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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in M7 (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
14.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£726
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,972
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 862 kWh/kW — 8 below the regional median (870).

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 862 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)
862 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: £726, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1724 kWh 689 kWh 1034 kWh £187 £103 £290 £4,069 14.0 yrs £1,737
3 kW 2585 kWh 1034 kWh 1551 kWh £280 £155 £435 £6,104 14.0 yrs £2,606
4 kW 3447 kWh 1379 kWh 2068 kWh £374 £207 £581 £8,138 14.0 yrs £3,474
5 kW 4309 kWh 1724 kWh 2585 kWh £467 £259 £726 £10,173 14.0 yrs £4,343
6 kW 5170 kWh 2068 kWh 3102 kWh £561 £310 £871 £12,207 14.0 yrs £5,211
7 kW 6032 kWh 2413 kWh 3619 kWh £654 £362 £1,016 £14,242 14.0 yrs £6,080
8 kW 6894 kWh 2758 kWh 4136 kWh £748 £414 £1,161 £16,276 14.0 yrs £6,948

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: £873, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1724 kWh 1034 kWh 689 kWh £280 £69 £349 £6,169 17.7 yrs £817
3 kW 2585 kWh 1551 kWh 1034 kWh £421 £103 £524 £8,204 15.7 yrs £2,275
4 kW 3447 kWh 2068 kWh 1379 kWh £561 £138 £699 £10,238 14.7 yrs £3,733
5 kW 4309 kWh 2585 kWh 1724 kWh £701 £172 £873 £12,273 14.1 yrs £5,192
6 kW 5170 kWh 3102 kWh 2068 kWh £841 £207 £1,048 £14,307 13.7 yrs £6,650
7 kW 6032 kWh 3619 kWh 2413 kWh £981 £241 £1,222 £16,342 13.4 yrs £8,108
8 kW 6894 kWh 4136 kWh 2758 kWh £1,121 £276 £1,397 £18,376 13.2 yrs £9,567

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: £947, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1724 kWh 1206 kWh 517 kWh £327 £52 £379 £7,569 20.0 yrs £6
3 kW 2585 kWh 1810 kWh 776 kWh £491 £78 £568 £9,604 16.9 yrs £1,760
4 kW 3447 kWh 2413 kWh 1034 kWh £654 £103 £758 £11,638 15.4 yrs £3,513
5 kW 4309 kWh 3016 kWh 1293 kWh £818 £129 £947 £13,673 14.4 yrs £5,266
6 kW 5170 kWh 3619 kWh 1551 kWh £981 £155 £1,136 £15,707 13.8 yrs £7,019
7 kW 6032 kWh 4223 kWh 1810 kWh £1,145 £181 £1,326 £17,742 13.4 yrs £8,773
8 kW 6894 kWh 4826 kWh 2068 kWh £1,308 £207 £1,515 £19,776 13.1 yrs £10,526

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: £969, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1724 kWh 1258 kWh 465 kWh £341 £47 £388 £9,319 24.0 yrs £-1,567
3 kW 2585 kWh 1887 kWh 698 kWh £512 £70 £581 £11,354 19.5 yrs £275
4 kW 3447 kWh 2516 kWh 931 kWh £682 £93 £775 £13,388 17.3 yrs £2,117
5 kW 4309 kWh 3145 kWh 1163 kWh £853 £116 £969 £15,423 15.9 yrs £3,958
6 kW 5170 kWh 3774 kWh 1396 kWh £1,023 £140 £1,163 £17,457 15.0 yrs £5,800
7 kW 6032 kWh 4404 kWh 1629 kWh £1,194 £163 £1,357 £19,492 14.4 yrs £7,642
8 kW 6894 kWh 5033 kWh 1861 kWh £1,364 £186 £1,550 £21,526 13.9 yrs £9,484

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: £984, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1724 kWh 1293 kWh 431 kWh £350 £43 £394 £11,069 28.1 yrs £-3,199
3 kW 2585 kWh 1939 kWh 646 kWh £526 £65 £590 £13,104 22.2 yrs £-1,298
4 kW 3447 kWh 2585 kWh 862 kWh £701 £86 £787 £15,138 19.2 yrs £603
5 kW 4309 kWh 3232 kWh 1077 kWh £876 £108 £984 £17,173 17.5 yrs £2,503
6 kW 5170 kWh 3878 kWh 1293 kWh £1,051 £129 £1,181 £19,207 16.3 yrs £4,404
7 kW 6032 kWh 4524 kWh 1508 kWh £1,227 £151 £1,377 £21,242 15.4 yrs £6,305
8 kW 6894 kWh 5170 kWh 1724 kWh £1,402 £172 £1,574 £23,276 14.8 yrs £8,205

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: £999, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1724 kWh 1327 kWh 396 kWh £360 £40 £399 £13,519 33.8 yrs £-5,531
3 kW 2585 kWh 1991 kWh 595 kWh £540 £59 £599 £15,554 26.0 yrs £-3,571
4 kW 3447 kWh 2654 kWh 793 kWh £720 £79 £799 £17,588 22.0 yrs £-1,611
5 kW 4309 kWh 3318 kWh 991 kWh £899 £99 £999 £19,623 19.7 yrs £348
6 kW 5170 kWh 3981 kWh 1189 kWh £1,079 £119 £1,198 £21,657 18.1 yrs £2,308
7 kW 6032 kWh 4645 kWh 1387 kWh £1,259 £139 £1,398 £23,692 16.9 yrs £4,268
8 kW 6894 kWh 5308 kWh 1586 kWh £1,439 £159 £1,598 £25,726 16.1 yrs £6,227

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 M7

Figures below are tailored to M7 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1796 of 2182
4.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2514 of 2997
12.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£836 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1984 of 2997
22.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£836 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
862kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~862 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

Houses: 55% • Flats: 42% • Bungalows: 2% Based on 10,749 properties

Coverage

Salford (91%)|Manchester (8%)|Bury (1%)

Areas Covered

Broughton, Kersal & Broughton Park, Cheetham, St. Mary's, Crumpsall, Blackfriars & Trinity

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

M8 (Manchester)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~853 kWh/kWp · -1% vs M7
M3 (Manchester)
≈2.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M7
M6 (Salford)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M7
M4 (Manchester)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M7
M2 (Manchester)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M7
M5 (Salford)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · +1% vs M7

Similar sunshine across the UK

FK16 (Stirling)
~861 kWh/kWp · -0% vs M7
KY8 (Fife)
~862 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M7
AB53 (Aberdeenshire)
~862 kWh/kWp · +0% vs M7