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

Solar Panels in IP25 (Breckland)

See if solar pays off for you in Breckland — 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
12.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£999
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,759
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 1002 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
48.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1002 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: £832, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2004 kWh 802 kWh 1202 kWh £213 £120 £333 £4,069 12.2 yrs £2,588
3 kW 3006 kWh 1202 kWh 1803 kWh £319 £180 £499 £6,104 12.2 yrs £3,883
4 kW 4008 kWh 1603 kWh 2405 kWh £425 £240 £666 £8,138 12.2 yrs £5,177
5 kW 5010 kWh 2004 kWh 3006 kWh £532 £301 £832 £10,173 12.2 yrs £6,471
6 kW 6011 kWh 2405 kWh 3607 kWh £638 £361 £999 £12,207 12.2 yrs £7,765
7 kW 7013 kWh 2805 kWh 4208 kWh £744 £421 £1,165 £14,242 12.2 yrs £9,060
8 kW 8015 kWh 3206 kWh 4809 kWh £851 £481 £1,331 £16,276 12.2 yrs £10,354

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: £998, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2004 kWh 1202 kWh 802 kWh £319 £80 £399 £6,169 15.5 yrs £1,813
3 kW 3006 kWh 1803 kWh 1202 kWh £478 £120 £599 £8,204 13.7 yrs £3,770
4 kW 4008 kWh 2405 kWh 1603 kWh £638 £160 £798 £10,238 12.8 yrs £5,727
5 kW 5010 kWh 3006 kWh 2004 kWh £797 £200 £998 £12,273 12.3 yrs £7,683
6 kW 6011 kWh 3607 kWh 2405 kWh £957 £240 £1,197 £14,307 11.9 yrs £9,640
7 kW 7013 kWh 4208 kWh 2805 kWh £1,116 £281 £1,397 £16,342 11.7 yrs £11,597
8 kW 8015 kWh 4809 kWh 3206 kWh £1,276 £321 £1,596 £18,376 11.5 yrs £13,554

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: £1,081, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2004 kWh 1403 kWh 601 kWh £372 £60 £432 £7,569 17.5 yrs £1,076
3 kW 3006 kWh 2104 kWh 902 kWh £558 £90 £648 £9,604 14.8 yrs £3,364
4 kW 4008 kWh 2805 kWh 1202 kWh £744 £120 £864 £11,638 13.5 yrs £5,652
5 kW 5010 kWh 3507 kWh 1503 kWh £930 £150 £1,081 £13,673 12.7 yrs £7,940
6 kW 6011 kWh 4208 kWh 1803 kWh £1,116 £180 £1,297 £15,707 12.1 yrs £10,228
7 kW 7013 kWh 4909 kWh 2104 kWh £1,302 £210 £1,513 £17,742 11.7 yrs £12,516
8 kW 8015 kWh 5611 kWh 2405 kWh £1,489 £240 £1,729 £19,776 11.4 yrs £14,803

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: £1,105, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2004 kWh 1463 kWh 541 kWh £388 £54 £442 £9,319 21.1 yrs £-475
3 kW 3006 kWh 2194 kWh 812 kWh £582 £81 £663 £11,354 17.1 yrs £1,912
4 kW 4008 kWh 2926 kWh 1082 kWh £776 £108 £884 £13,388 15.1 yrs £4,299
5 kW 5010 kWh 3657 kWh 1353 kWh £970 £135 £1,105 £15,423 14.0 yrs £6,686
6 kW 6011 kWh 4388 kWh 1623 kWh £1,164 £162 £1,327 £17,457 13.2 yrs £9,074
7 kW 7013 kWh 5120 kWh 1894 kWh £1,358 £189 £1,548 £19,492 12.6 yrs £11,461
8 kW 8015 kWh 5851 kWh 2164 kWh £1,552 £216 £1,769 £21,526 12.2 yrs £13,848

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: £1,122, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2004 kWh 1503 kWh 501 kWh £399 £50 £449 £11,069 24.7 yrs £-2,093
3 kW 3006 kWh 2254 kWh 751 kWh £598 £75 £673 £13,104 19.5 yrs £361
4 kW 4008 kWh 3006 kWh 1002 kWh £797 £100 £898 £15,138 16.9 yrs £2,814
5 kW 5010 kWh 3757 kWh 1252 kWh £997 £125 £1,122 £17,173 15.3 yrs £5,268
6 kW 6011 kWh 4509 kWh 1503 kWh £1,196 £150 £1,346 £19,207 14.3 yrs £7,721
7 kW 7013 kWh 5260 kWh 1753 kWh £1,395 £175 £1,571 £21,242 13.5 yrs £10,175
8 kW 8015 kWh 6011 kWh 2004 kWh £1,595 £200 £1,795 £23,276 13.0 yrs £12,628

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: £1,139, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2004 kWh 1543 kWh 461 kWh £409 £46 £455 £13,519 29.7 yrs £-4,410
3 kW 3006 kWh 2314 kWh 691 kWh £614 £69 £683 £15,554 22.8 yrs £-1,891
4 kW 4008 kWh 3086 kWh 922 kWh £819 £92 £911 £17,588 19.3 yrs £629
5 kW 5010 kWh 3857 kWh 1152 kWh £1,023 £115 £1,139 £19,623 17.2 yrs £3,149
6 kW 6011 kWh 4629 kWh 1383 kWh £1,228 £138 £1,366 £21,657 15.9 yrs £5,669
7 kW 7013 kWh 5400 kWh 1613 kWh £1,433 £161 £1,594 £23,692 14.9 yrs £8,189
8 kW 8015 kWh 6172 kWh 1844 kWh £1,637 £184 £1,822 £25,726 14.1 yrs £10,708

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
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1002kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1002 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: 62% • Flats: 8% • Bungalows: 29% Based on 6,061 properties

Coverage

Breckland (100%)

Areas Covered

Watton, Saham Toney, Shipdham-with-Scarning, Ashill, All Saints & Wayland, Thetford Castle, Necton

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.