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

Solar Panels in NR29 (Great Yarmouth)

See if solar pays off for you in Great Yarmouth — 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
£1,055
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,170
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 1059 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)
1059 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: £879, 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 2117 kWh 847 kWh 1270 kWh £225 £127 £352 £4,069 11.6 yrs £2,965
3 kW 3176 kWh 1270 kWh 1905 kWh £337 £191 £528 £6,104 11.6 yrs £4,447
4 kW 4234 kWh 1694 kWh 2541 kWh £449 £254 £703 £8,138 11.6 yrs £5,930
5 kW 5293 kWh 2117 kWh 3176 kWh £562 £318 £879 £10,173 11.6 yrs £7,412
6 kW 6351 kWh 2541 kWh 3811 kWh £674 £381 £1,055 £12,207 11.6 yrs £8,895
7 kW 7410 kWh 2964 kWh 4446 kWh £786 £445 £1,231 £14,242 11.6 yrs £10,377
8 kW 8468 kWh 3387 kWh 5081 kWh £899 £508 £1,407 £16,276 11.6 yrs £11,860

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: £1,054, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2117 kWh 1270 kWh 847 kWh £337 £85 £422 £6,169 14.6 yrs £2,265
3 kW 3176 kWh 1905 kWh 1270 kWh £506 £127 £633 £8,204 13.0 yrs £4,447
4 kW 4234 kWh 2541 kWh 1694 kWh £674 £169 £843 £10,238 12.1 yrs £6,629
5 kW 5293 kWh 3176 kWh 2117 kWh £843 £212 £1,054 £12,273 11.6 yrs £8,812
6 kW 6351 kWh 3811 kWh 2541 kWh £1,011 £254 £1,265 £14,307 11.3 yrs £10,994
7 kW 7410 kWh 4446 kWh 2964 kWh £1,180 £296 £1,476 £16,342 11.1 yrs £13,177
8 kW 8468 kWh 5081 kWh 3387 kWh £1,348 £339 £1,687 £18,376 10.9 yrs £15,359

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: £1,142, 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 2117 kWh 1482 kWh 635 kWh £393 £64 £457 £7,569 16.6 yrs £1,565
3 kW 3176 kWh 2223 kWh 953 kWh £590 £95 £685 £9,604 14.0 yrs £4,097
4 kW 4234 kWh 2964 kWh 1270 kWh £786 £127 £913 £11,638 12.7 yrs £6,629
5 kW 5293 kWh 3705 kWh 1588 kWh £983 £159 £1,142 £13,673 12.0 yrs £9,162
6 kW 6351 kWh 4446 kWh 1905 kWh £1,180 £191 £1,370 £15,707 11.5 yrs £11,694
7 kW 7410 kWh 5187 kWh 2223 kWh £1,376 £222 £1,598 £17,742 11.1 yrs £14,226
8 kW 8468 kWh 5928 kWh 2541 kWh £1,573 £254 £1,827 £19,776 10.8 yrs £16,759

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: £1,168, 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 2117 kWh 1545 kWh 572 kWh £410 £57 £467 £9,319 19.9 yrs £25
3 kW 3176 kWh 2318 kWh 857 kWh £615 £86 £701 £11,354 16.2 yrs £2,662
4 kW 4234 kWh 3091 kWh 1143 kWh £820 £114 £934 £13,388 14.3 yrs £5,299
5 kW 5293 kWh 3864 kWh 1429 kWh £1,025 £143 £1,168 £15,423 13.2 yrs £7,937
6 kW 6351 kWh 4636 kWh 1715 kWh £1,230 £171 £1,402 £17,457 12.5 yrs £10,574
7 kW 7410 kWh 5409 kWh 2001 kWh £1,435 £200 £1,635 £19,492 11.9 yrs £13,211
8 kW 8468 kWh 6182 kWh 2286 kWh £1,640 £229 £1,869 £21,526 11.5 yrs £15,849

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: £1,185, 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 2117 kWh 1588 kWh 529 kWh £421 £53 £474 £11,069 23.3 yrs £-1,585
3 kW 3176 kWh 2382 kWh 794 kWh £632 £79 £711 £13,104 18.4 yrs £1,122
4 kW 4234 kWh 3176 kWh 1059 kWh £843 £106 £948 £15,138 16.0 yrs £3,829
5 kW 5293 kWh 3970 kWh 1323 kWh £1,053 £132 £1,185 £17,173 14.5 yrs £6,537
6 kW 6351 kWh 4764 kWh 1588 kWh £1,264 £159 £1,423 £19,207 13.5 yrs £9,244
7 kW 7410 kWh 5557 kWh 1852 kWh £1,474 £185 £1,660 £21,242 12.8 yrs £11,951
8 kW 8468 kWh 6351 kWh 2117 kWh £1,685 £212 £1,897 £23,276 12.3 yrs £14,658

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: £1,203, 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 2117 kWh 1630 kWh 487 kWh £432 £49 £481 £13,519 28.1 yrs £-3,895
3 kW 3176 kWh 2445 kWh 730 kWh £649 £73 £722 £15,554 21.5 yrs £-1,118
4 kW 4234 kWh 3260 kWh 974 kWh £865 £97 £962 £17,588 18.3 yrs £1,659
5 kW 5293 kWh 4075 kWh 1217 kWh £1,081 £122 £1,203 £19,623 16.3 yrs £4,437
6 kW 6351 kWh 4891 kWh 1461 kWh £1,297 £146 £1,444 £21,657 15.0 yrs £7,214
7 kW 7410 kWh 5706 kWh 1704 kWh £1,514 £170 £1,684 £23,692 14.1 yrs £9,991
8 kW 8468 kWh 6521 kWh 1948 kWh £1,730 £195 £1,925 £25,726 13.4 yrs £12,768

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
1059kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1059 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: 49% • Flats: 2% • Bungalows: 48% Based on 7,496 properties

Coverage

Great Yarmouth (81%)|North Norfolk (19%)

Areas Covered

West Flegg, East Flegg, Ormesby, Fleggburgh, St Benet's, Stalham, Hickling, Central and Northgate + 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.