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Solar Panels in LU95 (Central Bedfordshire)

See if solar pays off for you in Central Bedfordshire — 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
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£820
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,323
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 5.0 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: £820, 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 1974 kWh 790 kWh 1184 kWh £209 £118 £328 £4,069 12.4 yrs £2,490
3 kW 2961 kWh 1184 kWh 1777 kWh £314 £178 £492 £6,104 12.4 yrs £3,734
4 kW 3948 kWh 1579 kWh 2369 kWh £419 £237 £656 £8,138 12.4 yrs £4,979
5 kW 4935 kWh 1974 kWh 2961 kWh £524 £296 £820 £10,173 12.4 yrs £6,224
6 kW 5922 kWh 2369 kWh 3553 kWh £628 £355 £984 £12,207 12.4 yrs £7,469
7 kW 6909 kWh 2764 kWh 4146 kWh £733 £415 £1,148 £14,242 12.4 yrs £8,714
8 kW 7896 kWh 3158 kWh 4738 kWh £838 £474 £1,312 £16,276 12.4 yrs £9,958

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 1974 kWh 1184 kWh 790 kWh £314 £79 £393 £6,169 15.7 yrs £1,695
3 kW 2961 kWh 1777 kWh 1184 kWh £471 £118 £590 £8,204 13.9 yrs £3,592
4 kW 3948 kWh 2369 kWh 1579 kWh £628 £158 £786 £10,238 13.0 yrs £5,490
5 kW 4935 kWh 2961 kWh 1974 kWh £786 £197 £983 £12,273 12.5 yrs £7,387
6 kW 5922 kWh 3553 kWh 2369 kWh £943 £237 £1,180 £14,307 12.1 yrs £9,285
7 kW 6909 kWh 4146 kWh 2764 kWh £1,100 £276 £1,376 £16,342 11.9 yrs £11,182
8 kW 7896 kWh 4738 kWh 3158 kWh £1,257 £316 £1,573 £18,376 11.7 yrs £13,079

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: £1,065, 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 1974 kWh 1382 kWh 592 kWh £367 £59 £426 £7,569 17.8 yrs £947
3 kW 2961 kWh 2073 kWh 888 kWh £550 £89 £639 £9,604 15.0 yrs £3,171
4 kW 3948 kWh 2764 kWh 1184 kWh £733 £118 £852 £11,638 13.7 yrs £5,395
5 kW 4935 kWh 3455 kWh 1481 kWh £917 £148 £1,065 £13,673 12.8 yrs £7,619
6 kW 5922 kWh 4146 kWh 1777 kWh £1,100 £178 £1,277 £15,707 12.3 yrs £9,842
7 kW 6909 kWh 4836 kWh 2073 kWh £1,283 £207 £1,490 £17,742 11.9 yrs £12,066
8 kW 7896 kWh 5527 kWh 2369 kWh £1,466 £237 £1,703 £19,776 11.6 yrs £14,290

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 1974 kWh 1441 kWh 533 kWh £382 £53 £436 £9,319 21.4 yrs £-607
3 kW 2961 kWh 2162 kWh 799 kWh £573 £80 £653 £11,354 17.4 yrs £1,715
4 kW 3948 kWh 2882 kWh 1066 kWh £765 £107 £871 £13,388 15.4 yrs £4,037
5 kW 4935 kWh 3603 kWh 1332 kWh £956 £133 £1,089 £15,423 14.2 yrs £6,358
6 kW 5922 kWh 4323 kWh 1599 kWh £1,147 £160 £1,307 £17,457 13.4 yrs £8,680
7 kW 6909 kWh 5044 kWh 1865 kWh £1,338 £187 £1,525 £19,492 12.8 yrs £11,001
8 kW 7896 kWh 5764 kWh 2132 kWh £1,529 £213 £1,742 £21,526 12.4 yrs £13,323

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 1974 kWh 1481 kWh 494 kWh £393 £49 £442 £11,069 25.0 yrs £-2,226
3 kW 2961 kWh 2221 kWh 740 kWh £589 £74 £663 £13,104 19.8 yrs £161
4 kW 3948 kWh 2961 kWh 987 kWh £786 £99 £884 £15,138 17.1 yrs £2,548
5 kW 4935 kWh 3701 kWh 1234 kWh £982 £123 £1,105 £17,173 15.5 yrs £4,934
6 kW 5922 kWh 4442 kWh 1481 kWh £1,178 £148 £1,326 £19,207 14.5 yrs £7,321
7 kW 6909 kWh 5182 kWh 1727 kWh £1,375 £173 £1,547 £21,242 13.7 yrs £9,708
8 kW 7896 kWh 5922 kWh 1974 kWh £1,571 £197 £1,769 £23,276 13.2 yrs £12,095

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: £1,122, 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 1974 kWh 1520 kWh 454 kWh £403 £45 £449 £13,519 30.1 yrs £-4,546
3 kW 2961 kWh 2280 kWh 681 kWh £605 £68 £673 £15,554 23.1 yrs £-2,094
4 kW 3948 kWh 3040 kWh 908 kWh £807 £91 £897 £17,588 19.6 yrs £359
5 kW 4935 kWh 3800 kWh 1135 kWh £1,008 £114 £1,122 £19,623 17.5 yrs £2,811
6 kW 5922 kWh 4560 kWh 1362 kWh £1,210 £136 £1,346 £21,657 16.1 yrs £5,263
7 kW 6909 kWh 5320 kWh 1589 kWh £1,411 £159 £1,570 £23,692 15.1 yrs £7,715
8 kW 7896 kWh 6080 kWh 1816 kWh £1,613 £182 £1,795 £25,726 14.3 yrs £10,167

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 LU95

Figures below are tailored to LU95 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #998 of 2997
10.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£942 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1211 of 2997
18.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£942 /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
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Central Bedfordshire (100%)

Areas Covered

Leighton-Linslade South

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

LU7 (Central Bedfordshire)
≈0.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~987 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU95
LU6 (Central Bedfordshire)
≈10.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~991 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU95
LU5 (Central Bedfordshire)
≈10.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU95
HP23 (Dacorum)
≈13.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~980 kWh/kWp · -1% vs LU95
LU4 (Luton)
≈13.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~991 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU95
HP20 (Buckinghamshire)
≈14.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~982 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LU95

Similar sunshine across the UK

NN99 (West Northamptonshire)
~987 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LU95
OX2 (Oxford)
~987 kWh/kWp · -0% vs LU95
MK12 (Milton Keynes)
~987 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LU95