWh 4424 kWh 1322 kWh £1,130 £132 £1,263 £21,657 17.2 yrs £3,594
7 kW 6703 kWh 5162 kWh 1542 kWh £1,319 £154 £1,473 £23,692 16.1 yrs £5,768
8 kW 7661 kWh 5899 kWh 1762 kWh £1,507 £176 £1,683 £25,726 15.3 yrs £7,942

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 CV4

Figures below are tailored to CV4 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1747 of 2182
4.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1738 of 2997
11.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£888 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1449 of 2997
20.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£179 fixed • ~£888 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.55p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.09p/day
Local Sunshine
958kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~958 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: 62% • Flats: 28% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 10,715 properties

Coverage

Coventry (98%)|Warwick (2%)

Areas Covered

Westwood, St Michael's, Woodlands, Wainbody, Binley and Willenhall, Kenilworth Abbey & Arden, Foleshill, Earlsdon + 1 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 East Midlands

CV5 (Coventry)
≈1.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CV4
CV1 (Coventry)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~958 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CV4
CV6 (Coventry)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~956 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CV4
CV7 (Solihull)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CV4
CV3 (Coventry)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~961 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CV4
CV8 (Warwick)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CV4

Similar sunshine across the UK

B61 (Bromsgrove)
~957 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CV4
EX19 (Torridge)
~958 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CV4
SA31 (Carmarthenshire)
~957 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CV4