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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in NR17 (Breckland)

See if solar pays off for you in Breckland — 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
12.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,008
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,001
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 Eastern, the current unit rate is 26.53p/kWh with a 48.25p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1012 kWh/kW — 3 above the regional median (1009).

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 1012 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)
1012 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: £840, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2023 kWh 809 kWh 1214 kWh £215 £121 £336 £4,069 12.1 yrs £2,653
3 kW 3035 kWh 1214 kWh 1821 kWh £322 £182 £504 £6,104 12.1 yrs £3,980
4 kW 4047 kWh 1619 kWh 2428 kWh £429 £243 £672 £8,138 12.1 yrs £5,307
5 kW 5058 kWh 2023 kWh 3035 kWh £537 £303 £840 £10,173 12.1 yrs £6,633
6 kW 6070 kWh 2428 kWh 3642 kWh £644 £364 £1,008 £12,207 12.1 yrs £7,960
7 kW 7082 kWh 2833 kWh 4249 kWh £752 £425 £1,176 £14,242 12.1 yrs £9,286
8 kW 8093 kWh 3237 kWh 4856 kWh £859 £486 £1,344 £16,276 12.1 yrs £10,613

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: £1,008, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2023 kWh 1214 kWh 809 kWh £322 £81 £403 £6,169 15.3 yrs £1,891
3 kW 3035 kWh 1821 kWh 1214 kWh £483 £121 £605 £8,204 13.6 yrs £3,887
4 kW 4047 kWh 2428 kWh 1619 kWh £644 £162 £806 £10,238 12.7 yrs £5,882
5 kW 5058 kWh 3035 kWh 2023 kWh £805 £202 £1,008 £12,273 12.2 yrs £7,878
6 kW 6070 kWh 3642 kWh 2428 kWh £966 £243 £1,209 £14,307 11.8 yrs £9,873
7 kW 7082 kWh 4249 kWh 2833 kWh £1,127 £283 £1,411 £16,342 11.6 yrs £11,869
8 kW 8093 kWh 4856 kWh 3237 kWh £1,288 £324 £1,612 £18,376 11.4 yrs £13,864

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: £1,091, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2023 kWh 1416 kWh 607 kWh £376 £61 £436 £7,569 17.3 yrs £1,160
3 kW 3035 kWh 2124 kWh 910 kWh £564 £91 £655 £9,604 14.7 yrs £3,490
4 kW 4047 kWh 2833 kWh 1214 kWh £752 £121 £873 £11,638 13.3 yrs £5,820
5 kW 5058 kWh 3541 kWh 1517 kWh £939 £152 £1,091 £13,673 12.5 yrs £8,150
6 kW 6070 kWh 4249 kWh 1821 kWh £1,127 £182 £1,309 £15,707 12.0 yrs £10,480
7 kW 7082 kWh 4957 kWh 2124 kWh £1,315 £212 £1,528 £17,742 11.6 yrs £12,810
8 kW 8093 kWh 5665 kWh 2428 kWh £1,503 £243 £1,746 £19,776 11.3 yrs £15,140

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: £1,116, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2023 kWh 1477 kWh 546 kWh £392 £55 £446 £9,319 20.9 yrs £-389
3 kW 3035 kWh 2216 kWh 819 kWh £588 £82 £670 £11,354 17.0 yrs £2,041
4 kW 4047 kWh 2954 kWh 1093 kWh £784 £109 £893 £13,388 15.0 yrs £4,471
5 kW 5058 kWh 3693 kWh 1366 kWh £980 £137 £1,116 £15,423 13.8 yrs £6,902
6 kW 6070 kWh 4431 kWh 1639 kWh £1,176 £164 £1,339 £17,457 13.0 yrs £9,332
7 kW 7082 kWh 5170 kWh 1912 kWh £1,371 £191 £1,563 £19,492 12.5 yrs £11,762
8 kW 8093 kWh 5908 kWh 2185 kWh £1,567 £219 £1,786 £21,526 12.1 yrs £14,193

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: £1,133, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2023 kWh 1517 kWh 506 kWh £403 £51 £453 £11,069 24.4 yrs £-2,006
3 kW 3035 kWh 2276 kWh 759 kWh £604 £76 £680 £13,104 19.3 yrs £492
4 kW 4047 kWh 3035 kWh 1012 kWh £805 £101 £906 £15,138 16.7 yrs £2,989
5 kW 5058 kWh 3794 kWh 1265 kWh £1,006 £126 £1,133 £17,173 15.2 yrs £5,486
6 kW 6070 kWh 4552 kWh 1517 kWh £1,208 £152 £1,360 £19,207 14.1 yrs £7,983
7 kW 7082 kWh 5311 kWh 1770 kWh £1,409 £177 £1,586 £21,242 13.4 yrs £10,481
8 kW 8093 kWh 6070 kWh 2023 kWh £1,610 £202 £1,813 £23,276 12.8 yrs £12,978

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: £1,150, Upfront: £19,623, 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 2023 kWh 1558 kWh 465 kWh £413 £47 £460 £13,519 29.4 yrs £-4,322
3 kW 3035 kWh 2337 kWh 698 kWh £620 £70 £690 £15,554 22.5 yrs £-1,758
4 kW 4047 kWh 3116 kWh 931 kWh £827 £93 £920 £17,588 19.1 yrs £806
5 kW 5058 kWh 3895 kWh 1163 kWh £1,033 £116 £1,150 £19,623 17.1 yrs £3,371
6 kW 6070 kWh 4674 kWh 1396 kWh £1,240 £140 £1,380 £21,657 15.7 yrs £5,935
7 kW 7082 kWh 5453 kWh 1629 kWh £1,447 £163 £1,610 £23,692 14.7 yrs £8,499
8 kW 8093 kWh 6232 kWh 1861 kWh £1,653 £186 £1,839 £25,726 14.0 yrs £11,063

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 NR17

Figures below are tailored to NR17 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #622 of 2182
5.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #533 of 2997
10.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,159 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #357 of 2997
15.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,159 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1012kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1012 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: 68% • Flats: 10% • Bungalows: 22% Based on 5,629 properties

Coverage

Breckland (100%)

Areas Covered

Attleborough Queens & Besthorpe, All Saints & Wayland, Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft, The Buckenhams & Banham, Saham Toney

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 Eastern

NR16 (Breckland)
≈6.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,014 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NR17
NR18 (South Norfolk)
≈9.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,010 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR17
IP25 (Breckland)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,002 kWh/kWp · -1% vs NR17
NR9 (South Norfolk)
≈13.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,001 kWh/kWp · -1% vs NR17
NR15 (South Norfolk)
≈16.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · +2% vs NR17
IP22 (South Norfolk)
≈16.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,017 kWh/kWp · +1% vs NR17

Similar sunshine across the UK

RH5 (Mole Valley)
~1,012 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR17
BS28 (Somerset)
~1,012 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR17
BA9 (Somerset)
~1,012 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR17