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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in MK7 (Milton Keynes)

See if solar pays off for you in Milton Keynes — 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
12.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£634
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,715
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 East Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.55p/kWh with a 49.09p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 977 kWh/kW — 9 above the regional median (968).

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 977 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
49.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
977 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: £793, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 782 kWh 1173 kWh £200 £117 £317 £4,069 12.8 yrs £2,272
3 kW 2932 kWh 1173 kWh 1759 kWh £300 £176 £476 £6,104 12.8 yrs £3,408
4 kW 3910 kWh 1564 kWh 2346 kWh £400 £235 £634 £8,138 12.8 yrs £4,545
5 kW 4887 kWh 1955 kWh 2932 kWh £499 £293 £793 £10,173 12.8 yrs £5,681
6 kW 5864 kWh 2346 kWh 3519 kWh £599 £352 £951 £12,207 12.8 yrs £6,817
7 kW 6842 kWh 2737 kWh 4105 kWh £699 £411 £1,110 £14,242 12.8 yrs £7,953
8 kW 7819 kWh 3128 kWh 4691 kWh £799 £469 £1,268 £16,276 12.8 yrs £9,089

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: £945, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1173 kWh 782 kWh £300 £78 £378 £6,169 16.3 yrs £1,388
3 kW 2932 kWh 1759 kWh 1173 kWh £450 £117 £567 £8,204 14.5 yrs £3,132
4 kW 3910 kWh 2346 kWh 1564 kWh £599 £156 £756 £10,238 13.5 yrs £4,876
5 kW 4887 kWh 2932 kWh 1955 kWh £749 £195 £945 £12,273 13.0 yrs £6,620
6 kW 5864 kWh 3519 kWh 2346 kWh £899 £235 £1,134 £14,307 12.6 yrs £8,364
7 kW 6842 kWh 4105 kWh 2737 kWh £1,049 £274 £1,323 £16,342 12.4 yrs £10,109
8 kW 7819 kWh 4691 kWh 3128 kWh £1,199 £313 £1,511 £18,376 12.2 yrs £11,853

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: £1,021, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1368 kWh 586 kWh £350 £59 £408 £7,569 18.5 yrs £596
3 kW 2932 kWh 2053 kWh 880 kWh £524 £88 £612 £9,604 15.7 yrs £2,644
4 kW 3910 kWh 2737 kWh 1173 kWh £699 £117 £817 £11,638 14.3 yrs £4,692
5 kW 4887 kWh 3421 kWh 1466 kWh £874 £147 £1,021 £13,673 13.4 yrs £6,740
6 kW 5864 kWh 4105 kWh 1759 kWh £1,049 £176 £1,225 £15,707 12.8 yrs £8,788
7 kW 6842 kWh 4789 kWh 2053 kWh £1,224 £205 £1,429 £17,742 12.4 yrs £10,836
8 kW 7819 kWh 5473 kWh 2346 kWh £1,398 £235 £1,633 £19,776 12.1 yrs £12,884

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: £1,043, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1427 kWh 528 kWh £365 £53 £417 £9,319 22.3 yrs £-972
3 kW 2932 kWh 2140 kWh 792 kWh £547 £79 £626 £11,354 18.1 yrs £1,168
4 kW 3910 kWh 2854 kWh 1056 kWh £729 £106 £835 £13,388 16.0 yrs £3,307
5 kW 4887 kWh 3567 kWh 1319 kWh £911 £132 £1,043 £15,423 14.8 yrs £5,446
6 kW 5864 kWh 4281 kWh 1583 kWh £1,094 £158 £1,252 £17,457 13.9 yrs £7,585
7 kW 6842 kWh 4994 kWh 1847 kWh £1,276 £185 £1,461 £19,492 13.3 yrs £9,725
8 kW 7819 kWh 5708 kWh 2111 kWh £1,458 £211 £1,669 £21,526 12.9 yrs £11,864

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: £1,059, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1466 kWh 489 kWh £375 £49 £423 £11,069 26.1 yrs £-2,600
3 kW 2932 kWh 2199 kWh 733 kWh £562 £73 £635 £13,104 20.6 yrs £-400
4 kW 3910 kWh 2932 kWh 977 kWh £749 £98 £847 £15,138 17.9 yrs £1,800
5 kW 4887 kWh 3665 kWh 1222 kWh £936 £122 £1,059 £17,173 16.2 yrs £4,000
6 kW 5864 kWh 4398 kWh 1466 kWh £1,124 £147 £1,270 £19,207 15.1 yrs £6,200
7 kW 6842 kWh 5131 kWh 1710 kWh £1,311 £171 £1,482 £21,242 14.3 yrs £8,400
8 kW 7819 kWh 5864 kWh 1955 kWh £1,498 £195 £1,694 £23,276 13.7 yrs £10,600

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: £1,074, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1955 kWh 1505 kWh 450 kWh £385 £45 £430 £13,519 31.5 yrs £-4,928
3 kW 2932 kWh 2258 kWh 674 kWh £577 £67 £644 £15,554 24.1 yrs £-2,668
4 kW 3910 kWh 3010 kWh 899 kWh £769 £90 £859 £17,588 20.5 yrs £-407
5 kW 4887 kWh 3763 kWh 1124 kWh £961 £112 £1,074 £19,623 18.3 yrs £1,854
6 kW 5864 kWh 4516 kWh 1349 kWh £1,154 £135 £1,289 £21,657 16.8 yrs £4,115
7 kW 6842 kWh 5268 kWh 1574 kWh £1,346 £157 £1,503 £23,692 15.8 yrs £6,376
8 kW 7819 kWh 6021 kWh 1798 kWh £1,538 £180 £1,718 £25,726 15.0 yrs £8,637

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 MK7

Figures below are tailored to MK7 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #2118 of 2182
3.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~8 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1549 of 2997
11.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£725 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2194 of 2997
24.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£179 fixed • ~£725 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.55p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.09p/day
Local Sunshine
977kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~977 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: 21% • Bungalows: 3% Based on 3,740 properties

Coverage

Milton Keynes (100%)

Areas Covered

Monkston, Danesborough & Walton, Bletchley 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 East Midlands

MK10 (Milton Keynes)
≈1.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~985 kWh/kWp · +1% vs MK7
MK17 (Milton Keynes)
≈2.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · +1% vs MK7
MK1 (Milton Keynes)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~977 kWh/kWp · -0% vs MK7
MK6 (Milton Keynes)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~985 kWh/kWp · +1% vs MK7
MK2 (Milton Keynes)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~985 kWh/kWp · +1% vs MK7
MK3 (Milton Keynes)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~985 kWh/kWp · +1% vs MK7

Similar sunshine across the UK

WR10 (Wychavon)
~977 kWh/kWp · -0% vs MK7
GL20 (Tewkesbury)
~977 kWh/kWp · +0% vs MK7
HR8 (Herefordshire, County of)
~978 kWh/kWp · +0% vs MK7