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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in DL13 (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
14.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£687
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,001
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 850 kWh/kW — 76 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 850 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)
850 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: £687, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 680 kWh 1019 kWh £173 £102 £275 £4,069 14.8 yrs £1,426
3 kW 2549 kWh 1019 kWh 1529 kWh £259 £153 £412 £6,104 14.8 yrs £2,140
4 kW 3398 kWh 1359 kWh 2039 kWh £346 £204 £550 £8,138 14.8 yrs £2,853
5 kW 4248 kWh 1699 kWh 2549 kWh £432 £255 £687 £10,173 14.8 yrs £3,566
6 kW 5097 kWh 2039 kWh 3058 kWh £518 £306 £824 £12,207 14.8 yrs £4,279
7 kW 5947 kWh 2379 kWh 3568 kWh £605 £357 £962 £14,242 14.8 yrs £4,992
8 kW 6796 kWh 2718 kWh 4078 kWh £691 £408 £1,099 £16,276 14.8 yrs £5,706

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: £818, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1019 kWh 680 kWh £259 £68 £327 £6,169 18.9 yrs £375
3 kW 2549 kWh 1529 kWh 1019 kWh £389 £102 £491 £8,204 16.7 yrs £1,613
4 kW 3398 kWh 2039 kWh 1359 kWh £518 £136 £654 £10,238 15.6 yrs £2,850
5 kW 4248 kWh 2549 kWh 1699 kWh £648 £170 £818 £12,273 15.0 yrs £4,088
6 kW 5097 kWh 3058 kWh 2039 kWh £778 £204 £982 £14,307 14.6 yrs £5,325
7 kW 5947 kWh 3568 kWh 2379 kWh £907 £238 £1,145 £16,342 14.3 yrs £6,563
8 kW 6796 kWh 4078 kWh 2718 kWh £1,037 £272 £1,309 £18,376 14.0 yrs £7,800

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: £884, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1189 kWh 510 kWh £302 £51 £353 £7,569 21.4 yrs £-501
3 kW 2549 kWh 1784 kWh 765 kWh £454 £76 £530 £9,604 18.1 yrs £999
4 kW 3398 kWh 2379 kWh 1019 kWh £605 £102 £707 £11,638 16.5 yrs £2,499
5 kW 4248 kWh 2973 kWh 1274 kWh £756 £127 £884 £13,673 15.5 yrs £3,999
6 kW 5097 kWh 3568 kWh 1529 kWh £907 £153 £1,060 £15,707 14.8 yrs £5,498
7 kW 5947 kWh 4163 kWh 1784 kWh £1,059 £178 £1,237 £17,742 14.3 yrs £6,998
8 kW 6796 kWh 4757 kWh 2039 kWh £1,210 £204 £1,414 £19,776 14.0 yrs £8,498

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: £903, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1240 kWh 459 kWh £315 £46 £361 £9,319 25.8 yrs £-2,093
3 kW 2549 kWh 1860 kWh 688 kWh £473 £69 £542 £11,354 21.0 yrs £-515
4 kW 3398 kWh 2481 kWh 917 kWh £631 £92 £723 £13,388 18.5 yrs £1,063
5 kW 4248 kWh 3101 kWh 1147 kWh £789 £115 £903 £15,423 17.1 yrs £2,642
6 kW 5097 kWh 3721 kWh 1376 kWh £946 £138 £1,084 £17,457 16.1 yrs £4,220
7 kW 5947 kWh 4341 kWh 1606 kWh £1,104 £161 £1,265 £19,492 15.4 yrs £5,798
8 kW 6796 kWh 4961 kWh 1835 kWh £1,262 £183 £1,445 £21,526 14.9 yrs £7,377

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: £916, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1699 kWh 1274 kWh 425 kWh £324 £42 £367 £11,069 30.2 yrs £-3,738
3 kW 2549 kWh 1911 kWh 637 kWh £486 £64 £550 £13,104 23.8 yrs £-2,108
4 kW 3398 kWh 2549 kWh 850 kWh £648 £85 £733 £15,138 20.7 yrs £-477
5 kW 4248 kWh 3186 kWh 1062 kWh £810 £106 £916 £17,173 18.7 yrs £1,154
6 kW 5097 kWh 3823 kWh 1274 kWh £972 £127 £1,100 £19,207 17.5 yrs £2,785
7 kW 5947 kWh 4460 kWh 1487 kWh £1,134 £149 £1,283 £21,242 16.6 yrs £4,416
8 kW 6796 kWh 5097 kWh 1699 kWh £1,296 £170 £1,466 £23,276 15.9 yrs £6,046

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: £929, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1699 kWh 1308 kWh 391 kWh £333 £39 £372 £13,519 36.4 yrs £-6,084
3 kW 2549 kWh 1962 kWh 586 kWh £499 £59 £558 £15,554 27.9 yrs £-4,400
4 kW 3398 kWh 2617 kWh 782 kWh £665 £78 £744 £17,588 23.7 yrs £-2,717
5 kW 4248 kWh 3271 kWh 977 kWh £832 £98 £929 £19,623 21.1 yrs £-1,034
6 kW 5097 kWh 3925 kWh 1172 kWh £998 £117 £1,115 £21,657 19.4 yrs £649
7 kW 5947 kWh 4579 kWh 1368 kWh £1,164 £137 £1,301 £23,692 18.2 yrs £2,333
8 kW 6796 kWh 5233 kWh 1563 kWh £1,331 £156 £1,487 £25,726 17.3 yrs £4,016

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 DL13

Figures below are tailored to DL13 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #618 of 2182
5.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2778 of 2997
13.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£785 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2507 of 2997
27.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£218 fixed • ~£785 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.43p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.86p/day
Local Sunshine
850kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~850 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: 81% • Flats: 5% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 3,966 properties

Coverage

County Durham (100%)

Areas Covered

Weardale, Evenwood, Lower Teesdale, Langley & Esh, Bishop Auckland, Crook, Deerness, Lanchester & Burnhope

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

DL15 (County Durham)
≈10.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · +8% vs DL13
DH8 (County Durham)
≈13.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~912 kWh/kWp · +7% vs DL13
DL14 (County Durham)
≈16.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~916 kWh/kWp · +8% vs DL13
DH7 (County Durham)
≈17.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · +9% vs DL13
DH9 (County Durham)
≈18.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · +9% vs DL13
DL16 (County Durham)
≈19.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · +9% vs DL13

Similar sunshine across the UK

FK10 (Clackmannanshire)
~850 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DL13
BB94 (Pendle)
~850 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DL13
BT56 (Causeway Coast and Glens)
~849 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DL13