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

Solar Panels in IP98 (South Norfolk)

See if solar pays off for you in South Norfolk — 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
12.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£847
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,007
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 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1020 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)
1020 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: £847, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2040 kWh 816 kWh 1224 kWh £216 £122 £339 £4,069 12.0 yrs £2,709
3 kW 3060 kWh 1224 kWh 1836 kWh £325 £184 £508 £6,104 12.0 yrs £4,063
4 kW 4080 kWh 1632 kWh 2448 kWh £433 £245 £678 £8,138 12.0 yrs £5,417
5 kW 5100 kWh 2040 kWh 3060 kWh £541 £306 £847 £10,173 12.0 yrs £6,771
6 kW 6120 kWh 2448 kWh 3672 kWh £649 £367 £1,017 £12,207 12.0 yrs £8,126
7 kW 7140 kWh 2856 kWh 4284 kWh £758 £428 £1,186 £14,242 12.0 yrs £9,480
8 kW 8160 kWh 3264 kWh 4896 kWh £866 £490 £1,356 £16,276 12.0 yrs £10,834

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: £1,016, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2040 kWh 1224 kWh 816 kWh £325 £82 £406 £6,169 15.2 yrs £1,957
3 kW 3060 kWh 1836 kWh 1224 kWh £487 £122 £609 £8,204 13.5 yrs £3,986
4 kW 4080 kWh 2448 kWh 1632 kWh £649 £163 £813 £10,238 12.6 yrs £6,015
5 kW 5100 kWh 3060 kWh 2040 kWh £812 £204 £1,016 £12,273 12.1 yrs £8,043
6 kW 6120 kWh 3672 kWh 2448 kWh £974 £245 £1,219 £14,307 11.7 yrs £10,072
7 kW 7140 kWh 4284 kWh 2856 kWh £1,137 £286 £1,422 £16,342 11.5 yrs £12,101
8 kW 8160 kWh 4896 kWh 3264 kWh £1,299 £326 £1,625 £18,376 11.3 yrs £14,129

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: £1,100, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2040 kWh 1428 kWh 612 kWh £379 £61 £440 £7,569 17.2 yrs £1,232
3 kW 3060 kWh 2142 kWh 918 kWh £568 £92 £660 £9,604 14.5 yrs £3,598
4 kW 4080 kWh 2856 kWh 1224 kWh £758 £122 £880 £11,638 13.2 yrs £5,964
5 kW 5100 kWh 3570 kWh 1530 kWh £947 £153 £1,100 £13,673 12.4 yrs £8,329
6 kW 6120 kWh 4284 kWh 1836 kWh £1,137 £184 £1,320 £15,707 11.9 yrs £10,695
7 kW 7140 kWh 4998 kWh 2142 kWh £1,326 £214 £1,540 £17,742 11.5 yrs £13,061
8 kW 8160 kWh 5712 kWh 2448 kWh £1,515 £245 £1,760 £19,776 11.2 yrs £15,427

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: £1,125, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2040 kWh 1489 kWh 551 kWh £395 £55 £450 £9,319 20.7 yrs £-316
3 kW 3060 kWh 2234 kWh 826 kWh £593 £83 £675 £11,354 16.8 yrs £2,151
4 kW 4080 kWh 2978 kWh 1102 kWh £790 £110 £900 £13,388 14.9 yrs £4,618
5 kW 5100 kWh 3723 kWh 1377 kWh £988 £138 £1,125 £15,423 13.7 yrs £7,085
6 kW 6120 kWh 4468 kWh 1652 kWh £1,185 £165 £1,350 £17,457 12.9 yrs £9,552
7 kW 7140 kWh 5212 kWh 1928 kWh £1,383 £193 £1,576 £19,492 12.4 yrs £12,019
8 kW 8160 kWh 5957 kWh 2203 kWh £1,580 £220 £1,801 £21,526 12.0 yrs £14,486

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: £1,142, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2040 kWh 1530 kWh 510 kWh £406 £51 £457 £11,069 24.2 yrs £-1,931
3 kW 3060 kWh 2295 kWh 765 kWh £609 £76 £685 £13,104 19.1 yrs £603
4 kW 4080 kWh 3060 kWh 1020 kWh £812 £102 £914 £15,138 16.6 yrs £3,138
5 kW 5100 kWh 3825 kWh 1275 kWh £1,015 £127 £1,142 £17,173 15.0 yrs £5,672
6 kW 6120 kWh 4590 kWh 1530 kWh £1,218 £153 £1,371 £19,207 14.0 yrs £8,207
7 kW 7140 kWh 5355 kWh 1785 kWh £1,421 £178 £1,599 £21,242 13.3 yrs £10,741
8 kW 8160 kWh 6120 kWh 2040 kWh £1,624 £204 £1,828 £23,276 12.7 yrs £13,276

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: £1,159, Upfront: £19,623, 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 2040 kWh 1571 kWh 469 kWh £417 £47 £464 £13,519 29.2 yrs £-4,246
3 kW 3060 kWh 2356 kWh 704 kWh £625 £70 £695 £15,554 22.4 yrs £-1,644
4 kW 4080 kWh 3142 kWh 938 kWh £833 £94 £927 £17,588 19.0 yrs £958
5 kW 5100 kWh 3927 kWh 1173 kWh £1,042 £117 £1,159 £19,623 16.9 yrs £3,560
6 kW 6120 kWh 4712 kWh 1408 kWh £1,250 £141 £1,391 £21,657 15.6 yrs £6,162
7 kW 7140 kWh 5498 kWh 1642 kWh £1,459 £164 £1,623 £23,692 14.6 yrs £8,764
8 kW 8160 kWh 6283 kWh 1877 kWh £1,667 £188 £1,855 £25,726 13.9 yrs £11,365

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
1020kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1020 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

South Norfolk (100%)

Areas Covered

Diss & Roydon

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.