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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in LE4 (Leicester)

See if solar pays off for you in Leicester — 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
13.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£618
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,309
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 East Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.55p/kWh with a 49.09p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 952 kWh/kW — 16 below the regional median (968).

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 952 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
49.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
952 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: £772, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1905 kWh 762 kWh 1143 kWh £195 £114 £309 £4,069 13.2 yrs £2,110
3 kW 2857 kWh 1143 kWh 1714 kWh £292 £171 £463 £6,104 13.2 yrs £3,165
4 kW 3809 kWh 1524 kWh 2286 kWh £389 £229 £618 £8,138 13.2 yrs £4,220
5 kW 4762 kWh 1905 kWh 2857 kWh £487 £286 £772 £10,173 13.2 yrs £5,275
6 kW 5714 kWh 2286 kWh 3429 kWh £584 £343 £927 £12,207 13.2 yrs £6,330
7 kW 6667 kWh 2667 kWh 4000 kWh £681 £400 £1,081 £14,242 13.2 yrs £7,385
8 kW 7619 kWh 3048 kWh 4571 kWh £779 £457 £1,236 £16,276 13.2 yrs £8,440

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: £920, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1905 kWh 1143 kWh 762 kWh £292 £76 £368 £6,169 16.8 yrs £1,195
3 kW 2857 kWh 1714 kWh 1143 kWh £438 £114 £552 £8,204 14.9 yrs £2,842
4 kW 3809 kWh 2286 kWh 1524 kWh £584 £152 £736 £10,238 13.9 yrs £4,489
5 kW 4762 kWh 2857 kWh 1905 kWh £730 £190 £920 £12,273 13.3 yrs £6,137
6 kW 5714 kWh 3429 kWh 2286 kWh £876 £229 £1,105 £14,307 13.0 yrs £7,784
7 kW 6667 kWh 4000 kWh 2667 kWh £1,022 £267 £1,289 £16,342 12.7 yrs £9,431
8 kW 7619 kWh 4571 kWh 3048 kWh £1,168 £305 £1,473 £18,376 12.5 yrs £11,079

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: £995, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1905 kWh 1333 kWh 571 kWh £341 £57 £398 £7,569 19.0 yrs £387
3 kW 2857 kWh 2000 kWh 857 kWh £511 £86 £597 £9,604 16.1 yrs £2,331
4 kW 3809 kWh 2667 kWh 1143 kWh £681 £114 £796 £11,638 14.6 yrs £4,274
5 kW 4762 kWh 3333 kWh 1429 kWh £852 £143 £995 £13,673 13.7 yrs £6,218
6 kW 5714 kWh 4000 kWh 1714 kWh £1,022 £171 £1,193 £15,707 13.2 yrs £8,161
7 kW 6667 kWh 4667 kWh 2000 kWh £1,192 £200 £1,392 £17,742 12.7 yrs £10,105
8 kW 7619 kWh 5333 kWh 2286 kWh £1,363 £229 £1,591 £19,776 12.4 yrs £12,048

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: £1,017, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1905 kWh 1390 kWh 514 kWh £355 £51 £407 £9,319 22.9 yrs £-1,185
3 kW 2857 kWh 2086 kWh 771 kWh £533 £77 £610 £11,354 18.6 yrs £847
4 kW 3809 kWh 2781 kWh 1029 kWh £711 £103 £813 £13,388 16.5 yrs £2,880
5 kW 4762 kWh 3476 kWh 1286 kWh £888 £129 £1,017 £15,423 15.2 yrs £4,912
6 kW 5714 kWh 4171 kWh 1543 kWh £1,066 £154 £1,220 £17,457 14.3 yrs £6,944
7 kW 6667 kWh 4867 kWh 1800 kWh £1,243 £180 £1,423 £19,492 13.7 yrs £8,977
8 kW 7619 kWh 5562 kWh 2057 kWh £1,421 £206 £1,627 £21,526 13.2 yrs £11,009

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: £1,032, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1905 kWh 1429 kWh 476 kWh £365 £48 £413 £11,069 26.8 yrs £-2,817
3 kW 2857 kWh 2143 kWh 714 kWh £547 £71 £619 £13,104 21.2 yrs £-725
4 kW 3809 kWh 2857 kWh 952 kWh £730 £95 £825 £15,138 18.3 yrs £1,367
5 kW 4762 kWh 3571 kWh 1190 kWh £912 £119 £1,032 £17,173 16.6 yrs £3,458
6 kW 5714 kWh 4286 kWh 1429 kWh £1,095 £143 £1,238 £19,207 15.5 yrs £5,550
7 kW 6667 kWh 5000 kWh 1667 kWh £1,277 £167 £1,444 £21,242 14.7 yrs £7,641
8 kW 7619 kWh 5714 kWh 1905 kWh £1,460 £190 £1,650 £23,276 14.1 yrs £9,733

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: £1,046, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1905 kWh 1467 kWh 438 kWh £375 £44 £419 £13,519 32.3 yrs £-5,148
3 kW 2857 kWh 2200 kWh 657 kWh £562 £66 £628 £15,554 24.8 yrs £-2,997
4 kW 3809 kWh 2933 kWh 876 kWh £749 £88 £837 £17,588 21.0 yrs £-847
5 kW 4762 kWh 3667 kWh 1095 kWh £937 £110 £1,046 £19,623 18.8 yrs £1,304
6 kW 5714 kWh 4400 kWh 1314 kWh £1,124 £131 £1,256 £21,657 17.2 yrs £3,455
7 kW 6667 kWh 5133 kWh 1533 kWh £1,312 £153 £1,465 £23,692 16.2 yrs £5,606
8 kW 7619 kWh 5867 kWh 1752 kWh £1,499 £175 £1,674 £25,726 15.4 yrs £7,757

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 LE4

Figures below are tailored to LE4 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1630 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1779 of 2997
11.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£707 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2264 of 2997
25.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£179 fixed • ~£707 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.55p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.09p/day
Local Sunshine
952kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~952 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: 74% • Flats: 18% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 22,426 properties

Coverage

Leicester (76%)|Charnwood (23%)|Blaby (1%)

Areas Covered

Belgrave, Abbey, Troon, Beaumont Leys, Rushey Mead, Thurmaston, Birstall West, Birstall East & Wanlip + 2 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 East Midlands

LE41 (Leicester)
≈0.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~954 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LE4
LE87 (Leicester)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~966 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LE4
LE1 (Leicester)
≈3.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~952 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LE4
LE21 (Leicester)
≈3.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~952 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LE4
LE5 (Leicester)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~959 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LE4
LE3 (Leicester)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~952 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LE4

Similar sunshine across the UK

SA64 (Pembrokeshire)
~953 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LE4
SA65 (Pembrokeshire)
~953 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LE4
S66 (Rotherham)
~953 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LE4