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Solar Panels in LE87 (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
13.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£784
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,416
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 966 kWh/kW — 2 below the regional median (968).

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 966 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)
966 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: £784, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1932 kWh 773 kWh 1159 kWh £197 £116 £313 £4,069 13.0 yrs £2,199
3 kW 2898 kWh 1159 kWh 1739 kWh £296 £174 £470 £6,104 13.0 yrs £3,299
4 kW 3865 kWh 1546 kWh 2319 kWh £395 £232 £627 £8,138 13.0 yrs £4,399
5 kW 4831 kWh 1932 kWh 2898 kWh £494 £290 £784 £10,173 13.0 yrs £5,498
6 kW 5797 kWh 2319 kWh 3478 kWh £592 £348 £940 £12,207 13.0 yrs £6,598
7 kW 6763 kWh 2705 kWh 4058 kWh £691 £406 £1,097 £14,242 13.0 yrs £7,698
8 kW 7729 kWh 3092 kWh 4637 kWh £790 £464 £1,254 £16,276 13.0 yrs £8,797

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: £934, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1932 kWh 1159 kWh 773 kWh £296 £77 £374 £6,169 16.5 yrs £1,301
3 kW 2898 kWh 1739 kWh 1159 kWh £444 £116 £560 £8,204 14.6 yrs £3,002
4 kW 3865 kWh 2319 kWh 1546 kWh £592 £155 £747 £10,238 13.7 yrs £4,702
5 kW 4831 kWh 2898 kWh 1932 kWh £741 £193 £934 £12,273 13.1 yrs £6,403
6 kW 5797 kWh 3478 kWh 2319 kWh £889 £232 £1,121 £14,307 12.8 yrs £8,104
7 kW 6763 kWh 4058 kWh 2705 kWh £1,037 £271 £1,307 £16,342 12.5 yrs £9,804
8 kW 7729 kWh 4637 kWh 3092 kWh £1,185 £309 £1,494 £18,376 12.3 yrs £11,505

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: £1,009, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1932 kWh 1353 kWh 580 kWh £346 £58 £404 £7,569 18.8 yrs £502
3 kW 2898 kWh 2029 kWh 870 kWh £518 £87 £605 £9,604 15.9 yrs £2,503
4 kW 3865 kWh 2705 kWh 1159 kWh £691 £116 £807 £11,638 14.4 yrs £4,504
5 kW 4831 kWh 3381 kWh 1449 kWh £864 £145 £1,009 £13,673 13.6 yrs £6,505
6 kW 5797 kWh 4058 kWh 1739 kWh £1,037 £174 £1,211 £15,707 13.0 yrs £8,506
7 kW 6763 kWh 4734 kWh 2029 kWh £1,210 £203 £1,412 £17,742 12.6 yrs £10,507
8 kW 7729 kWh 5410 kWh 2319 kWh £1,382 £232 £1,614 £19,776 12.3 yrs £12,508

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: £1,031, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1932 kWh 1411 kWh 522 kWh £360 £52 £413 £9,319 22.6 yrs £-1,068
3 kW 2898 kWh 2116 kWh 783 kWh £541 £78 £619 £11,354 18.3 yrs £1,024
4 kW 3865 kWh 2821 kWh 1043 kWh £721 £104 £825 £13,388 16.2 yrs £3,115
5 kW 4831 kWh 3526 kWh 1304 kWh £901 £130 £1,031 £15,423 15.0 yrs £5,206
6 kW 5797 kWh 4232 kWh 1565 kWh £1,081 £157 £1,238 £17,457 14.1 yrs £7,297
7 kW 6763 kWh 4937 kWh 1826 kWh £1,261 £183 £1,444 £19,492 13.5 yrs £9,388
8 kW 7729 kWh 5642 kWh 2087 kWh £1,442 £209 £1,650 £21,526 13.0 yrs £11,480

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: £1,046, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1932 kWh 1449 kWh 483 kWh £370 £48 £419 £11,069 26.4 yrs £-2,697
3 kW 2898 kWh 2174 kWh 725 kWh £555 £72 £628 £13,104 20.9 yrs £-546
4 kW 3865 kWh 2898 kWh 966 kWh £741 £97 £837 £15,138 18.1 yrs £1,605
5 kW 4831 kWh 3623 kWh 1208 kWh £926 £121 £1,046 £17,173 16.4 yrs £3,756
6 kW 5797 kWh 4348 kWh 1449 kWh £1,111 £145 £1,256 £19,207 15.3 yrs £5,908
7 kW 6763 kWh 5072 kWh 1691 kWh £1,296 £169 £1,465 £21,242 14.5 yrs £8,059
8 kW 7729 kWh 5797 kWh 1932 kWh £1,481 £193 £1,674 £23,276 13.9 yrs £10,210

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: £1,061, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1932 kWh 1488 kWh 444 kWh £380 £44 £425 £13,519 31.8 yrs £-5,027
3 kW 2898 kWh 2232 kWh 667 kWh £570 £67 £637 £15,554 24.4 yrs £-2,816
4 kW 3865 kWh 2976 kWh 889 kWh £760 £89 £849 £17,588 20.7 yrs £-604
5 kW 4831 kWh 3720 kWh 1111 kWh £950 £111 £1,061 £19,623 18.5 yrs £1,607
6 kW 5797 kWh 4464 kWh 1333 kWh £1,140 £133 £1,274 £21,657 17.0 yrs £3,818
7 kW 6763 kWh 5207 kWh 1555 kWh £1,331 £156 £1,486 £23,692 15.9 yrs £6,030
8 kW 7729 kWh 5951 kWh 1778 kWh £1,521 £178 £1,698 £25,726 15.1 yrs £8,241

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 LE87

Figures below are tailored to LE87 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #1701 of 2997
11.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£896 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1397 of 2997
20.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£179 fixed • ~£896 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.55p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.09p/day
Local Sunshine
966kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~966 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

Leicester (93%)|Blaby (4%)|Oadby and Wigston (4%)

Areas Covered

Castle, Wigston All Saints, Cosby & South Whetstone

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

LE1 (Leicester)
≈0.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~952 kWh/kWp · -1% vs LE87
LE21 (Leicester)
≈0.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~952 kWh/kWp · -1% vs LE87
LE41 (Leicester)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~954 kWh/kWp · -1% vs LE87
LE5 (Leicester)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~959 kWh/kWp · -1% vs LE87
LE4 (Leicester)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~952 kWh/kWp · -1% vs LE87
LE2 (Leicester)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~952 kWh/kWp · -1% vs LE87

Similar sunshine across the UK

YO16 (East Riding of Yorkshire)
~966 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LE87
NP4 (Torfaen)
~966 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LE87
WR3 (Worcester)
~966 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LE87