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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in DE13 (East Staffordshire)

See if solar pays off for you in East Staffordshire — 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
13.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£764
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,939
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 943 kWh/kW — 26 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 943 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)
943 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: £764, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1885 kWh 754 kWh 1131 kWh £193 £113 £306 £4,069 13.3 yrs £2,047
3 kW 2828 kWh 1131 kWh 1697 kWh £289 £170 £459 £6,104 13.3 yrs £3,070
4 kW 3770 kWh 1508 kWh 2262 kWh £385 £226 £612 £8,138 13.3 yrs £4,093
5 kW 4713 kWh 1885 kWh 2828 kWh £482 £283 £764 £10,173 13.3 yrs £5,117
6 kW 5656 kWh 2262 kWh 3393 kWh £578 £339 £917 £12,207 13.3 yrs £6,140
7 kW 6598 kWh 2639 kWh 3959 kWh £674 £396 £1,070 £14,242 13.3 yrs £7,163
8 kW 7541 kWh 3016 kWh 4525 kWh £771 £452 £1,223 £16,276 13.3 yrs £8,187

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: £911, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1885 kWh 1131 kWh 754 kWh £289 £75 £364 £6,169 16.9 yrs £1,119
3 kW 2828 kWh 1697 kWh 1131 kWh £434 £113 £547 £8,204 15.0 yrs £2,729
4 kW 3770 kWh 2262 kWh 1508 kWh £578 £151 £729 £10,238 14.0 yrs £4,339
5 kW 4713 kWh 2828 kWh 1885 kWh £723 £189 £911 £12,273 13.5 yrs £5,948
6 kW 5656 kWh 3393 kWh 2262 kWh £867 £226 £1,093 £14,307 13.1 yrs £7,558
7 kW 6598 kWh 3959 kWh 2639 kWh £1,012 £264 £1,275 £16,342 12.8 yrs £9,168
8 kW 7541 kWh 4525 kWh 3016 kWh £1,156 £302 £1,458 £18,376 12.6 yrs £10,777

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: £984, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1885 kWh 1320 kWh 566 kWh £337 £57 £394 £7,569 19.2 yrs £306
3 kW 2828 kWh 1980 kWh 848 kWh £506 £85 £591 £9,604 16.3 yrs £2,208
4 kW 3770 kWh 2639 kWh 1131 kWh £674 £113 £787 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,111
5 kW 4713 kWh 3299 kWh 1414 kWh £843 £141 £984 £13,673 13.9 yrs £6,014
6 kW 5656 kWh 3959 kWh 1697 kWh £1,012 £170 £1,181 £15,707 13.3 yrs £7,917
7 kW 6598 kWh 4619 kWh 1980 kWh £1,180 £198 £1,378 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,820
8 kW 7541 kWh 5279 kWh 2262 kWh £1,349 £226 £1,575 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,723

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: £1,006, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1885 kWh 1376 kWh 509 kWh £352 £51 £403 £9,319 23.2 yrs £-1,268
3 kW 2828 kWh 2064 kWh 764 kWh £527 £76 £604 £11,354 18.8 yrs £722
4 kW 3770 kWh 2752 kWh 1018 kWh £703 £102 £805 £13,388 16.6 yrs £2,713
5 kW 4713 kWh 3441 kWh 1273 kWh £879 £127 £1,006 £15,423 15.3 yrs £4,704
6 kW 5656 kWh 4129 kWh 1527 kWh £1,055 £153 £1,208 £17,457 14.5 yrs £6,695
7 kW 6598 kWh 4817 kWh 1782 kWh £1,231 £178 £1,409 £19,492 13.8 yrs £8,685
8 kW 7541 kWh 5505 kWh 2036 kWh £1,407 £204 £1,610 £21,526 13.4 yrs £10,676

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: £1,021, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1885 kWh 1414 kWh 471 kWh £361 £47 £408 £11,069 27.1 yrs £-2,901
3 kW 2828 kWh 2121 kWh 707 kWh £542 £71 £613 £13,104 21.4 yrs £-852
4 kW 3770 kWh 2828 kWh 943 kWh £723 £94 £817 £15,138 18.5 yrs £1,198
5 kW 4713 kWh 3535 kWh 1178 kWh £903 £118 £1,021 £17,173 16.8 yrs £3,247
6 kW 5656 kWh 4242 kWh 1414 kWh £1,084 £141 £1,225 £19,207 15.7 yrs £5,296
7 kW 6598 kWh 4949 kWh 1650 kWh £1,264 £165 £1,429 £21,242 14.9 yrs £7,346
8 kW 7541 kWh 5656 kWh 1885 kWh £1,445 £189 £1,634 £23,276 14.2 yrs £9,395

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: £1,036, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1885 kWh 1452 kWh 434 kWh £371 £43 £414 £13,519 32.6 yrs £-5,234
3 kW 2828 kWh 2177 kWh 650 kWh £556 £65 £621 £15,554 25.0 yrs £-3,126
4 kW 3770 kWh 2903 kWh 867 kWh £742 £87 £829 £17,588 21.2 yrs £-1,018
5 kW 4713 kWh 3629 kWh 1084 kWh £927 £108 £1,036 £19,623 18.9 yrs £1,090
6 kW 5656 kWh 4355 kWh 1301 kWh £1,113 £130 £1,243 £21,657 17.4 yrs £3,198
7 kW 6598 kWh 5081 kWh 1518 kWh £1,298 £152 £1,450 £23,692 16.3 yrs £5,306
8 kW 7541 kWh 5807 kWh 1734 kWh £1,484 £173 £1,657 £25,726 15.5 yrs £7,414

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 DE13

Figures below are tailored to DE13 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #719 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1844 of 2997
11.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£874 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1503 of 2997
20.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£179 fixed • ~£874 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.55p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.09p/day
Local Sunshine
943kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~943 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: 76% • Flats: 9% • Bungalows: 14% Based on 12,023 properties

Coverage

East Staffordshire (89%)|Lichfield (10%)

Areas Covered

Bagots & Needwood, Dove, Horninglow & Outwoods, Stretton, Burton & Eton, Alrewas & Fradley, Branston, Crown + 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 East Midlands

DE14 (East Staffordshire)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~938 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DE13
DE15 (East Staffordshire)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~937 kWh/kWp · -1% vs DE13
DE65 (South Derbyshire)
≈6.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~950 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DE13
DE11 (South Derbyshire)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~946 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DE13
DE12 (North West Leicestershire)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~956 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DE13
DE23 (Derby)
≈14.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~953 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DE13

Similar sunshine across the UK

B28 (Birmingham)
~943 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DE13
B13 (Birmingham)
~942 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DE13
B34 (Birmingham)
~943 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DE13