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

Solar Panels in NR14 (South Norfolk)

See if solar pays off for you in South Norfolk — 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
11.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,054
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,140
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 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1057 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
48.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1057 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: £878, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2115 kWh 846 kWh 1269 kWh £224 £127 £351 £4,069 11.6 yrs £2,957
3 kW 3172 kWh 1269 kWh 1903 kWh £337 £190 £527 £6,104 11.6 yrs £4,435
4 kW 4229 kWh 1692 kWh 2538 kWh £449 £254 £703 £8,138 11.6 yrs £5,914
5 kW 5287 kWh 2115 kWh 3172 kWh £561 £317 £878 £10,173 11.6 yrs £7,392
6 kW 6344 kWh 2538 kWh 3806 kWh £673 £381 £1,054 £12,207 11.6 yrs £8,870
7 kW 7401 kWh 2961 kWh 4441 kWh £785 £444 £1,230 £14,242 11.6 yrs £10,349
8 kW 8459 kWh 3383 kWh 5075 kWh £898 £508 £1,405 £16,276 11.6 yrs £11,827

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: £1,053, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2115 kWh 1269 kWh 846 kWh £337 £85 £421 £6,169 14.6 yrs £2,255
3 kW 3172 kWh 1903 kWh 1269 kWh £505 £127 £632 £8,204 13.0 yrs £4,433
4 kW 4229 kWh 2538 kWh 1692 kWh £673 £169 £842 £10,238 12.2 yrs £6,610
5 kW 5287 kWh 3172 kWh 2115 kWh £842 £211 £1,053 £12,273 11.7 yrs £8,788
6 kW 6344 kWh 3806 kWh 2538 kWh £1,010 £254 £1,264 £14,307 11.3 yrs £10,965
7 kW 7401 kWh 4441 kWh 2961 kWh £1,178 £296 £1,474 £16,342 11.1 yrs £13,143
8 kW 8459 kWh 5075 kWh 3383 kWh £1,346 £338 £1,685 £18,376 10.9 yrs £15,320

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: £1,140, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2115 kWh 1480 kWh 634 kWh £393 £63 £456 £7,569 16.6 yrs £1,554
3 kW 3172 kWh 2220 kWh 952 kWh £589 £95 £684 £9,604 14.0 yrs £4,081
4 kW 4229 kWh 2961 kWh 1269 kWh £785 £127 £912 £11,638 12.8 yrs £6,608
5 kW 5287 kWh 3701 kWh 1586 kWh £982 £159 £1,140 £13,673 12.0 yrs £9,135
6 kW 6344 kWh 4441 kWh 1903 kWh £1,178 £190 £1,368 £15,707 11.5 yrs £11,662
7 kW 7401 kWh 5181 kWh 2220 kWh £1,375 £222 £1,597 £17,742 11.1 yrs £14,189
8 kW 8459 kWh 5921 kWh 2538 kWh £1,571 £254 £1,825 £19,776 10.8 yrs £16,717

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: £1,167, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2115 kWh 1544 kWh 571 kWh £410 £57 £467 £9,319 20.0 yrs £14
3 kW 3172 kWh 2316 kWh 856 kWh £614 £86 £700 £11,354 16.2 yrs £2,646
4 kW 4229 kWh 3087 kWh 1142 kWh £819 £114 £933 £13,388 14.3 yrs £5,278
5 kW 5287 kWh 3859 kWh 1427 kWh £1,024 £143 £1,167 £15,423 13.2 yrs £7,910
6 kW 6344 kWh 4631 kWh 1713 kWh £1,229 £171 £1,400 £17,457 12.5 yrs £10,542
7 kW 7401 kWh 5403 kWh 1998 kWh £1,433 £200 £1,633 £19,492 11.9 yrs £13,174
8 kW 8459 kWh 6175 kWh 2284 kWh £1,638 £228 £1,867 £21,526 11.5 yrs £15,805

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: £1,184, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2115 kWh 1586 kWh 529 kWh £421 £53 £474 £11,069 23.4 yrs £-1,596
3 kW 3172 kWh 2379 kWh 793 kWh £631 £79 £710 £13,104 18.4 yrs £1,106
4 kW 4229 kWh 3172 kWh 1057 kWh £842 £106 £947 £15,138 16.0 yrs £3,807
5 kW 5287 kWh 3965 kWh 1322 kWh £1,052 £132 £1,184 £17,173 14.5 yrs £6,509
6 kW 6344 kWh 4758 kWh 1586 kWh £1,262 £159 £1,421 £19,207 13.5 yrs £9,211
7 kW 7401 kWh 5551 kWh 1850 kWh £1,473 £185 £1,658 £21,242 12.8 yrs £11,913
8 kW 8459 kWh 6344 kWh 2115 kWh £1,683 £211 £1,895 £23,276 12.3 yrs £14,615

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: £1,202, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2115 kWh 1628 kWh 486 kWh £432 £49 £481 £13,519 28.1 yrs £-3,906
3 kW 3172 kWh 2442 kWh 730 kWh £648 £73 £721 £15,554 21.6 yrs £-1,135
4 kW 4229 kWh 3257 kWh 973 kWh £864 £97 £961 £17,588 18.3 yrs £1,637
5 kW 5287 kWh 4071 kWh 1216 kWh £1,080 £122 £1,202 £19,623 16.3 yrs £4,409
6 kW 6344 kWh 4885 kWh 1459 kWh £1,296 £146 £1,442 £21,657 15.0 yrs £7,181
7 kW 7401 kWh 5699 kWh 1702 kWh £1,512 £170 £1,682 £23,692 14.1 yrs £9,952
8 kW 8459 kWh 6513 kWh 1946 kWh £1,728 £195 £1,923 £25,726 13.4 yrs £12,724

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
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1057kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1057 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 67% • Flats: 9% • Bungalows: 23% Based on 7,416 properties

Coverage

South Norfolk (95%)|Broadland (5%)

Areas Covered

Poringland, Framinghams & Trowse, Loddon & Chedgrave, Mulbarton & Stoke Holy Cross, Rockland, Sprowston East, Thurlton, Brooke + 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.