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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in EC3V (City of London)

See if solar pays off for you in City of London — 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
12.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£962
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,843
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 London, the current unit rate is 25.63p/kWh with a 46.06p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 987 kWh/kW — 4 below the regional median (991).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 987 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
46.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
987 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: £802, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1973 kWh 789 kWh 1184 kWh £202 £118 £321 £4,069 12.7 yrs £2,344
3 kW 2960 kWh 1184 kWh 1776 kWh £303 £178 £481 £6,104 12.7 yrs £3,517
4 kW 3946 kWh 1578 kWh 2368 kWh £405 £237 £641 £8,138 12.7 yrs £4,689
5 kW 4933 kWh 1973 kWh 2960 kWh £506 £296 £802 £10,173 12.7 yrs £5,861
6 kW 5919 kWh 2368 kWh 3552 kWh £607 £355 £962 £12,207 12.7 yrs £7,033
7 kW 6906 kWh 2762 kWh 4144 kWh £708 £414 £1,122 £14,242 12.7 yrs £8,205
8 kW 7892 kWh 3157 kWh 4735 kWh £809 £474 £1,283 £16,276 12.7 yrs £9,378

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: £956, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1973 kWh 1184 kWh 789 kWh £303 £79 £382 £6,169 16.1 yrs £1,478
3 kW 2960 kWh 1776 kWh 1184 kWh £455 £118 £574 £8,204 14.3 yrs £3,267
4 kW 3946 kWh 2368 kWh 1578 kWh £607 £158 £765 £10,238 13.4 yrs £5,056
5 kW 4933 kWh 2960 kWh 1973 kWh £759 £197 £956 £12,273 12.8 yrs £6,845
6 kW 5919 kWh 3552 kWh 2368 kWh £910 £237 £1,147 £14,307 12.5 yrs £8,634
7 kW 6906 kWh 4144 kWh 2762 kWh £1,062 £276 £1,338 £16,342 12.2 yrs £10,423
8 kW 7892 kWh 4735 kWh 3157 kWh £1,214 £316 £1,529 £18,376 12.0 yrs £12,212

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: £1,033, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1973 kWh 1381 kWh 592 kWh £354 £59 £413 £7,569 18.3 yrs £695
3 kW 2960 kWh 2072 kWh 888 kWh £531 £89 £620 £9,604 15.5 yrs £2,792
4 kW 3946 kWh 2762 kWh 1184 kWh £708 £118 £826 £11,638 14.1 yrs £4,890
5 kW 4933 kWh 3453 kWh 1480 kWh £885 £148 £1,033 £13,673 13.2 yrs £6,987
6 kW 5919 kWh 4144 kWh 1776 kWh £1,062 £178 £1,240 £15,707 12.7 yrs £9,084
7 kW 6906 kWh 4834 kWh 2072 kWh £1,239 £207 £1,446 £17,742 12.3 yrs £11,182
8 kW 7892 kWh 5525 kWh 2368 kWh £1,416 £237 £1,653 £19,776 12.0 yrs £13,279

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: £1,056, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1973 kWh 1440 kWh 533 kWh £369 £53 £422 £9,319 22.1 yrs £-870
3 kW 2960 kWh 2161 kWh 799 kWh £554 £80 £634 £11,354 17.9 yrs £1,320
4 kW 3946 kWh 2881 kWh 1065 kWh £738 £107 £845 £13,388 15.8 yrs £3,510
5 kW 4933 kWh 3601 kWh 1332 kWh £923 £133 £1,056 £15,423 14.6 yrs £5,700
6 kW 5919 kWh 4321 kWh 1598 kWh £1,108 £160 £1,267 £17,457 13.8 yrs £7,890
7 kW 6906 kWh 5041 kWh 1865 kWh £1,292 £186 £1,479 £19,492 13.2 yrs £10,079
8 kW 7892 kWh 5762 kWh 2131 kWh £1,477 £213 £1,690 £21,526 12.7 yrs £12,269

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: £1,072, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1973 kWh 1480 kWh 493 kWh £379 £49 £429 £11,069 25.8 yrs £-2,497
3 kW 2960 kWh 2220 kWh 740 kWh £569 £74 £643 £13,104 20.4 yrs £-245
4 kW 3946 kWh 2960 kWh 987 kWh £759 £99 £857 £15,138 17.7 yrs £2,006
5 kW 4933 kWh 3700 kWh 1233 kWh £948 £123 £1,072 £17,173 16.0 yrs £4,258
6 kW 5919 kWh 4440 kWh 1480 kWh £1,138 £148 £1,286 £19,207 14.9 yrs £6,510
7 kW 6906 kWh 5179 kWh 1726 kWh £1,327 £173 £1,500 £21,242 14.2 yrs £8,761
8 kW 7892 kWh 5919 kWh 1973 kWh £1,517 £197 £1,714 £23,276 13.6 yrs £11,013

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: £1,087, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1973 kWh 1519 kWh 454 kWh £389 £45 £435 £13,519 31.1 yrs £-4,823
3 kW 2960 kWh 2279 kWh 681 kWh £584 £68 £652 £15,554 23.8 yrs £-2,510
4 kW 3946 kWh 3039 kWh 908 kWh £779 £91 £870 £17,588 20.2 yrs £-197
5 kW 4933 kWh 3798 kWh 1135 kWh £973 £113 £1,087 £19,623 18.1 yrs £2,116
6 kW 5919 kWh 4558 kWh 1361 kWh £1,168 £136 £1,304 £21,657 16.6 yrs £4,430
7 kW 6906 kWh 5318 kWh 1588 kWh £1,363 £159 £1,522 £23,692 15.6 yrs £6,743
8 kW 7892 kWh 6077 kWh 1815 kWh £1,558 £182 £1,739 £25,726 14.8 yrs £9,056

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 EC3V

Figures below are tailored to EC3V — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #1366 of 2997
11.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,101 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #432 of 2997
15.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£168 fixed • ~£1,101 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.63p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
46.06p/day
Local Sunshine
987kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~987 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For eligible homes in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 0% • Flats: 100% • Bungalows: 0% Based on 12 properties

Coverage

City of London (95%)|Islington (5%)

Areas Covered

Langbourn, Cornhill, Lime Street, Candlewick, Walbrook, Clerkenwell, Bridge, Aldgate

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 London

EC3M (City of London)
≈0.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V
EC2N (City of London)
≈0.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V
EC3B (City of London)
≈0.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V
EC4N (City of London)
≈0.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V
EC3R (City of London)
≈0.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V
EC3A (City of London)
≈0.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V

Similar sunshine across the UK

LA16 (Westmorland and Furness)
~987 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V
LU2 (Luton)
~987 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V
OX1 (Oxford)
~987 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EC3V