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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in M44 (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
13.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£603
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,927
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 894 kWh/kW — 24 above 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 894 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)
894 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: £753, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1789 kWh 716 kWh 1073 kWh £194 £107 £301 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,957
3 kW 2683 kWh 1073 kWh 1610 kWh £291 £161 £452 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,936
4 kW 3578 kWh 1431 kWh 2147 kWh £388 £215 £603 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,914
5 kW 4472 kWh 1789 kWh 2683 kWh £485 £268 £753 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,893
6 kW 5366 kWh 2147 kWh 3220 kWh £582 £322 £904 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,871
7 kW 6261 kWh 2504 kWh 3757 kWh £679 £376 £1,055 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,850
8 kW 7155 kWh 2862 kWh 4293 kWh £776 £429 £1,205 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,829

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: £906, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1789 kWh 1073 kWh 716 kWh £291 £72 £363 £6,169 17.0 yrs £1,081
3 kW 2683 kWh 1610 kWh 1073 kWh £436 £107 £544 £8,204 15.1 yrs £2,672
4 kW 3578 kWh 2147 kWh 1431 kWh £582 £143 £725 £10,238 14.1 yrs £4,263
5 kW 4472 kWh 2683 kWh 1789 kWh £727 £179 £906 £12,273 13.5 yrs £5,854
6 kW 5366 kWh 3220 kWh 2147 kWh £873 £215 £1,088 £14,307 13.2 yrs £7,444
7 kW 6261 kWh 3757 kWh 2504 kWh £1,018 £250 £1,269 £16,342 12.9 yrs £9,035
8 kW 7155 kWh 4293 kWh 2862 kWh £1,164 £286 £1,450 £18,376 12.7 yrs £10,626

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: £983, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1789 kWh 1252 kWh 537 kWh £339 £54 £393 £7,569 19.3 yrs £294
3 kW 2683 kWh 1878 kWh 805 kWh £509 £80 £590 £9,604 16.3 yrs £2,190
4 kW 3578 kWh 2504 kWh 1073 kWh £679 £107 £786 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,087
5 kW 4472 kWh 3130 kWh 1342 kWh £849 £134 £983 £13,673 13.9 yrs £5,984
6 kW 5366 kWh 3757 kWh 1610 kWh £1,018 £161 £1,179 £15,707 13.3 yrs £7,881
7 kW 6261 kWh 4383 kWh 1878 kWh £1,188 £188 £1,376 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,777
8 kW 7155 kWh 5009 kWh 2147 kWh £1,358 £215 £1,573 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,674

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: £1,006, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1789 kWh 1306 kWh 483 kWh £354 £48 £402 £9,319 23.2 yrs £-1,273
3 kW 2683 kWh 1959 kWh 724 kWh £531 £72 £603 £11,354 18.8 yrs £716
4 kW 3578 kWh 2612 kWh 966 kWh £708 £97 £805 £13,388 16.6 yrs £2,704
5 kW 4472 kWh 3265 kWh 1207 kWh £885 £121 £1,006 £15,423 15.3 yrs £4,693
6 kW 5366 kWh 3918 kWh 1449 kWh £1,062 £145 £1,207 £17,457 14.5 yrs £6,682
7 kW 6261 kWh 4570 kWh 1690 kWh £1,239 £169 £1,408 £19,492 13.8 yrs £8,670
8 kW 7155 kWh 5223 kWh 1932 kWh £1,416 £193 £1,609 £21,526 13.4 yrs £10,659

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: £1,021, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1789 kWh 1342 kWh 447 kWh £364 £45 £408 £11,069 27.1 yrs £-2,900
3 kW 2683 kWh 2012 kWh 671 kWh £546 £67 £613 £13,104 21.4 yrs £-851
4 kW 3578 kWh 2683 kWh 894 kWh £727 £89 £817 £15,138 18.5 yrs £1,199
5 kW 4472 kWh 3354 kWh 1118 kWh £909 £112 £1,021 £17,173 16.8 yrs £3,249
6 kW 5366 kWh 4025 kWh 1342 kWh £1,091 £134 £1,225 £19,207 15.7 yrs £5,299
7 kW 6261 kWh 4696 kWh 1565 kWh £1,273 £157 £1,430 £21,242 14.9 yrs £7,349
8 kW 7155 kWh 5366 kWh 1789 kWh £1,455 £179 £1,634 £23,276 14.2 yrs £9,399

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: £1,036, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1789 kWh 1377 kWh 411 kWh £373 £41 £415 £13,519 32.6 yrs £-5,228
3 kW 2683 kWh 2066 kWh 617 kWh £560 £62 £622 £15,554 25.0 yrs £-3,117
4 kW 3578 kWh 2755 kWh 823 kWh £747 £82 £829 £17,588 21.2 yrs £-1,006
5 kW 4472 kWh 3443 kWh 1029 kWh £934 £103 £1,036 £19,623 18.9 yrs £1,105
6 kW 5366 kWh 4132 kWh 1234 kWh £1,120 £123 £1,244 £21,657 17.4 yrs £3,216
7 kW 6261 kWh 4821 kWh 1440 kWh £1,307 £144 £1,451 £23,692 16.3 yrs £5,327
8 kW 7155 kWh 5510 kWh 1646 kWh £1,494 £165 £1,658 £25,726 15.5 yrs £7,438

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 M44

Figures below are tailored to M44 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1592 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2000 of 2997
11.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£694 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2414 of 2997
26.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£694 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
894kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~894 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: 72% • Flats: 16% • Bungalows: 12% Based on 4,831 properties

Coverage

Salford (100%)

Areas Covered

Cadishead & Lower Irlam, Higher Irlam & Peel Green

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

M31 (Trafford)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~891 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M44
M41 (Trafford)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~882 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M44
M30 (Salford)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~875 kWh/kWp · -2% vs M44
M33 (Trafford)
≈7.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M44
WA14 (Trafford)
≈7.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~890 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M44
WA3 (Warrington)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~903 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M44

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT27 (Lisburn and Castlereagh)
~894 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M44
BT28 (Lisburn and Castlereagh)
~895 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M44
PA66 (Argyll and Bute)
~894 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M44