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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CW5 (Cheshire East)

See if solar pays off for you in Cheshire East — 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
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£955
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,658
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 931 kWh/kW — 1 above the regional median (930).

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 931 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)
931 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 1862 kWh 745 kWh 1117 kWh £206 £112 £318 £4,069 12.8 yrs £2,295
3 kW 2793 kWh 1117 kWh 1676 kWh £310 £168 £477 £6,104 12.8 yrs £3,443
4 kW 3724 kWh 1490 kWh 2235 kWh £413 £223 £636 £8,138 12.8 yrs £4,590
5 kW 4655 kWh 1862 kWh 2793 kWh £516 £279 £796 £10,173 12.8 yrs £5,738
6 kW 5586 kWh 2235 kWh 3352 kWh £619 £335 £955 £12,207 12.8 yrs £6,885
7 kW 6517 kWh 2607 kWh 3910 kWh £723 £391 £1,114 £14,242 12.8 yrs £8,033
8 kW 7449 kWh 2979 kWh 4469 kWh £826 £447 £1,273 £16,276 12.8 yrs £9,180

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 1862 kWh 1117 kWh 745 kWh £310 £74 £384 £6,169 16.1 yrs £1,515
3 kW 2793 kWh 1676 kWh 1117 kWh £465 £112 £576 £8,204 14.2 yrs £3,322
4 kW 3724 kWh 2235 kWh 1490 kWh £619 £149 £768 £10,238 13.3 yrs £5,130
5 kW 4655 kWh 2793 kWh 1862 kWh £774 £186 £960 £12,273 12.8 yrs £6,937
6 kW 5586 kWh 3352 kWh 2235 kWh £929 £223 £1,153 £14,307 12.4 yrs £8,745
7 kW 6517 kWh 3910 kWh 2607 kWh £1,084 £261 £1,345 £16,342 12.2 yrs £10,552
8 kW 7449 kWh 4469 kWh 2979 kWh £1,239 £298 £1,537 £18,376 12.0 yrs £12,360

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: £1,043, 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 1862 kWh 1303 kWh 559 kWh £361 £56 £417 £7,569 18.1 yrs £775
3 kW 2793 kWh 1955 kWh 838 kWh £542 £84 £626 £9,604 15.3 yrs £2,912
4 kW 3724 kWh 2607 kWh 1117 kWh £723 £112 £834 £11,638 13.9 yrs £5,050
5 kW 4655 kWh 3259 kWh 1397 kWh £903 £140 £1,043 £13,673 13.1 yrs £7,187
6 kW 5586 kWh 3910 kWh 1676 kWh £1,084 £168 £1,252 £15,707 12.5 yrs £9,325
7 kW 6517 kWh 4562 kWh 1955 kWh £1,265 £196 £1,460 £17,742 12.2 yrs £11,462
8 kW 7449 kWh 5214 kWh 2235 kWh £1,445 £223 £1,669 £19,776 11.9 yrs £13,599

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 1862 kWh 1359 kWh 503 kWh £377 £50 £427 £9,319 21.8 yrs £-777
3 kW 2793 kWh 2039 kWh 754 kWh £565 £75 £641 £11,354 17.7 yrs £1,459
4 kW 3724 kWh 2719 kWh 1006 kWh £754 £101 £854 £13,388 15.7 yrs £3,696
5 kW 4655 kWh 3398 kWh 1257 kWh £942 £126 £1,068 £15,423 14.4 yrs £5,932
6 kW 5586 kWh 4078 kWh 1508 kWh £1,130 £151 £1,281 £17,457 13.6 yrs £8,169
7 kW 6517 kWh 4758 kWh 1760 kWh £1,319 £176 £1,495 £19,492 13.0 yrs £10,405
8 kW 7449 kWh 5437 kWh 2011 kWh £1,507 £201 £1,708 £21,526 12.6 yrs £12,641

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: £1,084, 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 1862 kWh 1397 kWh 466 kWh £387 £47 £434 £11,069 25.5 yrs £-2,395
3 kW 2793 kWh 2095 kWh 698 kWh £581 £70 £651 £13,104 20.1 yrs £-93
4 kW 3724 kWh 2793 kWh 931 kWh £774 £93 £867 £15,138 17.5 yrs £2,210
5 kW 4655 kWh 3492 kWh 1164 kWh £968 £116 £1,084 £17,173 15.8 yrs £4,512
6 kW 5586 kWh 4190 kWh 1397 kWh £1,161 £140 £1,301 £19,207 14.8 yrs £6,814
7 kW 6517 kWh 4888 kWh 1629 kWh £1,355 £163 £1,518 £21,242 14.0 yrs £9,117
8 kW 7449 kWh 5586 kWh 1862 kWh £1,549 £186 £1,735 £23,276 13.4 yrs £11,419

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 1862 kWh 1434 kWh 428 kWh £397 £43 £440 £13,519 30.7 yrs £-4,713
3 kW 2793 kWh 2151 kWh 642 kWh £596 £64 £660 £15,554 23.6 yrs £-2,345
4 kW 3724 kWh 2868 kWh 857 kWh £795 £86 £881 £17,588 20.0 yrs £24
5 kW 4655 kWh 3585 kWh 1071 kWh £994 £107 £1,101 £19,623 17.8 yrs £2,392
6 kW 5586 kWh 4302 kWh 1285 kWh £1,192 £128 £1,321 £21,657 16.4 yrs £4,760
7 kW 6517 kWh 5018 kWh 1499 kWh £1,391 £150 £1,541 £23,692 15.4 yrs £7,129
8 kW 7449 kWh 5735 kWh 1713 kWh £1,590 £171 £1,761 £25,726 14.6 yrs £9,497

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 CW5

Figures below are tailored to CW5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #743 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1336 of 2997
11.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,103 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2081 of 2997
23.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£255 fixed • ~£1,103 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.72p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
69.95p/day
Local Sunshine
931kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~931 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: 75% • Flats: 15% • Bungalows: 8% Based on 10,057 properties

Coverage

Cheshire East (100%)

Areas Covered

Nantwich North and West, Nantwich South and Stapeley, Bunbury, Wrenbury, Wybunbury, Willaston and Rope, Audlem, Wistaston + 2 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

CW2 (Cheshire East)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CW5
CW98 (Cheshire East)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CW5
CW1 (Cheshire East)
≈7.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CW5
CW3 (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
≈11.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~932 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CW5
CW11 (Cheshire East)
≈13.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~907 kWh/kWp · -3% vs CW5
CW7 (Cheshire West and Chester)
≈13.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~926 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CW5

Similar sunshine across the UK

KY10 (Fife)
~931 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CW5
WV13 (Walsall)
~931 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CW5
TS11 (Redcar and Cleveland)
~931 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CW5