Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in LL22 (Conwy)

See if solar pays off for you in Conwy — 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
12.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£972
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,105
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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

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 949 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)
949 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: £810, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1897 kWh 759 kWh 1138 kWh £210 £114 £324 £4,069 12.6 yrs £2,414
3 kW 2846 kWh 1138 kWh 1707 kWh £316 £171 £486 £6,104 12.6 yrs £3,621
4 kW 3794 kWh 1518 kWh 2276 kWh £421 £228 £648 £8,138 12.6 yrs £4,829
5 kW 4743 kWh 1897 kWh 2846 kWh £526 £285 £810 £10,173 12.6 yrs £6,036
6 kW 5691 kWh 2276 kWh 3415 kWh £631 £341 £972 £12,207 12.6 yrs £7,243
7 kW 6640 kWh 2656 kWh 3984 kWh £736 £398 £1,135 £14,242 12.6 yrs £8,450
8 kW 7588 kWh 3035 kWh 4553 kWh £841 £455 £1,297 £16,276 12.6 yrs £9,657

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: £978, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1897 kWh 1138 kWh 759 kWh £316 £76 £391 £6,169 15.8 yrs £1,659
3 kW 2846 kWh 1707 kWh 1138 kWh £473 £114 £587 £8,204 14.0 yrs £3,538
4 kW 3794 kWh 2276 kWh 1518 kWh £631 £152 £783 £10,238 13.1 yrs £5,418
5 kW 4743 kWh 2846 kWh 1897 kWh £789 £190 £978 £12,273 12.5 yrs £7,297
6 kW 5691 kWh 3415 kWh 2276 kWh £947 £228 £1,174 £14,307 12.2 yrs £9,177
7 kW 6640 kWh 3984 kWh 2656 kWh £1,104 £266 £1,370 £16,342 11.9 yrs £11,056
8 kW 7588 kWh 4553 kWh 3035 kWh £1,262 £304 £1,566 £18,376 11.7 yrs £12,936

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: £1,063, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1897 kWh 1328 kWh 569 kWh £368 £57 £425 £7,569 17.8 yrs £931
3 kW 2846 kWh 1992 kWh 854 kWh £552 £85 £638 £9,604 15.1 yrs £3,147
4 kW 3794 kWh 2656 kWh 1138 kWh £736 £114 £850 £11,638 13.7 yrs £5,362
5 kW 4743 kWh 3320 kWh 1423 kWh £920 £142 £1,063 £13,673 12.9 yrs £7,578
6 kW 5691 kWh 3984 kWh 1707 kWh £1,104 £171 £1,275 £15,707 12.3 yrs £9,794
7 kW 6640 kWh 4648 kWh 1992 kWh £1,288 £199 £1,488 £17,742 11.9 yrs £12,009
8 kW 7588 kWh 5312 kWh 2276 kWh £1,472 £228 £1,700 £19,776 11.6 yrs £14,225

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: £1,088, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1897 kWh 1385 kWh 512 kWh £384 £51 £435 £9,319 21.4 yrs £-617
3 kW 2846 kWh 2077 kWh 768 kWh £576 £77 £653 £11,354 17.4 yrs £1,699
4 kW 3794 kWh 2770 kWh 1024 kWh £768 £102 £870 £13,388 15.4 yrs £4,016
5 kW 4743 kWh 3462 kWh 1281 kWh £960 £128 £1,088 £15,423 14.2 yrs £6,332
6 kW 5691 kWh 4155 kWh 1537 kWh £1,152 £154 £1,305 £17,457 13.4 yrs £8,649
7 kW 6640 kWh 4847 kWh 1793 kWh £1,344 £179 £1,523 £19,492 12.8 yrs £10,965
8 kW 7588 kWh 5539 kWh 2049 kWh £1,536 £205 £1,740 £21,526 12.4 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.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,105, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1897 kWh 1423 kWh 474 kWh £394 £47 £442 £11,069 25.1 yrs £-2,233
3 kW 2846 kWh 2134 kWh 711 kWh £592 £71 £663 £13,104 19.8 yrs £151
4 kW 3794 kWh 2846 kWh 949 kWh £789 £95 £884 £15,138 17.1 yrs £2,535
5 kW 4743 kWh 3557 kWh 1186 kWh £986 £119 £1,105 £17,173 15.5 yrs £4,918
6 kW 5691 kWh 4268 kWh 1423 kWh £1,183 £142 £1,325 £19,207 14.5 yrs £7,302
7 kW 6640 kWh 4980 kWh 1660 kWh £1,380 £166 £1,546 £21,242 13.7 yrs £9,686
8 kW 7588 kWh 5691 kWh 1897 kWh £1,578 £190 £1,767 £23,276 13.2 yrs £12,070

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: £1,121, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1897 kWh 1461 kWh 436 kWh £405 £44 £449 £13,519 30.1 yrs £-4,548
3 kW 2846 kWh 2191 kWh 654 kWh £607 £65 £673 £15,554 23.1 yrs £-2,097
4 kW 3794 kWh 2921 kWh 873 kWh £810 £87 £897 £17,588 19.6 yrs £354
5 kW 4743 kWh 3652 kWh 1091 kWh £1,012 £109 £1,121 £19,623 17.5 yrs £2,805
6 kW 5691 kWh 4382 kWh 1309 kWh £1,215 £131 £1,346 £21,657 16.1 yrs £5,256
7 kW 6640 kWh 5113 kWh 1527 kWh £1,417 £153 £1,570 £23,692 15.1 yrs £7,706
8 kW 7588 kWh 5843 kWh 1745 kWh £1,620 £175 £1,794 £25,726 14.3 yrs £10,157

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.72p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
69.95p/day
Local Sunshine
949kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~949 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: 46% • Flats: 16% • Bungalows: 37% Based on 5,656 properties

Coverage

Conwy (93%)|Denbighshire (7%)

Areas Covered

Gele and Llanddulas, Pen-sarn Pentre Mawr, Betws-yn-Rhos, Towyn, Eglwys-bach a Llangernyw, Rhyl South West, Llysfaen, Trefnant + 3 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.