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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in LA12 (Westmorland and Furness)

See if solar pays off for you in Westmorland and Furness — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

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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
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£798
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,790
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 West, the current unit rate is 27.11p/kWh with a 51.16p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 948 kWh/kW — 78 above the regional median (870).

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 948 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
51.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
948 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: £798, 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 1896 kWh 758 kWh 1138 kWh £206 £114 £319 £4,069 12.7 yrs £2,319
3 kW 2844 kWh 1138 kWh 1707 kWh £308 £171 £479 £6,104 12.7 yrs £3,478
4 kW 3792 kWh 1517 kWh 2275 kWh £411 £228 £639 £8,138 12.7 yrs £4,638
5 kW 4741 kWh 1896 kWh 2844 kWh £514 £284 £798 £10,173 12.7 yrs £5,797
6 kW 5689 kWh 2275 kWh 3413 kWh £617 £341 £958 £12,207 12.7 yrs £6,957
7 kW 6637 kWh 2655 kWh 3982 kWh £720 £398 £1,118 £14,242 12.7 yrs £8,116
8 kW 7585 kWh 3034 kWh 4551 kWh £823 £455 £1,278 £16,276 12.7 yrs £9,276

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: £961, 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 1896 kWh 1138 kWh 758 kWh £308 £76 £384 £6,169 16.1 yrs £1,517
3 kW 2844 kWh 1707 kWh 1138 kWh £463 £114 £576 £8,204 14.2 yrs £3,325
4 kW 3792 kWh 2275 kWh 1517 kWh £617 £152 £769 £10,238 13.3 yrs £5,133
5 kW 4741 kWh 2844 kWh 1896 kWh £771 £190 £961 £12,273 12.8 yrs £6,942
6 kW 5689 kWh 3413 kWh 2275 kWh £925 £228 £1,153 £14,307 12.4 yrs £8,750
7 kW 6637 kWh 3982 kWh 2655 kWh £1,080 £265 £1,345 £16,342 12.1 yrs £10,559
8 kW 7585 kWh 4551 kWh 3034 kWh £1,234 £303 £1,537 £18,376 12.0 yrs £12,367

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: £1,042, 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 1896 kWh 1327 kWh 569 kWh £360 £57 £417 £7,569 18.2 yrs £766
3 kW 2844 kWh 1991 kWh 853 kWh £540 £85 £625 £9,604 15.4 yrs £2,898
4 kW 3792 kWh 2655 kWh 1138 kWh £720 £114 £833 £11,638 14.0 yrs £5,031
5 kW 4741 kWh 3318 kWh 1422 kWh £900 £142 £1,042 £13,673 13.1 yrs £7,164
6 kW 5689 kWh 3982 kWh 1707 kWh £1,080 £171 £1,250 £15,707 12.6 yrs £9,297
7 kW 6637 kWh 4646 kWh 1991 kWh £1,259 £199 £1,459 £17,742 12.2 yrs £11,430
8 kW 7585 kWh 5309 kWh 2275 kWh £1,439 £228 £1,667 £19,776 11.9 yrs £13,563

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: £1,066, 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 1896 kWh 1384 kWh 512 kWh £375 £51 £426 £9,319 21.9 yrs £-790
3 kW 2844 kWh 2076 kWh 768 kWh £563 £77 £640 £11,354 17.7 yrs £1,440
4 kW 3792 kWh 2768 kWh 1024 kWh £751 £102 £853 £13,388 15.7 yrs £3,671
5 kW 4741 kWh 3461 kWh 1280 kWh £938 £128 £1,066 £15,423 14.5 yrs £5,901
6 kW 5689 kWh 4153 kWh 1536 kWh £1,126 £154 £1,279 £17,457 13.6 yrs £8,131
7 kW 6637 kWh 4845 kWh 1792 kWh £1,313 £179 £1,493 £19,492 13.1 yrs £10,361
8 kW 7585 kWh 5537 kWh 2048 kWh £1,501 £205 £1,706 £21,526 12.6 yrs £12,591

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: £1,082, 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 1896 kWh 1422 kWh 474 kWh £386 £47 £433 £11,069 25.6 yrs £-2,410
3 kW 2844 kWh 2133 kWh 711 kWh £578 £71 £649 £13,104 20.2 yrs £-115
4 kW 3792 kWh 2844 kWh 948 kWh £771 £95 £866 £15,138 17.5 yrs £2,180
5 kW 4741 kWh 3555 kWh 1185 kWh £964 £119 £1,082 £17,173 15.9 yrs £4,475
6 kW 5689 kWh 4266 kWh 1422 kWh £1,157 £142 £1,299 £19,207 14.8 yrs £6,770
7 kW 6637 kWh 4978 kWh 1659 kWh £1,349 £166 £1,515 £21,242 14.0 yrs £9,065
8 kW 7585 kWh 5689 kWh 1896 kWh £1,542 £190 £1,732 £23,276 13.4 yrs £11,360

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 1896 kWh 1460 kWh 436 kWh £396 £44 £439 £13,519 30.8 yrs £-4,730
3 kW 2844 kWh 2190 kWh 654 kWh £594 £65 £659 £15,554 23.6 yrs £-2,370
4 kW 3792 kWh 2920 kWh 872 kWh £792 £87 £879 £17,588 20.0 yrs £-10
5 kW 4741 kWh 3650 kWh 1090 kWh £990 £109 £1,099 £19,623 17.9 yrs £2,350
6 kW 5689 kWh 4380 kWh 1308 kWh £1,187 £131 £1,318 £21,657 16.4 yrs £4,710
7 kW 6637 kWh 5110 kWh 1526 kWh £1,385 £153 £1,538 £23,692 15.4 yrs £7,069
8 kW 7585 kWh 5840 kWh 1745 kWh £1,583 £174 £1,758 £25,726 14.6 yrs £9,429

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 LA12

Figures below are tailored to LA12 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #759 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1397 of 2997
11.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£920 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1477 of 2997
20.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£920 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
948kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~948 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

Houses: 74% • Flats: 12% • Bungalows: 14% Based on 6,455 properties

Coverage

Westmorland and Furness (100%)

Areas Covered

Ulverston, Low Furness, Coniston and Hawkshead, High Furness, Grange and Cartmel, Dalton North

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 West

LA15 (Westmorland and Furness)
≈7.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~976 kWh/kWp · +3% vs LA12
LA17 (Westmorland and Furness)
≈7.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~957 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LA12
LA16 (Westmorland and Furness)
≈7.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~987 kWh/kWp · +4% vs LA12
LA13 (Westmorland and Furness)
≈11.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~981 kWh/kWp · +3% vs LA12
LA11 (Westmorland and Furness)
≈11.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~928 kWh/kWp · -2% vs LA12
LA18 (Cumberland)
≈11.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~967 kWh/kWp · +2% vs LA12

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL73 (Isle of Anglesey)
~948 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LA12
YO14 (North Yorkshire)
~948 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LA12
B48 (Bromsgrove)
~948 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LA12