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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in NE37 (Sunderland)

See if solar pays off for you in Sunderland — 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
13.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£760
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,835
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 940 kWh/kW — 15 above the regional median (926).

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 940 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)
940 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: £760, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1881 kWh 752 kWh 1128 kWh £191 £113 £304 £4,069 13.4 yrs £2,013
3 kW 2821 kWh 1128 kWh 1692 kWh £287 £169 £456 £6,104 13.4 yrs £3,020
4 kW 3761 kWh 1504 kWh 2257 kWh £383 £226 £608 £8,138 13.4 yrs £4,027
5 kW 4701 kWh 1881 kWh 2821 kWh £478 £282 £760 £10,173 13.4 yrs £5,033
6 kW 5642 kWh 2257 kWh 3385 kWh £574 £338 £912 £12,207 13.4 yrs £6,040
7 kW 6582 kWh 2633 kWh 3949 kWh £670 £395 £1,064 £14,242 13.4 yrs £7,047
8 kW 7522 kWh 3009 kWh 4513 kWh £765 £451 £1,216 £16,276 13.4 yrs £8,054

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: £905, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1881 kWh 1128 kWh 752 kWh £287 £75 £362 £6,169 17.0 yrs £1,074
3 kW 2821 kWh 1692 kWh 1128 kWh £430 £113 £543 £8,204 15.1 yrs £2,661
4 kW 3761 kWh 2257 kWh 1504 kWh £574 £150 £724 £10,238 14.1 yrs £4,248
5 kW 4701 kWh 2821 kWh 1881 kWh £717 £188 £905 £12,273 13.6 yrs £5,835
6 kW 5642 kWh 3385 kWh 2257 kWh £861 £226 £1,086 £14,307 13.2 yrs £7,422
7 kW 6582 kWh 3949 kWh 2633 kWh £1,004 £263 £1,268 £16,342 12.9 yrs £9,009
8 kW 7522 kWh 4513 kWh 3009 kWh £1,148 £301 £1,449 £18,376 12.7 yrs £10,596

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: £978, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1881 kWh 1316 kWh 564 kWh £335 £56 £391 £7,569 19.3 yrs £254
3 kW 2821 kWh 1975 kWh 846 kWh £502 £85 £587 £9,604 16.4 yrs £2,132
4 kW 3761 kWh 2633 kWh 1128 kWh £670 £113 £782 £11,638 14.9 yrs £4,009
5 kW 4701 kWh 3291 kWh 1410 kWh £837 £141 £978 £13,673 14.0 yrs £5,886
6 kW 5642 kWh 3949 kWh 1692 kWh £1,004 £169 £1,174 £15,707 13.4 yrs £7,763
7 kW 6582 kWh 4607 kWh 1975 kWh £1,172 £197 £1,369 £17,742 13.0 yrs £9,640
8 kW 7522 kWh 5266 kWh 2257 kWh £1,339 £226 £1,565 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,518

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: £1,000, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1881 kWh 1373 kWh 508 kWh £349 £51 £400 £9,319 23.3 yrs £-1,321
3 kW 2821 kWh 2059 kWh 762 kWh £524 £76 £600 £11,354 18.9 yrs £643
4 kW 3761 kWh 2746 kWh 1015 kWh £698 £102 £800 £13,388 16.7 yrs £2,607
5 kW 4701 kWh 3432 kWh 1269 kWh £873 £127 £1,000 £15,423 15.4 yrs £4,571
6 kW 5642 kWh 4118 kWh 1523 kWh £1,047 £152 £1,200 £17,457 14.6 yrs £6,536
7 kW 6582 kWh 4805 kWh 1777 kWh £1,222 £178 £1,400 £19,492 13.9 yrs £8,500
8 kW 7522 kWh 5491 kWh 2031 kWh £1,396 £203 £1,600 £21,526 13.5 yrs £10,464

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: £1,014, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1881 kWh 1410 kWh 470 kWh £359 £47 £406 £11,069 27.3 yrs £-2,955
3 kW 2821 kWh 2116 kWh 705 kWh £538 £71 £609 £13,104 21.5 yrs £-933
4 kW 3761 kWh 2821 kWh 940 kWh £717 £94 £811 £15,138 18.7 yrs £1,089
5 kW 4701 kWh 3526 kWh 1175 kWh £897 £118 £1,014 £17,173 16.9 yrs £3,111
6 kW 5642 kWh 4231 kWh 1410 kWh £1,076 £141 £1,217 £19,207 15.8 yrs £5,134
7 kW 6582 kWh 4936 kWh 1645 kWh £1,255 £165 £1,420 £21,242 15.0 yrs £7,156
8 kW 7522 kWh 5642 kWh 1881 kWh £1,435 £188 £1,623 £23,276 14.3 yrs £9,178

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: £1,029, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1881 kWh 1448 kWh 433 kWh £368 £43 £411 £13,519 32.9 yrs £-5,289
3 kW 2821 kWh 2172 kWh 649 kWh £552 £65 £617 £15,554 25.2 yrs £-3,209
4 kW 3761 kWh 2896 kWh 865 kWh £736 £87 £823 £17,588 21.4 yrs £-1,129
5 kW 4701 kWh 3620 kWh 1081 kWh £921 £108 £1,029 £19,623 19.1 yrs £952
6 kW 5642 kWh 4344 kWh 1298 kWh £1,105 £130 £1,234 £21,657 17.5 yrs £3,032
7 kW 6582 kWh 5068 kWh 1514 kWh £1,289 £151 £1,440 £23,692 16.5 yrs £5,112
8 kW 7522 kWh 5792 kWh 1730 kWh £1,473 £173 £1,646 £25,726 15.6 yrs £7,193

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 NE37

Figures below are tailored to NE37 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1529 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2002 of 2997
11.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£869 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2239 of 2997
25.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£218 fixed • ~£869 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.43p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.86p/day
Local Sunshine
940kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~940 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: 19% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 7,616 properties

Coverage

Sunderland (100%)

Areas Covered

Washington West, Washington North, Washington Central, Washington South, Washington East, Fellgate and Hedworth

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

NE89 (Sunderland)
≈1.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~940 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NE37
NE38 (Sunderland)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~929 kWh/kWp · -1% vs NE37
NE10 (Gateshead)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~925 kWh/kWp · -2% vs NE37
NE9 (Gateshead)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · -1% vs NE37
DH98 (Gateshead)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · -2% vs NE37
NE83 (Gateshead)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · -2% vs NE37

Similar sunshine across the UK

CH7 (Flintshire)
~940 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NE37
LL36 (Gwynedd)
~940 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NE37
WF10 (Wakefield)
~940 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NE37