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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in LU2 (Luton)

See if solar pays off for you in Luton — 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
12.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£656
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,252
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 Eastern, the current unit rate is 26.53p/kWh with a 48.25p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 987 kWh/kW — 22 below the regional median (1009).

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 987 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
48.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
987 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: £819, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1973 kWh 789 kWh 1184 kWh £209 £118 £328 £4,069 12.4 yrs £2,487
3 kW 2960 kWh 1184 kWh 1776 kWh £314 £178 £492 £6,104 12.4 yrs £3,730
4 kW 3946 kWh 1579 kWh 2368 kWh £419 £237 £656 £8,138 12.4 yrs £4,974
5 kW 4933 kWh 1973 kWh 2960 kWh £524 £296 £819 £10,173 12.4 yrs £6,217
6 kW 5920 kWh 2368 kWh 3552 kWh £628 £355 £983 £12,207 12.4 yrs £7,461
7 kW 6906 kWh 2763 kWh 4144 kWh £733 £414 £1,147 £14,242 12.4 yrs £8,704
8 kW 7893 kWh 3157 kWh 4736 kWh £838 £474 £1,311 £16,276 12.4 yrs £9,947

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: £983, 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 1973 kWh 1184 kWh 789 kWh £314 £79 £393 £6,169 15.7 yrs £1,692
3 kW 2960 kWh 1776 kWh 1184 kWh £471 £118 £590 £8,204 13.9 yrs £3,587
4 kW 3946 kWh 2368 kWh 1579 kWh £628 £158 £786 £10,238 13.0 yrs £5,483
5 kW 4933 kWh 2960 kWh 1973 kWh £785 £197 £983 £12,273 12.5 yrs £7,379
6 kW 5920 kWh 3552 kWh 2368 kWh £942 £237 £1,179 £14,307 12.1 yrs £9,275
7 kW 6906 kWh 4144 kWh 2763 kWh £1,099 £276 £1,376 £16,342 11.9 yrs £11,171
8 kW 7893 kWh 4736 kWh 3157 kWh £1,256 £316 £1,572 £18,376 11.7 yrs £13,066

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: £1,064, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1973 kWh 1381 kWh 592 kWh £366 £59 £426 £7,569 17.8 yrs £944
3 kW 2960 kWh 2072 kWh 888 kWh £550 £89 £638 £9,604 15.0 yrs £3,166
4 kW 3946 kWh 2763 kWh 1184 kWh £733 £118 £851 £11,638 13.7 yrs £5,388
5 kW 4933 kWh 3453 kWh 1480 kWh £916 £148 £1,064 £13,673 12.8 yrs £7,610
6 kW 5920 kWh 4144 kWh 1776 kWh £1,099 £178 £1,277 £15,707 12.3 yrs £9,832
7 kW 6906 kWh 4834 kWh 2072 kWh £1,283 £207 £1,490 £17,742 11.9 yrs £12,054
8 kW 7893 kWh 5525 kWh 2368 kWh £1,466 £237 £1,703 £19,776 11.6 yrs £14,276

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: £1,089, 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 1973 kWh 1440 kWh 533 kWh £382 £53 £435 £9,319 21.4 yrs £-610
3 kW 2960 kWh 2161 kWh 799 kWh £573 £80 £653 £11,354 17.4 yrs £1,709
4 kW 3946 kWh 2881 kWh 1066 kWh £764 £107 £871 £13,388 15.4 yrs £4,029
5 kW 4933 kWh 3601 kWh 1332 kWh £955 £133 £1,089 £15,423 14.2 yrs £6,349
6 kW 5920 kWh 4321 kWh 1598 kWh £1,146 £160 £1,306 £17,457 13.4 yrs £8,669
7 kW 6906 kWh 5042 kWh 1865 kWh £1,338 £186 £1,524 £19,492 12.8 yrs £10,989
8 kW 7893 kWh 5762 kWh 2131 kWh £1,529 £213 £1,742 £21,526 12.4 yrs £13,309

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 1973 kWh 1480 kWh 493 kWh £393 £49 £442 £11,069 25.0 yrs £-2,230
3 kW 2960 kWh 2220 kWh 740 kWh £589 £74 £663 £13,104 19.8 yrs £155
4 kW 3946 kWh 2960 kWh 987 kWh £785 £99 £884 £15,138 17.1 yrs £2,540
5 kW 4933 kWh 3700 kWh 1233 kWh £982 £123 £1,105 £17,173 15.5 yrs £4,925
6 kW 5920 kWh 4440 kWh 1480 kWh £1,178 £148 £1,326 £19,207 14.5 yrs £7,310
7 kW 6906 kWh 5180 kWh 1727 kWh £1,374 £173 £1,547 £21,242 13.7 yrs £9,695
8 kW 7893 kWh 5920 kWh 1973 kWh £1,571 £197 £1,768 £23,276 13.2 yrs £12,080

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 1973 kWh 1519 kWh 454 kWh £403 £45 £448 £13,519 30.1 yrs £-4,549
3 kW 2960 kWh 2279 kWh 681 kWh £605 £68 £673 £15,554 23.1 yrs £-2,099
4 kW 3946 kWh 3039 kWh 908 kWh £806 £91 £897 £17,588 19.6 yrs £351
5 kW 4933 kWh 3798 kWh 1135 kWh £1,008 £113 £1,121 £19,623 17.5 yrs £2,801
6 kW 5920 kWh 4558 kWh 1362 kWh £1,209 £136 £1,345 £21,657 16.1 yrs £5,252
7 kW 6906 kWh 5318 kWh 1588 kWh £1,411 £159 £1,570 £23,692 15.1 yrs £7,702
8 kW 7893 kWh 6078 kWh 1815 kWh £1,612 £182 £1,794 £25,726 14.3 yrs £10,152

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 LU2

Figures below are tailored to LU2 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1918 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #993 of 2997
10.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£753 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2108 of 2997
23.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£753 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
987kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~987 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: 63% • Flats: 29% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 15,507 properties

Coverage

Luton (92%)|North Hertfordshire (5%)|Central Bedfordshire (2%)

Areas Covered

Wigmore, High Town, Stopsley, Farley, Round Green, Vauxhall, Barnfield, Offa + 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 Eastern

LU1 (Luton)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~991 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU2
LU3 (Luton)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~993 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LU2
LU4 (Luton)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~991 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU2
LU5 (Central Bedfordshire)
≈8.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU2
LU6 (Central Bedfordshire)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~991 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU2
AL5 (St Albans)
≈8.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LU2

Similar sunshine across the UK

EC2M (City of London)
~987 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LU2
EC3V (City of London)
~987 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LU2
LA16 (Westmorland and Furness)
~987 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LU2