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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in NG3 (Nottingham)

See if solar pays off for you in Nottingham — 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
13.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£616
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,256
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 949 kWh/kW — 19 below 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 949 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)
949 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: £770, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1898 kWh 759 kWh 1139 kWh £194 £114 £308 £4,069 13.2 yrs £2,088
3 kW 2847 kWh 1139 kWh 1708 kWh £291 £171 £462 £6,104 13.2 yrs £3,133
4 kW 3796 kWh 1518 kWh 2278 kWh £388 £228 £616 £8,138 13.2 yrs £4,177
5 kW 4745 kWh 1898 kWh 2847 kWh £485 £285 £770 £10,173 13.2 yrs £5,221
6 kW 5694 kWh 2278 kWh 3417 kWh £582 £342 £924 £12,207 13.2 yrs £6,265
7 kW 6643 kWh 2657 kWh 3986 kWh £679 £399 £1,078 £14,242 13.2 yrs £7,309
8 kW 7592 kWh 3037 kWh 4555 kWh £776 £456 £1,231 £16,276 13.2 yrs £8,354

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: £917, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1898 kWh 1139 kWh 759 kWh £291 £76 £367 £6,169 16.8 yrs £1,169
3 kW 2847 kWh 1708 kWh 1139 kWh £436 £114 £550 £8,204 14.9 yrs £2,804
4 kW 3796 kWh 2278 kWh 1518 kWh £582 £152 £734 £10,238 14.0 yrs £4,438
5 kW 4745 kWh 2847 kWh 1898 kWh £727 £190 £917 £12,273 13.4 yrs £6,073
6 kW 5694 kWh 3417 kWh 2278 kWh £873 £228 £1,101 £14,307 13.0 yrs £7,707
7 kW 6643 kWh 3986 kWh 2657 kWh £1,018 £266 £1,284 £16,342 12.7 yrs £9,342
8 kW 7592 kWh 4555 kWh 3037 kWh £1,164 £304 £1,468 £18,376 12.5 yrs £10,976

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: £991, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1898 kWh 1329 kWh 569 kWh £339 £57 £396 £7,569 19.1 yrs £359
3 kW 2847 kWh 1993 kWh 854 kWh £509 £85 £595 £9,604 16.2 yrs £2,289
4 kW 3796 kWh 2657 kWh 1139 kWh £679 £114 £793 £11,638 14.7 yrs £4,219
5 kW 4745 kWh 3322 kWh 1424 kWh £849 £142 £991 £13,673 13.8 yrs £6,148
6 kW 5694 kWh 3986 kWh 1708 kWh £1,018 £171 £1,189 £15,707 13.2 yrs £8,078
7 kW 6643 kWh 4650 kWh 1993 kWh £1,188 £199 £1,387 £17,742 12.8 yrs £10,008
8 kW 7592 kWh 5315 kWh 2278 kWh £1,358 £228 £1,586 £19,776 12.5 yrs £11,937

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: £1,013, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1898 kWh 1386 kWh 512 kWh £354 £51 £405 £9,319 23.0 yrs £-1,214
3 kW 2847 kWh 2078 kWh 769 kWh £531 £77 £608 £11,354 18.7 yrs £805
4 kW 3796 kWh 2771 kWh 1025 kWh £708 £102 £811 £13,388 16.5 yrs £2,823
5 kW 4745 kWh 3464 kWh 1281 kWh £885 £128 £1,013 £15,423 15.2 yrs £4,841
6 kW 5694 kWh 4157 kWh 1537 kWh £1,062 £154 £1,216 £17,457 14.4 yrs £6,859
7 kW 6643 kWh 4850 kWh 1794 kWh £1,239 £179 £1,418 £19,492 13.7 yrs £8,878
8 kW 7592 kWh 5542 kWh 2050 kWh £1,416 £205 £1,621 £21,526 13.3 yrs £10,896

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: £1,028, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1898 kWh 1424 kWh 475 kWh £364 £47 £411 £11,069 26.9 yrs £-2,846
3 kW 2847 kWh 2135 kWh 712 kWh £546 £71 £617 £13,104 21.2 yrs £-768
4 kW 3796 kWh 2847 kWh 949 kWh £727 £95 £822 £15,138 18.4 yrs £1,309
5 kW 4745 kWh 3559 kWh 1186 kWh £909 £119 £1,028 £17,173 16.7 yrs £3,386
6 kW 5694 kWh 4271 kWh 1424 kWh £1,091 £142 £1,234 £19,207 15.6 yrs £5,463
7 kW 6643 kWh 4983 kWh 1661 kWh £1,273 £166 £1,439 £21,242 14.8 yrs £7,541
8 kW 7592 kWh 5694 kWh 1898 kWh £1,455 £190 £1,645 £23,276 14.2 yrs £9,618

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: £1,043, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1898 kWh 1462 kWh 437 kWh £373 £44 £417 £13,519 32.4 yrs £-5,177
3 kW 2847 kWh 2192 kWh 655 kWh £560 £65 £626 £15,554 24.9 yrs £-3,041
4 kW 3796 kWh 2923 kWh 873 kWh £747 £87 £834 £17,588 21.1 yrs £-905
5 kW 4745 kWh 3654 kWh 1091 kWh £934 £109 £1,043 £19,623 18.8 yrs £1,231
6 kW 5694 kWh 4385 kWh 1310 kWh £1,120 £131 £1,251 £21,657 17.3 yrs £3,368
7 kW 6643 kWh 5115 kWh 1528 kWh £1,307 £153 £1,460 £23,692 16.2 yrs £5,504
8 kW 7592 kWh 5846 kWh 1746 kWh £1,494 £175 £1,668 £25,726 15.4 yrs £7,640

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 NG3

Figures below are tailored to NG3 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1884 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1881 of 2997
11.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£704 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2296 of 2997
25.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£179 fixed • ~£704 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.55p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.09p/day
Local Sunshine
949kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~949 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: 62% • Flats: 30% • Bungalows: 5% Based on 17,721 properties

Coverage

Nottingham (80%)|Gedling (20%)

Areas Covered

St. Ann's, Mapperley, Porchester, Dales, Plains, Carlton Hill, Castle, Woodthorpe + 4 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.

Compare nearby areas

Nearby in East Midlands

NG1 (Nottingham)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~949 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NG3
NG2 (Nottingham)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~953 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NG3
NG7 (Nottingham)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~942 kWh/kWp · -1% vs NG3
NG4 (Gedling)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~967 kWh/kWp · +2% vs NG3
NG5 (Gedling)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~951 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NG3
NG6 (Nottingham)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~942 kWh/kWp · -1% vs NG3

Similar sunshine across the UK

HR2 (Herefordshire, County of)
~949 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NG3
WF8 (Wakefield)
~949 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NG3
NE66 (Northumberland)
~949 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NG3