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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in M16 (Trafford)

See if solar pays off for you in Trafford — 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
13.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£6,104
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£439
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£4,864
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 868 kWh/kW — 2 below the regional median (870).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 868 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)
868 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: £731, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 695 kWh 1042 kWh £188 £104 £292 £4,069 13.9 yrs £1,780
3 kW 2605 kWh 1042 kWh 1563 kWh £282 £156 £439 £6,104 13.9 yrs £2,671
4 kW 3473 kWh 1389 kWh 2084 kWh £377 £208 £585 £8,138 13.9 yrs £3,561
5 kW 4341 kWh 1736 kWh 2605 kWh £471 £260 £731 £10,173 13.9 yrs £4,451
6 kW 5209 kWh 2084 kWh 3125 kWh £565 £313 £877 £12,207 13.9 yrs £5,341
7 kW 6077 kWh 2431 kWh 3646 kWh £659 £365 £1,024 £14,242 13.9 yrs £6,231
8 kW 6945 kWh 2778 kWh 4167 kWh £753 £417 £1,170 £16,276 13.9 yrs £7,121

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: £880, 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 1736 kWh 1042 kWh 695 kWh £282 £69 £352 £6,169 17.5 yrs £869
3 kW 2605 kWh 1563 kWh 1042 kWh £424 £104 £528 £8,204 15.5 yrs £2,353
4 kW 3473 kWh 2084 kWh 1389 kWh £565 £139 £704 £10,238 14.5 yrs £3,837
5 kW 4341 kWh 2605 kWh 1736 kWh £706 £174 £880 £12,273 14.0 yrs £5,322
6 kW 5209 kWh 3125 kWh 2084 kWh £847 £208 £1,056 £14,307 13.6 yrs £6,806
7 kW 6077 kWh 3646 kWh 2431 kWh £989 £243 £1,232 £16,342 13.3 yrs £8,290
8 kW 6945 kWh 4167 kWh 2778 kWh £1,130 £278 £1,408 £18,376 13.1 yrs £9,775

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: £954, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1215 kWh 521 kWh £330 £52 £382 £7,569 19.8 yrs £63
3 kW 2605 kWh 1823 kWh 781 kWh £494 £78 £572 £9,604 16.8 yrs £1,844
4 kW 3473 kWh 2431 kWh 1042 kWh £659 £104 £763 £11,638 15.2 yrs £3,626
5 kW 4341 kWh 3039 kWh 1302 kWh £824 £130 £954 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,407
6 kW 5209 kWh 3646 kWh 1563 kWh £989 £156 £1,145 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,189
7 kW 6077 kWh 4254 kWh 1823 kWh £1,153 £182 £1,336 £17,742 13.3 yrs £8,970
8 kW 6945 kWh 4862 kWh 2084 kWh £1,318 £208 £1,526 £19,776 13.0 yrs £10,752

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: £976, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1268 kWh 469 kWh £344 £47 £391 £9,319 23.9 yrs £-1,509
3 kW 2605 kWh 1901 kWh 703 kWh £515 £70 £586 £11,354 19.4 yrs £362
4 kW 3473 kWh 2535 kWh 938 kWh £687 £94 £781 £13,388 17.1 yrs £2,232
5 kW 4341 kWh 3169 kWh 1172 kWh £859 £117 £976 £15,423 15.8 yrs £4,103
6 kW 5209 kWh 3803 kWh 1406 kWh £1,031 £141 £1,172 £17,457 14.9 yrs £5,973
7 kW 6077 kWh 4436 kWh 1641 kWh £1,203 £164 £1,367 £19,492 14.3 yrs £7,844
8 kW 6945 kWh 5070 kWh 1875 kWh £1,375 £188 £1,562 £21,526 13.8 yrs £9,715

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: £991, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1302 kWh 434 kWh £353 £43 £396 £11,069 27.9 yrs £-3,140
3 kW 2605 kWh 1953 kWh 651 kWh £530 £65 £595 £13,104 22.0 yrs £-1,210
4 kW 3473 kWh 2605 kWh 868 kWh £706 £87 £793 £15,138 19.1 yrs £720
5 kW 4341 kWh 3256 kWh 1085 kWh £883 £109 £991 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,650
6 kW 5209 kWh 3907 kWh 1302 kWh £1,059 £130 £1,189 £19,207 16.1 yrs £4,580
7 kW 6077 kWh 4558 kWh 1519 kWh £1,236 £152 £1,388 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,510
8 kW 6945 kWh 5209 kWh 1736 kWh £1,412 £174 £1,586 £23,276 14.7 yrs £8,440

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: £1,006, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1736 kWh 1337 kWh 399 kWh £362 £40 £402 £13,519 33.6 yrs £-5,471
3 kW 2605 kWh 2005 kWh 599 kWh £544 £60 £604 £15,554 25.8 yrs £-3,482
4 kW 3473 kWh 2674 kWh 799 kWh £725 £80 £805 £17,588 21.9 yrs £-1,492
5 kW 4341 kWh 3342 kWh 998 kWh £906 £100 £1,006 £19,623 19.5 yrs £497
6 kW 5209 kWh 4011 kWh 1198 kWh £1,087 £120 £1,207 £21,657 17.9 yrs £2,486
7 kW 6077 kWh 4679 kWh 1398 kWh £1,269 £140 £1,408 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,476
8 kW 6945 kWh 5348 kWh 1597 kWh £1,450 £160 £1,610 £25,726 16.0 yrs £6,465

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 M16

Figures below are tailored to M16 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #2110 of 2182
3.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~8 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2411 of 2997
12.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£843 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1932 of 2997
22.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£843 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
868kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~868 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

⚠️ This area is predominantly flats. Many residents require freeholder approval for solar installations. System size shown reflects houses and bungalows only.

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 39% • Flats: 60% • Bungalows: 0% Based on 13,623 properties

Coverage

Trafford (67%)|Manchester (33%)

Areas Covered

Old Trafford, Whalley Range, Longford, Moss Side, Gorse Hill & Cornbrook, Chorlton, Chorlton Park, Denton North 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

M15 (Manchester)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M16
M21 (Manchester)
≈2.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~877 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M16
M50 (Salford)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~875 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M16
M1 (Manchester)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M16
M2 (Manchester)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M16
M5 (Salford)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M16

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT44 (Causeway Coast and Glens)
~868 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M16
EH49 (West Lothian)
~868 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M16
EH52 (West Lothian)
~868 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M16