Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in EX19 (Torridge)

See if solar pays off for you in Torridge — 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
£961
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,827
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

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 958 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.8p/kWh
Standing charge
54.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
958 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: £801, 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 1916 kWh 766 kWh 1149 kWh £206 £115 £320 £4,069 12.7 yrs £2,340
3 kW 2874 kWh 1149 kWh 1724 kWh £308 £172 £481 £6,104 12.7 yrs £3,510
4 kW 3831 kWh 1533 kWh 2299 kWh £411 £230 £641 £8,138 12.7 yrs £4,680
5 kW 4789 kWh 1916 kWh 2874 kWh £514 £287 £801 £10,173 12.7 yrs £5,850
6 kW 5747 kWh 2299 kWh 3448 kWh £617 £345 £961 £12,207 12.7 yrs £7,020
7 kW 6705 kWh 2682 kWh 4023 kWh £719 £402 £1,122 £14,242 12.7 yrs £8,190
8 kW 7663 kWh 3065 kWh 4598 kWh £822 £460 £1,282 £16,276 12.7 yrs £9,360

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: £962, 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 1916 kWh 1149 kWh 766 kWh £308 £77 £385 £6,169 16.0 yrs £1,529
3 kW 2874 kWh 1724 kWh 1149 kWh £462 £115 £577 £8,204 14.2 yrs £3,343
4 kW 3831 kWh 2299 kWh 1533 kWh £617 £153 £770 £10,238 13.3 yrs £5,158
5 kW 4789 kWh 2874 kWh 1916 kWh £771 £192 £962 £12,273 12.8 yrs £6,972
6 kW 5747 kWh 3448 kWh 2299 kWh £925 £230 £1,155 £14,307 12.4 yrs £8,787
7 kW 6705 kWh 4023 kWh 2682 kWh £1,079 £268 £1,347 £16,342 12.1 yrs £10,601
8 kW 7663 kWh 4598 kWh 3065 kWh £1,233 £307 £1,540 £18,376 11.9 yrs £12,416

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: £1,043, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1916 kWh 1341 kWh 575 kWh £360 £57 £417 £7,569 18.1 yrs £773
3 kW 2874 kWh 2011 kWh 862 kWh £539 £86 £626 £9,604 15.3 yrs £2,910
4 kW 3831 kWh 2682 kWh 1149 kWh £719 £115 £834 £11,638 14.0 yrs £5,047
5 kW 4789 kWh 3352 kWh 1437 kWh £899 £144 £1,043 £13,673 13.1 yrs £7,183
6 kW 5747 kWh 4023 kWh 1724 kWh £1,079 £172 £1,251 £15,707 12.6 yrs £9,320
7 kW 6705 kWh 4693 kWh 2011 kWh £1,259 £201 £1,460 £17,742 12.2 yrs £11,457
8 kW 7663 kWh 5364 kWh 2299 kWh £1,439 £230 £1,668 £19,776 11.9 yrs £13,594

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: £1,067, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1916 kWh 1398 kWh 517 kWh £375 £52 £427 £9,319 21.8 yrs £-783
3 kW 2874 kWh 2098 kWh 776 kWh £563 £78 £640 £11,354 17.7 yrs £1,450
4 kW 3831 kWh 2797 kWh 1034 kWh £750 £103 £854 £13,388 15.7 yrs £3,683
5 kW 4789 kWh 3496 kWh 1293 kWh £938 £129 £1,067 £15,423 14.5 yrs £5,917
6 kW 5747 kWh 4195 kWh 1552 kWh £1,125 £155 £1,280 £17,457 13.6 yrs £8,150
7 kW 6705 kWh 4895 kWh 1810 kWh £1,313 £181 £1,494 £19,492 13.0 yrs £10,383
8 kW 7663 kWh 5594 kWh 2069 kWh £1,500 £207 £1,707 £21,526 12.6 yrs £12,617

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: £1,083, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1916 kWh 1437 kWh 479 kWh £385 £48 £433 £11,069 25.5 yrs £-2,404
3 kW 2874 kWh 2155 kWh 718 kWh £578 £72 £650 £13,104 20.2 yrs £-107
4 kW 3831 kWh 2874 kWh 958 kWh £771 £96 £866 £15,138 17.5 yrs £2,191
5 kW 4789 kWh 3592 kWh 1197 kWh £963 £120 £1,083 £17,173 15.9 yrs £4,489
6 kW 5747 kWh 4310 kWh 1437 kWh £1,156 £144 £1,300 £19,207 14.8 yrs £6,787
7 kW 6705 kWh 5029 kWh 1676 kWh £1,349 £168 £1,516 £21,242 14.0 yrs £9,085
8 kW 7663 kWh 5747 kWh 1916 kWh £1,541 £192 £1,733 £23,276 13.4 yrs £11,382

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: £1,099, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1916 kWh 1475 kWh 441 kWh £396 £44 £440 £13,519 30.7 yrs £-4,726
3 kW 2874 kWh 2213 kWh 661 kWh £593 £66 £660 £15,554 23.6 yrs £-2,363
4 kW 3831 kWh 2950 kWh 881 kWh £791 £88 £879 £17,588 20.0 yrs £-1
5 kW 4789 kWh 3688 kWh 1102 kWh £989 £110 £1,099 £19,623 17.9 yrs £2,361
6 kW 5747 kWh 4425 kWh 1322 kWh £1,187 £132 £1,319 £21,657 16.4 yrs £4,723
7 kW 6705 kWh 5163 kWh 1542 kWh £1,385 £154 £1,539 £23,692 15.4 yrs £7,086
8 kW 7663 kWh 5900 kWh 1762 kWh £1,582 £176 £1,759 £25,726 14.6 yrs £9,448

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
958kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~958 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 67% • Flats: 2% • Bungalows: 30% Based on 1,147 properties

Coverage

Torridge (80%)|West Devon (20%)

Areas Covered

Two Rivers & Three Moors, Winkleigh, Exbourne, Hatherleigh

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.