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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in DH1 (County Durham)

See if solar pays off for you in County Durham — 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
13.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£745
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,459
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 Northern, the current unit rate is 25.43p/kWh with a 59.86p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 922 kWh/kW — 4 below the regional median (926).

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 922 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.4p/kWh
Standing charge
59.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
922 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: £745, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1843 kWh 737 kWh 1106 kWh £188 £111 £298 £4,069 13.6 yrs £1,893
3 kW 2765 kWh 1106 kWh 1659 kWh £281 £166 £447 £6,104 13.6 yrs £2,839
4 kW 3687 kWh 1475 kWh 2212 kWh £375 £221 £596 £8,138 13.6 yrs £3,786
5 kW 4608 kWh 1843 kWh 2765 kWh £469 £276 £745 £10,173 13.6 yrs £4,732
6 kW 5530 kWh 2212 kWh 3318 kWh £563 £332 £894 £12,207 13.6 yrs £5,679
7 kW 6452 kWh 2581 kWh 3871 kWh £656 £387 £1,043 £14,242 13.6 yrs £6,625
8 kW 7373 kWh 2949 kWh 4424 kWh £750 £442 £1,192 £16,276 13.6 yrs £7,572

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: £887, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1843 kWh 1106 kWh 737 kWh £281 £74 £355 £6,169 17.4 yrs £931
3 kW 2765 kWh 1659 kWh 1106 kWh £422 £111 £532 £8,204 15.4 yrs £2,446
4 kW 3687 kWh 2212 kWh 1475 kWh £563 £147 £710 £10,238 14.4 yrs £3,961
5 kW 4608 kWh 2765 kWh 1843 kWh £703 £184 £887 £12,273 13.8 yrs £5,477
6 kW 5530 kWh 3318 kWh 2212 kWh £844 £221 £1,065 £14,307 13.4 yrs £6,992
7 kW 6452 kWh 3871 kWh 2581 kWh £984 £258 £1,242 £16,342 13.2 yrs £8,507
8 kW 7373 kWh 4424 kWh 2949 kWh £1,125 £295 £1,420 £18,376 12.9 yrs £10,023

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: £959, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1843 kWh 1290 kWh 553 kWh £328 £55 £383 £7,569 19.7 yrs £99
3 kW 2765 kWh 1935 kWh 829 kWh £492 £83 £575 £9,604 16.7 yrs £1,899
4 kW 3687 kWh 2581 kWh 1106 kWh £656 £111 £767 £11,638 15.2 yrs £3,699
5 kW 4608 kWh 3226 kWh 1382 kWh £820 £138 £959 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,499
6 kW 5530 kWh 3871 kWh 1659 kWh £984 £166 £1,150 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,298
7 kW 6452 kWh 4516 kWh 1935 kWh £1,148 £194 £1,342 £17,742 13.2 yrs £9,098
8 kW 7373 kWh 5161 kWh 2212 kWh £1,313 £221 £1,534 £19,776 12.9 yrs £10,898

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: £980, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1843 kWh 1346 kWh 498 kWh £342 £50 £392 £9,319 23.8 yrs £-1,480
3 kW 2765 kWh 2018 kWh 747 kWh £513 £75 £588 £11,354 19.3 yrs £405
4 kW 3687 kWh 2691 kWh 995 kWh £684 £100 £784 £13,388 17.1 yrs £2,290
5 kW 4608 kWh 3364 kWh 1244 kWh £855 £124 £980 £15,423 15.7 yrs £4,175
6 kW 5530 kWh 4037 kWh 1493 kWh £1,027 £149 £1,176 £17,457 14.8 yrs £6,060
7 kW 6452 kWh 4710 kWh 1742 kWh £1,198 £174 £1,372 £19,492 14.2 yrs £7,945
8 kW 7373 kWh 5382 kWh 1991 kWh £1,369 £199 £1,568 £21,526 13.7 yrs £9,831

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: £994, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1843 kWh 1382 kWh 461 kWh £352 £46 £398 £11,069 27.8 yrs £-3,116
3 kW 2765 kWh 2074 kWh 691 kWh £527 £69 £596 £13,104 22.0 yrs £-1,174
4 kW 3687 kWh 2765 kWh 922 kWh £703 £92 £795 £15,138 19.0 yrs £768
5 kW 4608 kWh 3456 kWh 1152 kWh £879 £115 £994 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,710
6 kW 5530 kWh 4147 kWh 1382 kWh £1,055 £138 £1,193 £19,207 16.1 yrs £4,652
7 kW 6452 kWh 4839 kWh 1613 kWh £1,230 £161 £1,392 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,594
8 kW 7373 kWh 5530 kWh 1843 kWh £1,406 £184 £1,591 £23,276 14.6 yrs £8,536

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: £1,008, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1843 kWh 1419 kWh 424 kWh £361 £42 £403 £13,519 33.5 yrs £-5,452
3 kW 2765 kWh 2129 kWh 636 kWh £541 £64 £605 £15,554 25.7 yrs £-3,454
4 kW 3687 kWh 2839 kWh 848 kWh £722 £85 £807 £17,588 21.8 yrs £-1,455
5 kW 4608 kWh 3548 kWh 1060 kWh £902 £106 £1,008 £19,623 19.5 yrs £544
6 kW 5530 kWh 4258 kWh 1272 kWh £1,083 £127 £1,210 £21,657 17.9 yrs £2,543
7 kW 6452 kWh 4968 kWh 1484 kWh £1,263 £148 £1,412 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,542
8 kW 7373 kWh 5677 kWh 1696 kWh £1,444 £170 £1,613 £25,726 15.9 yrs £6,541

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 DH1

Figures below are tailored to DH1 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1059 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2192 of 2997
11.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£852 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2328 of 2997
25.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£218 fixed • ~£852 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.43p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.86p/day
Local Sunshine
922kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~922 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: 69% • Flats: 20% • Bungalows: 10% Based on 13,025 properties

Coverage

County Durham (100%)

Areas Covered

Belmont, Elvet, Gilesgate & Shincliffe, Neville's Cross, Framwellgate & Newton Hall, Sacriston & Witton Gilbert, Brandon, Pittington & Sherburn + 4 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 Northern

DH97 (County Durham)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~929 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DH1
DH99 (County Durham)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~929 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DH1
DH7 (County Durham)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DH1
DH6 (County Durham)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~929 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DH1
DH5 (Sunderland)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~957 kWh/kWp · +4% vs DH1
DH2 (County Durham)
≈8.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~929 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DH1

Similar sunshine across the UK

SA38 (Carmarthenshire)
~922 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DH1
L34 (Knowsley)
~922 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DH1
BT21 (Ards and North Down)
~922 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DH1