Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in LS16 (Leeds)

See if solar pays off for you in Leeds — 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
13.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£885
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,928
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

In Yorkshire, the current unit rate is 25.33p/kWh with a 58.65p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 915 kWh/kW — 14 below the regional median (929).

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 915 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.3p/kWh
Standing charge
58.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
915 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: £738, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1829 kWh 732 kWh 1098 kWh £185 £110 £295 £4,069 13.8 yrs £1,834
3 kW 2744 kWh 1098 kWh 1647 kWh £278 £165 £443 £6,104 13.8 yrs £2,750
4 kW 3659 kWh 1464 kWh 2195 kWh £371 £220 £590 £8,138 13.8 yrs £3,667
5 kW 4574 kWh 1829 kWh 2744 kWh £463 £274 £738 £10,173 13.8 yrs £4,584
6 kW 5488 kWh 2195 kWh 3293 kWh £556 £329 £885 £12,207 13.8 yrs £5,501
7 kW 6403 kWh 2561 kWh 3842 kWh £649 £384 £1,033 £14,242 13.8 yrs £6,418
8 kW 7318 kWh 2927 kWh 4391 kWh £741 £439 £1,181 £16,276 13.8 yrs £7,334

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: £878, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1829 kWh 1098 kWh 732 kWh £278 £73 £351 £6,169 17.6 yrs £855
3 kW 2744 kWh 1647 kWh 1098 kWh £417 £110 £527 £8,204 15.6 yrs £2,333
4 kW 3659 kWh 2195 kWh 1464 kWh £556 £146 £702 £10,238 14.6 yrs £3,811
5 kW 4574 kWh 2744 kWh 1829 kWh £695 £183 £878 £12,273 14.0 yrs £5,289
6 kW 5488 kWh 3293 kWh 2195 kWh £834 £220 £1,054 £14,307 13.6 yrs £6,766
7 kW 6403 kWh 3842 kWh 2561 kWh £973 £256 £1,229 £16,342 13.3 yrs £8,244
8 kW 7318 kWh 4391 kWh 2927 kWh £1,112 £293 £1,405 £18,376 13.1 yrs £9,722

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: £948, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1829 kWh 1281 kWh 549 kWh £324 £55 £379 £7,569 20.0 yrs £16
3 kW 2744 kWh 1921 kWh 823 kWh £487 £82 £569 £9,604 16.9 yrs £1,775
4 kW 3659 kWh 2561 kWh 1098 kWh £649 £110 £759 £11,638 15.3 yrs £3,533
5 kW 4574 kWh 3202 kWh 1372 kWh £811 £137 £948 £13,673 14.4 yrs £5,291
6 kW 5488 kWh 3842 kWh 1647 kWh £973 £165 £1,138 £15,707 13.8 yrs £7,049
7 kW 6403 kWh 4482 kWh 1921 kWh £1,135 £192 £1,327 £17,742 13.4 yrs £8,807
8 kW 7318 kWh 5123 kWh 2195 kWh £1,298 £220 £1,517 £19,776 13.0 yrs £10,565

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: £969, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1829 kWh 1336 kWh 494 kWh £338 £49 £388 £9,319 24.0 yrs £-1,565
3 kW 2744 kWh 2003 kWh 741 kWh £507 £74 £582 £11,354 19.5 yrs £277
4 kW 3659 kWh 2671 kWh 988 kWh £677 £99 £775 £13,388 17.3 yrs £2,119
5 kW 4574 kWh 3339 kWh 1235 kWh £846 £123 £969 £15,423 15.9 yrs £3,962
6 kW 5488 kWh 4007 kWh 1482 kWh £1,015 £148 £1,163 £17,457 15.0 yrs £5,804
7 kW 6403 kWh 4674 kWh 1729 kWh £1,184 £173 £1,357 £19,492 14.4 yrs £7,646
8 kW 7318 kWh 5342 kWh 1976 kWh £1,353 £198 £1,551 £21,526 13.9 yrs £9,489

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: £983, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1829 kWh 1372 kWh 457 kWh £348 £46 £393 £11,069 28.1 yrs £-3,203
3 kW 2744 kWh 2058 kWh 686 kWh £521 £69 £590 £13,104 22.2 yrs £-1,305
4 kW 3659 kWh 2744 kWh 915 kWh £695 £91 £787 £15,138 19.2 yrs £594
5 kW 4574 kWh 3430 kWh 1143 kWh £869 £114 £983 £17,173 17.5 yrs £2,492
6 kW 5488 kWh 4116 kWh 1372 kWh £1,043 £137 £1,180 £19,207 16.3 yrs £4,390
7 kW 6403 kWh 4802 kWh 1601 kWh £1,216 £160 £1,377 £21,242 15.4 yrs £6,289
8 kW 7318 kWh 5488 kWh 1829 kWh £1,390 £183 £1,573 £23,276 14.8 yrs £8,187

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: £997, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1829 kWh 1409 kWh 421 kWh £357 £42 £399 £13,519 33.9 yrs £-5,541
3 kW 2744 kWh 2113 kWh 631 kWh £535 £63 £598 £15,554 26.0 yrs £-3,586
4 kW 3659 kWh 2817 kWh 842 kWh £714 £84 £798 £17,588 22.0 yrs £-1,632
5 kW 4574 kWh 3522 kWh 1052 kWh £892 £105 £997 £19,623 19.7 yrs £323
6 kW 5488 kWh 4226 kWh 1262 kWh £1,070 £126 £1,197 £21,657 18.1 yrs £2,277
7 kW 6403 kWh 4930 kWh 1473 kWh £1,249 £147 £1,396 £23,692 17.0 yrs £4,232
8 kW 7318 kWh 5635 kWh 1683 kWh £1,427 £168 £1,596 £25,726 16.1 yrs £6,186

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 LS16

Figures below are tailored to LS16 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1187 of 2182
4.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2401 of 2997
12.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,012 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1650 of 2997
21.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£214 fixed • ~£1,012 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.33p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
58.65p/day
Local Sunshine
915kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~915 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: 62% • Flats: 30% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 10,156 properties

Coverage

Leeds (100%)

Areas Covered

Weetwood, Adel & Wharfedale, Kirkstall, Alwoodley, Moortown, Horsforth

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 Yorkshire

LS18 (Leeds)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~915 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LS16
LS5 (Leeds)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~915 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LS16
LS6 (Leeds)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~914 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LS16
LS13 (Leeds)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~912 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LS16
LS4 (Leeds)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~913 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LS16
LS17 (Leeds)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LS16

Similar sunshine across the UK

CF47 (Merthyr Tydfil)
~915 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LS16
SA35 (Pembrokeshire)
~915 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LS16
L73 (Liverpool)
~915 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LS16