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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in M27 (Salford)

See if solar pays off for you in Salford — 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
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£585
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,476
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 4.0 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 1735 kWh 694 kWh 1041 kWh £188 £104 £292 £4,069 13.9 yrs £1,777
3 kW 2603 kWh 1041 kWh 1562 kWh £282 £156 £438 £6,104 13.9 yrs £2,665
4 kW 3470 kWh 1388 kWh 2082 kWh £376 £208 £585 £8,138 13.9 yrs £3,553
5 kW 4338 kWh 1735 kWh 2603 kWh £470 £260 £731 £10,173 13.9 yrs £4,442
6 kW 5206 kWh 2082 kWh 3123 kWh £565 £312 £877 £12,207 13.9 yrs £5,330
7 kW 6073 kWh 2429 kWh 3644 kWh £659 £364 £1,023 £14,242 13.9 yrs £6,218
8 kW 6941 kWh 2776 kWh 4165 kWh £753 £416 £1,169 £16,276 13.9 yrs £7,107

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: £879, 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 1735 kWh 1041 kWh 694 kWh £282 £69 £352 £6,169 17.5 yrs £864
3 kW 2603 kWh 1562 kWh 1041 kWh £423 £104 £527 £8,204 15.6 yrs £2,346
4 kW 3470 kWh 2082 kWh 1388 kWh £565 £139 £703 £10,238 14.6 yrs £3,829
5 kW 4338 kWh 2603 kWh 1735 kWh £706 £174 £879 £12,273 14.0 yrs £5,311
6 kW 5206 kWh 3123 kWh 2082 kWh £847 £208 £1,055 £14,307 13.6 yrs £6,793
7 kW 6073 kWh 3644 kWh 2429 kWh £988 £243 £1,231 £16,342 13.3 yrs £8,275
8 kW 6941 kWh 4165 kWh 2776 kWh £1,129 £278 £1,407 £18,376 13.1 yrs £9,757

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: £953, 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 1735 kWh 1215 kWh 521 kWh £329 £52 £381 £7,569 19.8 yrs £58
3 kW 2603 kWh 1822 kWh 781 kWh £494 £78 £572 £9,604 16.8 yrs £1,837
4 kW 3470 kWh 2429 kWh 1041 kWh £659 £104 £763 £11,638 15.3 yrs £3,616
5 kW 4338 kWh 3037 kWh 1301 kWh £823 £130 £953 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,395
6 kW 5206 kWh 3644 kWh 1562 kWh £988 £156 £1,144 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,174
7 kW 6073 kWh 4251 kWh 1822 kWh £1,153 £182 £1,335 £17,742 13.3 yrs £8,953
8 kW 6941 kWh 4859 kWh 2082 kWh £1,317 £208 £1,525 £19,776 13.0 yrs £10,732

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 1735 kWh 1267 kWh 469 kWh £343 £47 £390 £9,319 23.9 yrs £-1,514
3 kW 2603 kWh 1900 kWh 703 kWh £515 £70 £585 £11,354 19.4 yrs £354
4 kW 3470 kWh 2533 kWh 937 kWh £687 £94 £781 £13,388 17.2 yrs £2,222
5 kW 4338 kWh 3167 kWh 1171 kWh £859 £117 £976 £15,423 15.8 yrs £4,090
6 kW 5206 kWh 3800 kWh 1406 kWh £1,030 £141 £1,171 £17,457 14.9 yrs £5,959
7 kW 6073 kWh 4434 kWh 1640 kWh £1,202 £164 £1,366 £19,492 14.3 yrs £7,827
8 kW 6941 kWh 5067 kWh 1874 kWh £1,374 £187 £1,561 £21,526 13.8 yrs £9,695

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: £990, 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 1735 kWh 1301 kWh 434 kWh £353 £43 £396 £11,069 27.9 yrs £-3,145
3 kW 2603 kWh 1952 kWh 651 kWh £529 £65 £594 £13,104 22.0 yrs £-1,218
4 kW 3470 kWh 2603 kWh 868 kWh £706 £87 £792 £15,138 19.1 yrs £710
5 kW 4338 kWh 3254 kWh 1085 kWh £882 £108 £990 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,637
6 kW 5206 kWh 3904 kWh 1301 kWh £1,058 £130 £1,189 £19,207 16.2 yrs £4,565
7 kW 6073 kWh 4555 kWh 1518 kWh £1,235 £152 £1,387 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,492
8 kW 6941 kWh 5206 kWh 1735 kWh £1,411 £174 £1,585 £23,276 14.7 yrs £8,420

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: £1,005, 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 1735 kWh 1336 kWh 399 kWh £362 £40 £402 £13,519 33.6 yrs £-5,476
3 kW 2603 kWh 2004 kWh 599 kWh £543 £60 £603 £15,554 25.8 yrs £-3,489
4 kW 3470 kWh 2672 kWh 798 kWh £724 £80 £804 £17,588 21.9 yrs £-1,503
5 kW 4338 kWh 3340 kWh 998 kWh £906 £100 £1,005 £19,623 19.5 yrs £484
6 kW 5206 kWh 4008 kWh 1197 kWh £1,087 £120 £1,206 £21,657 18.0 yrs £2,471
7 kW 6073 kWh 4676 kWh 1397 kWh £1,268 £140 £1,407 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,458
8 kW 6941 kWh 5345 kWh 1596 kWh £1,449 £160 £1,609 £25,726 16.0 yrs £6,445

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 M27

Figures below are tailored to M27 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1806 of 2182
4.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2414 of 2997
12.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£674 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2490 of 2997
27.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£674 /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
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 74% • Flats: 22% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 11,384 properties

Coverage

Salford (100%)

Areas Covered

Swinton & Wardley, Pendlebury & Clifton, Swinton Park, Worsley & Westwood Park, Claremont, Pendleton & Charlestown, Walkden 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 North West

M30 (Salford)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~875 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M27
M6 (Salford)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M27
M28 (Salford)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · +2% vs M27
M25 (Bury)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~862 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M27
M45 (Bury)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~862 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M27
M17 (Trafford)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~868 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M27

Similar sunshine across the UK

KA20 (North Ayrshire)
~868 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M27
EH52 (West Lothian)
~868 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M27
EH49 (West Lothian)
~868 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M27