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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in L33 (Knowsley)

See if solar pays off for you in Knowsley — 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
12.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£630
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,621
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 North Wales and Mersey, the current unit rate is 27.72p/kWh with a 69.95p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 922 kWh/kW — 8 below the regional median (930).

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 922 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.7p/kWh
Standing charge
70.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
922 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: £788, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1844 kWh 738 kWh 1107 kWh £205 £111 £315 £4,069 12.9 yrs £2,234
3 kW 2767 kWh 1107 kWh 1660 kWh £307 £166 £473 £6,104 12.9 yrs £3,352
4 kW 3689 kWh 1476 kWh 2213 kWh £409 £221 £630 £8,138 12.9 yrs £4,469
5 kW 4611 kWh 1844 kWh 2767 kWh £511 £277 £788 £10,173 12.9 yrs £5,586
6 kW 5533 kWh 2213 kWh 3320 kWh £614 £332 £946 £12,207 12.9 yrs £6,703
7 kW 6455 kWh 2582 kWh 3873 kWh £716 £387 £1,103 £14,242 12.9 yrs £7,821
8 kW 7378 kWh 2951 kWh 4427 kWh £818 £443 £1,261 £16,276 12.9 yrs £8,938

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: £951, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1844 kWh 1107 kWh 738 kWh £307 £74 £381 £6,169 16.2 yrs £1,442
3 kW 2767 kWh 1660 kWh 1107 kWh £460 £111 £571 £8,204 14.4 yrs £3,213
4 kW 3689 kWh 2213 kWh 1476 kWh £614 £148 £761 £10,238 13.5 yrs £4,984
5 kW 4611 kWh 2767 kWh 1844 kWh £767 £184 £951 £12,273 12.9 yrs £6,754
6 kW 5533 kWh 3320 kWh 2213 kWh £920 £221 £1,142 £14,307 12.5 yrs £8,525
7 kW 6455 kWh 3873 kWh 2582 kWh £1,074 £258 £1,332 £16,342 12.3 yrs £10,296
8 kW 7378 kWh 4427 kWh 2951 kWh £1,227 £295 £1,522 £18,376 12.1 yrs £12,067

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 1844 kWh 1291 kWh 553 kWh £358 £55 £413 £7,569 18.3 yrs £695
3 kW 2767 kWh 1937 kWh 830 kWh £537 £83 £620 £9,604 15.5 yrs £2,793
4 kW 3689 kWh 2582 kWh 1107 kWh £716 £111 £826 £11,638 14.1 yrs £4,891
5 kW 4611 kWh 3228 kWh 1383 kWh £895 £138 £1,033 £13,673 13.2 yrs £6,989
6 kW 5533 kWh 3873 kWh 1660 kWh £1,074 £166 £1,240 £15,707 12.7 yrs £9,086
7 kW 6455 kWh 4519 kWh 1937 kWh £1,253 £194 £1,446 £17,742 12.3 yrs £11,184
8 kW 7378 kWh 5164 kWh 2213 kWh £1,432 £221 £1,653 £19,776 12.0 yrs £13,282

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: £1,058, 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 1844 kWh 1346 kWh 498 kWh £373 £50 £423 £9,319 22.0 yrs £-858
3 kW 2767 kWh 2020 kWh 747 kWh £560 £75 £635 £11,354 17.9 yrs £1,337
4 kW 3689 kWh 2693 kWh 996 kWh £746 £100 £846 £13,388 15.8 yrs £3,533
5 kW 4611 kWh 3366 kWh 1245 kWh £933 £124 £1,058 £15,423 14.6 yrs £5,729
6 kW 5533 kWh 4039 kWh 1494 kWh £1,120 £149 £1,269 £17,457 13.8 yrs £7,925
7 kW 6455 kWh 4712 kWh 1743 kWh £1,306 £174 £1,481 £19,492 13.2 yrs £10,120
8 kW 7378 kWh 5386 kWh 1992 kWh £1,493 £199 £1,692 £21,526 12.7 yrs £12,316

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: £1,074, 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 1844 kWh 1383 kWh 461 kWh £383 £46 £430 £11,069 25.8 yrs £-2,478
3 kW 2767 kWh 2075 kWh 692 kWh £575 £69 £644 £13,104 20.3 yrs £-217
4 kW 3689 kWh 2767 kWh 922 kWh £767 £92 £859 £15,138 17.6 yrs £2,045
5 kW 4611 kWh 3458 kWh 1153 kWh £959 £115 £1,074 £17,173 16.0 yrs £4,306
6 kW 5533 kWh 4150 kWh 1383 kWh £1,150 £138 £1,289 £19,207 14.9 yrs £6,567
7 kW 6455 kWh 4842 kWh 1614 kWh £1,342 £161 £1,503 £21,242 14.1 yrs £8,828
8 kW 7378 kWh 5533 kWh 1844 kWh £1,534 £184 £1,718 £23,276 13.5 yrs £11,089

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: £1,090, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1844 kWh 1420 kWh 424 kWh £394 £42 £436 £13,519 31.0 yrs £-4,797
3 kW 2767 kWh 2130 kWh 636 kWh £591 £64 £654 £15,554 23.8 yrs £-2,470
4 kW 3689 kWh 2840 kWh 848 kWh £787 £85 £872 £17,588 20.2 yrs £-144
5 kW 4611 kWh 3551 kWh 1061 kWh £984 £106 £1,090 £19,623 18.0 yrs £2,183
6 kW 5533 kWh 4261 kWh 1273 kWh £1,181 £127 £1,308 £21,657 16.6 yrs £4,509
7 kW 6455 kWh 4971 kWh 1485 kWh £1,378 £148 £1,526 £23,692 15.5 yrs £6,836
8 kW 7378 kWh 5681 kWh 1697 kWh £1,575 £170 £1,744 £25,726 14.7 yrs £9,162

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 L33

Figures below are tailored to L33 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1615 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1536 of 2997
11.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£728 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2861 of 2997
35.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£255 fixed • ~£728 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.72p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
69.95p/day
Local Sunshine
922kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~922 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: 82% • Flats: 14% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 5,965 properties

Coverage

Knowsley (97%)|West Lancashire (2%)

Areas Covered

Northwood, Shevington, Whitefield, Rural South, Molyneux

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 North Wales and Mersey

L32 (Knowsley)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~922 kWh/kWp · +0% vs L33
L10 (Sefton)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~931 kWh/kWp · +1% vs L33
L31 (Sefton)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~938 kWh/kWp · +2% vs L33
L11 (Liverpool)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~922 kWh/kWp · -0% vs L33
L9 (Liverpool)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~944 kWh/kWp · +2% vs L33
L72 (Sefton)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~953 kWh/kWp · +3% vs L33

Similar sunshine across the UK

NE8 (Gateshead)
~922 kWh/kWp · +0% vs L33
NP23 (Blaenau Gwent)
~922 kWh/kWp · +0% vs L33
LS1 (Leeds)
~922 kWh/kWp · -0% vs L33