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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in DN5 (Doncaster)

See if solar pays off for you in Doncaster — 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
£8,922
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 Yorkshire, the current unit rate is 25.33p/kWh with a 58.65p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 947 kWh/kW — 18 above the regional median (929).

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 947 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.3p/kWh
Standing charge
58.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
947 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 1894 kWh 758 kWh 1136 kWh £192 £114 £306 £4,069 13.3 yrs £2,041
3 kW 2841 kWh 1136 kWh 1704 kWh £288 £170 £458 £6,104 13.3 yrs £3,062
4 kW 3788 kWh 1515 kWh 2273 kWh £384 £227 £611 £8,138 13.3 yrs £4,083
5 kW 4735 kWh 1894 kWh 2841 kWh £480 £284 £764 £10,173 13.3 yrs £5,103
6 kW 5682 kWh 2273 kWh 3409 kWh £576 £341 £917 £12,207 13.3 yrs £6,124
7 kW 6628 kWh 2651 kWh 3977 kWh £672 £398 £1,069 £14,242 13.3 yrs £7,144
8 kW 7575 kWh 3030 kWh 4545 kWh £768 £455 £1,222 £16,276 13.3 yrs £8,165

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: £909, 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 1894 kWh 1136 kWh 758 kWh £288 £76 £364 £6,169 17.0 yrs £1,103
3 kW 2841 kWh 1704 kWh 1136 kWh £432 £114 £545 £8,204 15.0 yrs £2,704
4 kW 3788 kWh 2273 kWh 1515 kWh £576 £152 £727 £10,238 14.1 yrs £4,305
5 kW 4735 kWh 2841 kWh 1894 kWh £720 £189 £909 £12,273 13.5 yrs £5,906
6 kW 5682 kWh 3409 kWh 2273 kWh £863 £227 £1,091 £14,307 13.1 yrs £7,508
7 kW 6628 kWh 3977 kWh 2651 kWh £1,007 £265 £1,273 £16,342 12.8 yrs £9,109
8 kW 7575 kWh 4545 kWh 3030 kWh £1,151 £303 £1,454 £18,376 12.6 yrs £10,710

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: £982, 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 1894 kWh 1326 kWh 568 kWh £336 £57 £393 £7,569 19.3 yrs £283
3 kW 2841 kWh 1989 kWh 852 kWh £504 £85 £589 £9,604 16.3 yrs £2,175
4 kW 3788 kWh 2651 kWh 1136 kWh £672 £114 £785 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,066
5 kW 4735 kWh 3314 kWh 1420 kWh £839 £142 £982 £13,673 13.9 yrs £5,958
6 kW 5682 kWh 3977 kWh 1704 kWh £1,007 £170 £1,178 £15,707 13.3 yrs £7,850
7 kW 6628 kWh 4640 kWh 1989 kWh £1,175 £199 £1,374 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,741
8 kW 7575 kWh 5303 kWh 2273 kWh £1,343 £227 £1,570 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,633

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: £1,003, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1894 kWh 1383 kWh 511 kWh £350 £51 £401 £9,319 23.2 yrs £-1,293
3 kW 2841 kWh 2074 kWh 767 kWh £525 £77 £602 £11,354 18.9 yrs £686
4 kW 3788 kWh 2765 kWh 1023 kWh £700 £102 £803 £13,388 16.7 yrs £2,665
5 kW 4735 kWh 3456 kWh 1278 kWh £875 £128 £1,003 £15,423 15.4 yrs £4,644
6 kW 5682 kWh 4148 kWh 1534 kWh £1,051 £153 £1,204 £17,457 14.5 yrs £6,622
7 kW 6628 kWh 4839 kWh 1790 kWh £1,226 £179 £1,405 £19,492 13.9 yrs £8,601
8 kW 7575 kWh 5530 kWh 2045 kWh £1,401 £205 £1,605 £21,526 13.4 yrs £10,580

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: £1,018, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1894 kWh 1420 kWh 473 kWh £360 £47 £407 £11,069 27.2 yrs £-2,926
3 kW 2841 kWh 2131 kWh 710 kWh £540 £71 £611 £13,104 21.5 yrs £-890
4 kW 3788 kWh 2841 kWh 947 kWh £720 £95 £814 £15,138 18.6 yrs £1,147
5 kW 4735 kWh 3551 kWh 1184 kWh £899 £118 £1,018 £17,173 16.9 yrs £3,184
6 kW 5682 kWh 4261 kWh 1420 kWh £1,079 £142 £1,221 £19,207 15.7 yrs £5,221
7 kW 6628 kWh 4971 kWh 1657 kWh £1,259 £166 £1,425 £21,242 14.9 yrs £7,257
8 kW 7575 kWh 5682 kWh 1894 kWh £1,439 £189 £1,629 £23,276 14.3 yrs £9,294

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: £1,032, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1894 kWh 1458 kWh 436 kWh £369 £44 £413 £13,519 32.7 yrs £-5,260
3 kW 2841 kWh 2187 kWh 653 kWh £554 £65 £619 £15,554 25.1 yrs £-3,165
4 kW 3788 kWh 2917 kWh 871 kWh £739 £87 £826 £17,588 21.3 yrs £-1,071
5 kW 4735 kWh 3646 kWh 1089 kWh £923 £109 £1,032 £19,623 19.0 yrs £1,024
6 kW 5682 kWh 4375 kWh 1307 kWh £1,108 £131 £1,239 £21,657 17.5 yrs £3,119
7 kW 6628 kWh 5104 kWh 1525 kWh £1,293 £152 £1,445 £23,692 16.4 yrs £5,214
8 kW 7575 kWh 5833 kWh 1742 kWh £1,478 £174 £1,652 £25,726 15.6 yrs £7,309

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 DN5

Figures below are tailored to DN5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1119 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1981 of 2997
11.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£873 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2161 of 2997
24.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£214 fixed • ~£873 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.33p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
58.65p/day
Local Sunshine
947kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~947 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: 75% • Flats: 11% • Bungalows: 14% Based on 9,970 properties

Coverage

Doncaster (100%)

Areas Covered

Bentley, Sprotbrough, Roman Ridge, Hexthorpe & Balby North, Town, Norton & Askern, Dearne South, Adwick le Street & Carcroft

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 Yorkshire

DN1 (Doncaster)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~947 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DN5
DN55 (Doncaster)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~947 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DN5
DN2 (Doncaster)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~947 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DN5
DN4 (Doncaster)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~947 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DN5
DN6 (Doncaster)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~951 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DN5
DN3 (Doncaster)
≈6.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~950 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DN5

Similar sunshine across the UK

YO21 (North Yorkshire)
~947 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DN5
LL78 (Isle of Anglesey)
~947 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DN5
GL16 (Forest of Dean)
~947 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DN5