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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in DY5 (Dudley)

See if solar pays off for you in Dudley — 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
13.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£601
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,884
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 Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.64p/kWh with a 53.00p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 924 kWh/kW — 18 below the regional median (942).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 924 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
53.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
924 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: £751, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1848 kWh 739 kWh 1109 kWh £190 £111 £300 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,940
3 kW 2772 kWh 1109 kWh 1663 kWh £284 £166 £451 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,910
4 kW 3696 kWh 1479 kWh 2218 kWh £379 £222 £601 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,880
5 kW 4620 kWh 1848 kWh 2772 kWh £474 £277 £751 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,849
6 kW 5545 kWh 2218 kWh 3327 kWh £569 £333 £901 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,819
7 kW 6469 kWh 2587 kWh 3881 kWh £663 £388 £1,052 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,789
8 kW 7393 kWh 2957 kWh 4436 kWh £758 £444 £1,202 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,759

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: £896, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1848 kWh 1109 kWh 739 kWh £284 £74 £358 £6,169 17.2 yrs £996
3 kW 2772 kWh 1663 kWh 1109 kWh £426 £111 £537 £8,204 15.3 yrs £2,544
4 kW 3696 kWh 2218 kWh 1479 kWh £569 £148 £717 £10,238 14.3 yrs £4,092
5 kW 4620 kWh 2772 kWh 1848 kWh £711 £185 £896 £12,273 13.7 yrs £5,640
6 kW 5545 kWh 3327 kWh 2218 kWh £853 £222 £1,075 £14,307 13.3 yrs £7,188
7 kW 6469 kWh 3881 kWh 2587 kWh £995 £259 £1,254 £16,342 13.0 yrs £8,736
8 kW 7393 kWh 4436 kWh 2957 kWh £1,137 £296 £1,433 £18,376 12.8 yrs £10,284

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: £968, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1848 kWh 1294 kWh 554 kWh £332 £55 £387 £7,569 19.6 yrs £174
3 kW 2772 kWh 1941 kWh 832 kWh £498 £83 £581 £9,604 16.5 yrs £2,011
4 kW 3696 kWh 2587 kWh 1109 kWh £663 £111 £774 £11,638 15.0 yrs £3,848
5 kW 4620 kWh 3234 kWh 1386 kWh £829 £139 £968 £13,673 14.1 yrs £5,685
6 kW 5545 kWh 3881 kWh 1663 kWh £995 £166 £1,161 £15,707 13.5 yrs £7,522
7 kW 6469 kWh 4528 kWh 1941 kWh £1,161 £194 £1,355 £17,742 13.1 yrs £9,359
8 kW 7393 kWh 5175 kWh 2218 kWh £1,327 £222 £1,549 £19,776 12.8 yrs £11,196

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: £990, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1848 kWh 1349 kWh 499 kWh £346 £50 £396 £9,319 23.5 yrs £-1,402
3 kW 2772 kWh 2024 kWh 749 kWh £519 £75 £594 £11,354 19.1 yrs £521
4 kW 3696 kWh 2698 kWh 998 kWh £692 £100 £792 £13,388 16.9 yrs £2,445
5 kW 4620 kWh 3373 kWh 1248 kWh £865 £125 £990 £15,423 15.6 yrs £4,369
6 kW 5545 kWh 4048 kWh 1497 kWh £1,038 £150 £1,187 £17,457 14.7 yrs £6,293
7 kW 6469 kWh 4722 kWh 1747 kWh £1,211 £175 £1,385 £19,492 14.1 yrs £8,216
8 kW 7393 kWh 5397 kWh 1996 kWh £1,384 £200 £1,583 £21,526 13.6 yrs £10,140

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: £1,004, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1848 kWh 1386 kWh 462 kWh £355 £46 £402 £11,069 27.6 yrs £-3,037
3 kW 2772 kWh 2079 kWh 693 kWh £533 £69 £602 £13,104 21.8 yrs £-1,055
4 kW 3696 kWh 2772 kWh 924 kWh £711 £92 £803 £15,138 18.8 yrs £926
5 kW 4620 kWh 3465 kWh 1155 kWh £889 £116 £1,004 £17,173 17.1 yrs £2,908
6 kW 5545 kWh 4158 kWh 1386 kWh £1,066 £139 £1,205 £19,207 15.9 yrs £4,890
7 kW 6469 kWh 4851 kWh 1617 kWh £1,244 £162 £1,406 £21,242 15.1 yrs £6,871
8 kW 7393 kWh 5545 kWh 1848 kWh £1,422 £185 £1,606 £23,276 14.5 yrs £8,853

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: £1,018, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1848 kWh 1423 kWh 425 kWh £365 £43 £407 £13,519 33.2 yrs £-5,371
3 kW 2772 kWh 2135 kWh 638 kWh £547 £64 £611 £15,554 25.5 yrs £-3,332
4 kW 3696 kWh 2846 kWh 850 kWh £730 £85 £815 £17,588 21.6 yrs £-1,292
5 kW 4620 kWh 3558 kWh 1063 kWh £912 £106 £1,018 £19,623 19.3 yrs £747
6 kW 5545 kWh 4269 kWh 1275 kWh £1,095 £128 £1,222 £21,657 17.7 yrs £2,786
7 kW 6469 kWh 4981 kWh 1488 kWh £1,277 £149 £1,426 £23,692 16.6 yrs £4,826
8 kW 7393 kWh 5692 kWh 1700 kWh £1,460 £170 £1,630 £25,726 15.8 yrs £6,865

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 DY5

Figures below are tailored to DY5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1955 of 2182
4.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2108 of 2997
11.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£688 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2563 of 2997
28.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£193 fixed • ~£688 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.64p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.00p/day
Local Sunshine
924kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~924 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 67% • Flats: 24% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 12,455 properties

Coverage

Dudley (100%)

Areas Covered

Brierley Hill & Wordsley South, Brockmoor & Pensnett, Quarry Bank & Dudley Wood, Amblecote, Lye & Stourbridge North, Netherton & Holly Hall, Gornal, Wordsley North

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 Midlands

DY2 (Dudley)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DY5
DY8 (Dudley)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~924 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DY5
DY6 (Dudley)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DY5
B64 (Sandwell)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DY5
DY9 (Dudley)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~945 kWh/kWp · +2% vs DY5
DY1 (Dudley)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~929 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DY5

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL16 (Denbighshire)
~924 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DY5
TS18 (Stockton-on-Tees)
~924 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DY5
BT16 (Lisburn and Castlereagh)
~924 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DY5