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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in NE11 (Gateshead)

See if solar pays off for you in Gateshead — 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
13.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£595
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,728
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 Northern, the current unit rate is 25.43p/kWh with a 59.86p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 919 kWh/kW — 6 below the regional median (926).

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 919 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.4p/kWh
Standing charge
59.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
919 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: £743, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1838 kWh 735 kWh 1103 kWh £187 £110 £297 £4,069 13.7 yrs £1,877
3 kW 2758 kWh 1103 kWh 1655 kWh £281 £165 £446 £6,104 13.7 yrs £2,816
4 kW 3677 kWh 1471 kWh 2206 kWh £374 £221 £595 £8,138 13.7 yrs £3,755
5 kW 4596 kWh 1838 kWh 2758 kWh £468 £276 £743 £10,173 13.7 yrs £4,694
6 kW 5516 kWh 2206 kWh 3309 kWh £561 £331 £892 £12,207 13.7 yrs £5,632
7 kW 6435 kWh 2574 kWh 3861 kWh £655 £386 £1,041 £14,242 13.7 yrs £6,571
8 kW 7354 kWh 2942 kWh 4412 kWh £748 £441 £1,189 £16,276 13.7 yrs £7,510

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: £885, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1838 kWh 1103 kWh 735 kWh £281 £74 £354 £6,169 17.4 yrs £912
3 kW 2758 kWh 1655 kWh 1103 kWh £421 £110 £531 £8,204 15.4 yrs £2,418
4 kW 3677 kWh 2206 kWh 1471 kWh £561 £147 £708 £10,238 14.5 yrs £3,924
5 kW 4596 kWh 2758 kWh 1838 kWh £701 £184 £885 £12,273 13.9 yrs £5,430
6 kW 5516 kWh 3309 kWh 2206 kWh £842 £221 £1,062 £14,307 13.5 yrs £6,936
7 kW 6435 kWh 3861 kWh 2574 kWh £982 £257 £1,239 £16,342 13.2 yrs £8,443
8 kW 7354 kWh 4412 kWh 2942 kWh £1,122 £294 £1,416 £18,376 13.0 yrs £9,949

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: £956, 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 1838 kWh 1287 kWh 552 kWh £327 £55 £382 £7,569 19.8 yrs £80
3 kW 2758 kWh 1930 kWh 827 kWh £491 £83 £574 £9,604 16.7 yrs £1,869
4 kW 3677 kWh 2574 kWh 1103 kWh £655 £110 £765 £11,638 15.2 yrs £3,659
5 kW 4596 kWh 3217 kWh 1379 kWh £818 £138 £956 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,449
6 kW 5516 kWh 3861 kWh 1655 kWh £982 £165 £1,147 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,239
7 kW 6435 kWh 4504 kWh 1930 kWh £1,145 £193 £1,338 £17,742 13.3 yrs £9,028
8 kW 7354 kWh 5148 kWh 2206 kWh £1,309 £221 £1,530 £19,776 12.9 yrs £10,818

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: £977, 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 1838 kWh 1342 kWh 496 kWh £341 £50 £391 £9,319 23.8 yrs £-1,500
3 kW 2758 kWh 2013 kWh 745 kWh £512 £74 £586 £11,354 19.4 yrs £375
4 kW 3677 kWh 2684 kWh 993 kWh £683 £99 £782 £13,388 17.1 yrs £2,249
5 kW 4596 kWh 3355 kWh 1241 kWh £853 £124 £977 £15,423 15.8 yrs £4,124
6 kW 5516 kWh 4026 kWh 1489 kWh £1,024 £149 £1,173 £17,457 14.9 yrs £5,999
7 kW 6435 kWh 4697 kWh 1737 kWh £1,195 £174 £1,368 £19,492 14.2 yrs £7,874
8 kW 7354 kWh 5368 kWh 1986 kWh £1,365 £199 £1,564 £21,526 13.8 yrs £9,749

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: £992, 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 1838 kWh 1379 kWh 460 kWh £351 £46 £397 £11,069 27.9 yrs £-3,137
3 kW 2758 kWh 2068 kWh 689 kWh £526 £69 £595 £13,104 22.0 yrs £-1,205
4 kW 3677 kWh 2758 kWh 919 kWh £701 £92 £793 £15,138 19.1 yrs £726
5 kW 4596 kWh 3447 kWh 1149 kWh £877 £115 £992 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,658
6 kW 5516 kWh 4137 kWh 1379 kWh £1,052 £138 £1,190 £19,207 16.1 yrs £4,590
7 kW 6435 kWh 4826 kWh 1609 kWh £1,227 £161 £1,388 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,521
8 kW 7354 kWh 5516 kWh 1838 kWh £1,403 £184 £1,586 £23,276 14.7 yrs £8,453

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 1838 kWh 1416 kWh 423 kWh £360 £42 £402 £13,519 33.6 yrs £-5,473
3 kW 2758 kWh 2123 kWh 634 kWh £540 £63 £603 £15,554 25.8 yrs £-3,485
4 kW 3677 kWh 2831 kWh 846 kWh £720 £85 £805 £17,588 21.9 yrs £-1,497
5 kW 4596 kWh 3539 kWh 1057 kWh £900 £106 £1,006 £19,623 19.5 yrs £492
6 kW 5516 kWh 4247 kWh 1269 kWh £1,080 £127 £1,207 £21,657 17.9 yrs £2,480
7 kW 6435 kWh 4955 kWh 1480 kWh £1,260 £148 £1,408 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,468
8 kW 7354 kWh 5663 kWh 1691 kWh £1,440 £169 £1,609 £25,726 16.0 yrs £6,457

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 NE11

Figures below are tailored to NE11 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1651 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2328 of 2997
12.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£680 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2717 of 2997
32.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£218 fixed • ~£680 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.43p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.86p/day
Local Sunshine
919kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~919 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: 66% • Flats: 24% • Bungalows: 9% Based on 3,554 properties

Coverage

Gateshead (100%)

Areas Covered

Lamesley, Lobley Hill and Bensham, Dunston and Teams, Dunston Hill and Whickham East, Whickham North, Bridges, Whickham South and Sunniside, Saltwell

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 Northern

NE82 (Gateshead)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NE11
NE92 (Gateshead)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NE11
NE88 (Gateshead)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NE11
NE98 (Gateshead)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~943 kWh/kWp · +3% vs NE11
DH98 (Gateshead)
≈1.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NE11
NE83 (Gateshead)
≈1.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NE11

Similar sunshine across the UK

LS7 (Leeds)
~919 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NE11
NP22 (Blaenau Gwent)
~919 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NE11
S8 (Sheffield)
~919 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NE11