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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in M11 (Manchester)

See if solar pays off for you in Manchester — 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
14.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£577
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,278
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 North West, the current unit rate is 27.11p/kWh with a 51.16p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 856 kWh/kW — 14 below the regional median (870).

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 856 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
51.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
856 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: £721, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1712 kWh 685 kWh 1027 kWh £186 £103 £288 £4,069 14.1 yrs £1,697
3 kW 2568 kWh 1027 kWh 1541 kWh £278 £154 £432 £6,104 14.1 yrs £2,546
4 kW 3423 kWh 1369 kWh 2054 kWh £371 £205 £577 £8,138 14.1 yrs £3,395
5 kW 4279 kWh 1712 kWh 2568 kWh £464 £257 £721 £10,173 14.1 yrs £4,243
6 kW 5135 kWh 2054 kWh 3081 kWh £557 £308 £865 £12,207 14.1 yrs £5,092
7 kW 5991 kWh 2396 kWh 3595 kWh £650 £359 £1,009 £14,242 14.1 yrs £5,941
8 kW 6847 kWh 2739 kWh 4108 kWh £742 £411 £1,153 £16,276 14.1 yrs £6,789

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: £867, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1712 kWh 1027 kWh 685 kWh £278 £68 £347 £6,169 17.8 yrs £769
3 kW 2568 kWh 1541 kWh 1027 kWh £418 £103 £520 £8,204 15.8 yrs £2,203
4 kW 3423 kWh 2054 kWh 1369 kWh £557 £137 £694 £10,238 14.8 yrs £3,638
5 kW 4279 kWh 2568 kWh 1712 kWh £696 £171 £867 £12,273 14.2 yrs £5,072
6 kW 5135 kWh 3081 kWh 2054 kWh £835 £205 £1,041 £14,307 13.7 yrs £6,507
7 kW 5991 kWh 3595 kWh 2396 kWh £974 £240 £1,214 £16,342 13.5 yrs £7,941
8 kW 6847 kWh 4108 kWh 2739 kWh £1,114 £274 £1,388 £18,376 13.2 yrs £9,375

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: £940, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1712 kWh 1198 kWh 514 kWh £325 £51 £376 £7,569 20.1 yrs £-45
3 kW 2568 kWh 1797 kWh 770 kWh £487 £77 £564 £9,604 17.0 yrs £1,682
4 kW 3423 kWh 2396 kWh 1027 kWh £650 £103 £752 £11,638 15.5 yrs £3,409
5 kW 4279 kWh 2995 kWh 1284 kWh £812 £128 £940 £13,673 14.5 yrs £5,136
6 kW 5135 kWh 3595 kWh 1541 kWh £974 £154 £1,129 £15,707 13.9 yrs £6,864
7 kW 5991 kWh 4194 kWh 1797 kWh £1,137 £180 £1,317 £17,742 13.5 yrs £8,591
8 kW 6847 kWh 4793 kWh 2054 kWh £1,299 £205 £1,505 £19,776 13.1 yrs £10,318

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: £962, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1712 kWh 1250 kWh 462 kWh £339 £46 £385 £9,319 24.2 yrs £-1,620
3 kW 2568 kWh 1874 kWh 693 kWh £508 £69 £577 £11,354 19.7 yrs £195
4 kW 3423 kWh 2499 kWh 924 kWh £678 £92 £770 £13,388 17.4 yrs £2,011
5 kW 4279 kWh 3124 kWh 1155 kWh £847 £116 £962 £15,423 16.0 yrs £3,826
6 kW 5135 kWh 3749 kWh 1386 kWh £1,016 £139 £1,155 £17,457 15.1 yrs £5,641
7 kW 5991 kWh 4373 kWh 1618 kWh £1,186 £162 £1,347 £19,492 14.5 yrs £7,456
8 kW 6847 kWh 4998 kWh 1849 kWh £1,355 £185 £1,540 £21,526 14.0 yrs £9,271

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: £977, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1712 kWh 1284 kWh 428 kWh £348 £43 £391 £11,069 28.3 yrs £-3,253
3 kW 2568 kWh 1926 kWh 642 kWh £522 £64 £586 £13,104 22.4 yrs £-1,379
4 kW 3423 kWh 2568 kWh 856 kWh £696 £86 £782 £15,138 19.4 yrs £495
5 kW 4279 kWh 3209 kWh 1070 kWh £870 £107 £977 £17,173 17.6 yrs £2,369
6 kW 5135 kWh 3851 kWh 1284 kWh £1,044 £128 £1,172 £19,207 16.4 yrs £4,242
7 kW 5991 kWh 4493 kWh 1498 kWh £1,218 £150 £1,368 £21,242 15.5 yrs £6,116
8 kW 6847 kWh 5135 kWh 1712 kWh £1,392 £171 £1,563 £23,276 14.9 yrs £7,990

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: £992, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1712 kWh 1318 kWh 394 kWh £357 £39 £397 £13,519 34.1 yrs £-5,585
3 kW 2568 kWh 1977 kWh 591 kWh £536 £59 £595 £15,554 26.1 yrs £-3,653
4 kW 3423 kWh 2636 kWh 787 kWh £715 £79 £793 £17,588 22.2 yrs £-1,721
5 kW 4279 kWh 3295 kWh 984 kWh £893 £98 £992 £19,623 19.8 yrs £212
6 kW 5135 kWh 3954 kWh 1181 kWh £1,072 £118 £1,190 £21,657 18.2 yrs £2,144
7 kW 5991 kWh 4613 kWh 1378 kWh £1,251 £138 £1,388 £23,692 17.1 yrs £4,076
8 kW 6847 kWh 5272 kWh 1575 kWh £1,429 £157 £1,587 £25,726 16.2 yrs £6,008

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 M11

Figures below are tailored to M11 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1919 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2501 of 2997
12.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£664 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2562 of 2997
28.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£664 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
856kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~856 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: 77% • Flats: 21% • Bungalows: 2% Based on 7,750 properties

Coverage

Manchester (100%)

Areas Covered

Clayton & Openshaw, Ancoats & Beswick, Droylsden East

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 North West

M18 (Manchester)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~856 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M11
M12 (Manchester)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M11
M43 (Tameside)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~845 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M11
M10 (Manchester)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~848 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M11
M40 (Manchester)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~848 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M11
M13 (Manchester)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M11

Similar sunshine across the UK

KA25 (North Ayrshire)
~856 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M11
PH7 (Perth and Kinross)
~856 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M11
PA45 (Argyll and Bute)
~855 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M11