Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in NE25 (North Tyneside)

See if solar pays off for you in North Tyneside — 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
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£752
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,633
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

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 930 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)
930 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: £752, 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 1861 kWh 744 kWh 1116 kWh £189 £112 £301 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,949
3 kW 2791 kWh 1116 kWh 1674 kWh £284 £167 £451 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,923
4 kW 3721 kWh 1488 kWh 2233 kWh £379 £223 £602 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,897
5 kW 4651 kWh 1861 kWh 2791 kWh £473 £279 £752 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,872
6 kW 5582 kWh 2233 kWh 3349 kWh £568 £335 £903 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,846
7 kW 6512 kWh 2605 kWh 3907 kWh £662 £391 £1,053 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,820
8 kW 7442 kWh 2977 kWh 4465 kWh £757 £447 £1,204 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,795

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: £896, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1861 kWh 1116 kWh 744 kWh £284 £74 £358 £6,169 17.2 yrs £997
3 kW 2791 kWh 1674 kWh 1116 kWh £426 £112 £537 £8,204 15.3 yrs £2,545
4 kW 3721 kWh 2233 kWh 1488 kWh £568 £149 £717 £10,238 14.3 yrs £4,094
5 kW 4651 kWh 2791 kWh 1861 kWh £710 £186 £896 £12,273 13.7 yrs £5,642
6 kW 5582 kWh 3349 kWh 2233 kWh £852 £223 £1,075 £14,307 13.3 yrs £7,191
7 kW 6512 kWh 3907 kWh 2605 kWh £994 £260 £1,254 £16,342 13.0 yrs £8,739
8 kW 7442 kWh 4465 kWh 2977 kWh £1,136 £298 £1,433 £18,376 12.8 yrs £10,288

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: £968, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1861 kWh 1302 kWh 558 kWh £331 £56 £387 £7,569 19.6 yrs £171
3 kW 2791 kWh 1954 kWh 837 kWh £497 £84 £581 £9,604 16.5 yrs £2,007
4 kW 3721 kWh 2605 kWh 1116 kWh £662 £112 £774 £11,638 15.0 yrs £3,842
5 kW 4651 kWh 3256 kWh 1395 kWh £828 £140 £968 £13,673 14.1 yrs £5,678
6 kW 5582 kWh 3907 kWh 1674 kWh £994 £167 £1,161 £15,707 13.5 yrs £7,513
7 kW 6512 kWh 4558 kWh 1954 kWh £1,159 £195 £1,355 £17,742 13.1 yrs £9,349
8 kW 7442 kWh 5209 kWh 2233 kWh £1,325 £223 £1,548 £19,776 12.8 yrs £11,184

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: £989, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 1358 kWh 502 kWh £345 £50 £396 £9,319 23.6 yrs £-1,407
3 kW 2791 kWh 2037 kWh 754 kWh £518 £75 £593 £11,354 19.1 yrs £515
4 kW 3721 kWh 2716 kWh 1005 kWh £691 £100 £791 £13,388 16.9 yrs £2,437
5 kW 4651 kWh 3395 kWh 1256 kWh £863 £126 £989 £15,423 15.6 yrs £4,358
6 kW 5582 kWh 4075 kWh 1507 kWh £1,036 £151 £1,187 £17,457 14.7 yrs £6,280
7 kW 6512 kWh 4754 kWh 1758 kWh £1,209 £176 £1,385 £19,492 14.1 yrs £8,202
8 kW 7442 kWh 5433 kWh 2009 kWh £1,382 £201 £1,582 £21,526 13.6 yrs £10,123

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: £1,003, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 1395 kWh 465 kWh £355 £47 £401 £11,069 27.6 yrs £-3,042
3 kW 2791 kWh 2093 kWh 698 kWh £532 £70 £602 £13,104 21.8 yrs £-1,063
4 kW 3721 kWh 2791 kWh 930 kWh £710 £93 £803 £15,138 18.9 yrs £916
5 kW 4651 kWh 3488 kWh 1163 kWh £887 £116 £1,003 £17,173 17.1 yrs £2,895
6 kW 5582 kWh 4186 kWh 1395 kWh £1,065 £140 £1,204 £19,207 16.0 yrs £4,875
7 kW 6512 kWh 4884 kWh 1628 kWh £1,242 £163 £1,405 £21,242 15.1 yrs £6,854
8 kW 7442 kWh 5582 kWh 1861 kWh £1,419 £186 £1,605 £23,276 14.5 yrs £8,833

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: £1,018, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1861 kWh 1433 kWh 428 kWh £364 £43 £407 £13,519 33.2 yrs £-5,377
3 kW 2791 kWh 2149 kWh 642 kWh £546 £64 £611 £15,554 25.5 yrs £-3,340
4 kW 3721 kWh 2865 kWh 856 kWh £729 £86 £814 £17,588 21.6 yrs £-1,304
5 kW 4651 kWh 3582 kWh 1070 kWh £911 £107 £1,018 £19,623 19.3 yrs £733
6 kW 5582 kWh 4298 kWh 1284 kWh £1,093 £128 £1,221 £21,657 17.7 yrs £2,769
7 kW 6512 kWh 5014 kWh 1498 kWh £1,275 £150 £1,425 £23,692 16.6 yrs £4,806
8 kW 7442 kWh 5730 kWh 1712 kWh £1,457 £171 £1,628 £25,726 15.8 yrs £6,842

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.43p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.86p/day
Local Sunshine
930kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~930 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: 66% • Flats: 22% • Bungalows: 11% Based on 6,911 properties

Coverage

North Tyneside (67%)|Northumberland (33%)

Areas Covered

Monkseaton, St Mary's, Holywell, New York & Murton, Cullercoats & Whitley Bay South, Seghill with Seaton Delaval, Hartley, Cramlington East & Double Row + 1 more

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.