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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in LA2 (Lancaster)

See if solar pays off for you in Lancaster — 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
13.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£896
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,201
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 887 kWh/kW — 17 above the regional median (870).

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 887 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)
887 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: £747, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1774 kWh 710 kWh 1064 kWh £192 £106 £299 £4,069 13.6 yrs £1,907
3 kW 2661 kWh 1064 kWh 1596 kWh £289 £160 £448 £6,104 13.6 yrs £2,860
4 kW 3548 kWh 1419 kWh 2129 kWh £385 £213 £598 £8,138 13.6 yrs £3,813
5 kW 4434 kWh 1774 kWh 2661 kWh £481 £266 £747 £10,173 13.6 yrs £4,766
6 kW 5321 kWh 2129 kWh 3193 kWh £577 £319 £896 £12,207 13.6 yrs £5,720
7 kW 6208 kWh 2483 kWh 3725 kWh £673 £372 £1,046 £14,242 13.6 yrs £6,673
8 kW 7095 kWh 2838 kWh 4257 kWh £769 £426 £1,195 £16,276 13.6 yrs £7,626

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: £899, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1774 kWh 1064 kWh 710 kWh £289 £71 £359 £6,169 17.2 yrs £1,021
3 kW 2661 kWh 1596 kWh 1064 kWh £433 £106 £539 £8,204 15.2 yrs £2,581
4 kW 3548 kWh 2129 kWh 1419 kWh £577 £142 £719 £10,238 14.2 yrs £4,141
5 kW 4434 kWh 2661 kWh 1774 kWh £721 £177 £899 £12,273 13.7 yrs £5,701
6 kW 5321 kWh 3193 kWh 2129 kWh £866 £213 £1,078 £14,307 13.3 yrs £7,262
7 kW 6208 kWh 3725 kWh 2483 kWh £1,010 £248 £1,258 £16,342 13.0 yrs £8,822
8 kW 7095 kWh 4257 kWh 2838 kWh £1,154 £284 £1,438 £18,376 12.8 yrs £10,382

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: £975, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1774 kWh 1242 kWh 532 kWh £337 £53 £390 £7,569 19.4 yrs £228
3 kW 2661 kWh 1862 kWh 798 kWh £505 £80 £585 £9,604 16.4 yrs £2,091
4 kW 3548 kWh 2483 kWh 1064 kWh £673 £106 £780 £11,638 14.9 yrs £3,955
5 kW 4434 kWh 3104 kWh 1330 kWh £842 £133 £975 £13,673 14.0 yrs £5,819
6 kW 5321 kWh 3725 kWh 1596 kWh £1,010 £160 £1,169 £15,707 13.4 yrs £7,683
7 kW 6208 kWh 4346 kWh 1862 kWh £1,178 £186 £1,364 £17,742 13.0 yrs £9,546
8 kW 7095 kWh 4967 kWh 2129 kWh £1,346 £213 £1,559 £19,776 12.7 yrs £11,410

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: £997, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1774 kWh 1295 kWh 479 kWh £351 £48 £399 £9,319 23.4 yrs £-1,340
3 kW 2661 kWh 1942 kWh 718 kWh £527 £72 £598 £11,354 19.0 yrs £614
4 kW 3548 kWh 2590 kWh 958 kWh £702 £96 £798 £13,388 16.8 yrs £2,569
5 kW 4434 kWh 3237 kWh 1197 kWh £878 £120 £997 £15,423 15.5 yrs £4,524
6 kW 5321 kWh 3885 kWh 1437 kWh £1,053 £144 £1,197 £17,457 14.6 yrs £6,479
7 kW 6208 kWh 4532 kWh 1676 kWh £1,229 £168 £1,396 £19,492 14.0 yrs £8,434
8 kW 7095 kWh 5179 kWh 1916 kWh £1,404 £192 £1,596 £21,526 13.5 yrs £10,389

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: £1,013, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1774 kWh 1330 kWh 443 kWh £361 £44 £405 £11,069 27.3 yrs £-2,969
3 kW 2661 kWh 1996 kWh 665 kWh £541 £67 £608 £13,104 21.6 yrs £-953
4 kW 3548 kWh 2661 kWh 887 kWh £721 £89 £810 £15,138 18.7 yrs £1,062
5 kW 4434 kWh 3326 kWh 1109 kWh £902 £111 £1,013 £17,173 17.0 yrs £3,078
6 kW 5321 kWh 3991 kWh 1330 kWh £1,082 £133 £1,215 £19,207 15.8 yrs £5,093
7 kW 6208 kWh 4656 kWh 1552 kWh £1,262 £155 £1,418 £21,242 15.0 yrs £7,109
8 kW 7095 kWh 5321 kWh 1774 kWh £1,443 £177 £1,620 £23,276 14.4 yrs £9,124

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: £1,028, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1774 kWh 1366 kWh 408 kWh £370 £41 £411 £13,519 32.9 yrs £-5,298
3 kW 2661 kWh 2049 kWh 612 kWh £555 £61 £617 £15,554 25.2 yrs £-3,221
4 kW 3548 kWh 2732 kWh 816 kWh £741 £82 £822 £17,588 21.4 yrs £-1,145
5 kW 4434 kWh 3415 kWh 1020 kWh £926 £102 £1,028 £19,623 19.1 yrs £931
6 kW 5321 kWh 4097 kWh 1224 kWh £1,111 £122 £1,233 £21,657 17.6 yrs £3,007
7 kW 6208 kWh 4780 kWh 1428 kWh £1,296 £143 £1,439 £23,692 16.5 yrs £5,084
8 kW 7095 kWh 5463 kWh 1632 kWh £1,481 £163 £1,644 £25,726 15.6 yrs £7,160

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 LA2

Figures below are tailored to LA2 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #122 of 2182
6.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~14 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2115 of 2997
11.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,033 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1034 of 2997
18.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£1,033 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
887kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~887 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: 74% • Flats: 7% • Bungalows: 18% Based on 5,289 properties

Coverage

Lancaster (73%)|North Yorkshire (25%)|Wyre (1%)

Areas Covered

Bentham & Ingleton, Ellel, Lower Lune Valley, Bolton & Slyne, Halton-with-Aughton & Kellet, Upper Lune Valley, Castle, Wyresdale + 4 more

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

LA1 (Lancaster)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~888 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LA2
LA5 (Lancaster)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~901 kWh/kWp · +2% vs LA2
LA4 (Lancaster)
≈8.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~917 kWh/kWp · +3% vs LA2
LA3 (Lancaster)
≈10.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~917 kWh/kWp · +3% vs LA2
LA6 (Westmorland and Furness)
≈13.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LA2
LA7 (Westmorland and Furness)
≈16.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~896 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LA2

Similar sunshine across the UK

KY6 (Fife)
~887 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LA2
BT17 (Belfast)
~886 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LA2
EH25 (Midlothian)
~886 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LA2