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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in NR8 (Broadland)

See if solar pays off for you in Broadland — 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
12.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£997
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,719
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 1000 kWh/kW — 9 below 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 1000 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)
1000 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: £831, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2001 kWh 800 kWh 1200 kWh £212 £120 £332 £4,069 12.2 yrs £2,578
3 kW 3001 kWh 1200 kWh 1801 kWh £318 £180 £499 £6,104 12.2 yrs £3,867
4 kW 4001 kWh 1601 kWh 2401 kWh £425 £240 £665 £8,138 12.2 yrs £5,156
5 kW 5002 kWh 2001 kWh 3001 kWh £531 £300 £831 £10,173 12.2 yrs £6,445
6 kW 6002 kWh 2401 kWh 3601 kWh £637 £360 £997 £12,207 12.2 yrs £7,734
7 kW 7002 kWh 2801 kWh 4201 kWh £743 £420 £1,163 £14,242 12.2 yrs £9,023
8 kW 8003 kWh 3201 kWh 4802 kWh £849 £480 £1,329 £16,276 12.2 yrs £10,312

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: £996, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2001 kWh 1200 kWh 800 kWh £318 £80 £398 £6,169 15.5 yrs £1,801
3 kW 3001 kWh 1801 kWh 1200 kWh £478 £120 £598 £8,204 13.7 yrs £3,751
4 kW 4001 kWh 2401 kWh 1601 kWh £637 £160 £797 £10,238 12.8 yrs £5,702
5 kW 5002 kWh 3001 kWh 2001 kWh £796 £200 £996 £12,273 12.3 yrs £7,652
6 kW 6002 kWh 3601 kWh 2401 kWh £955 £240 £1,195 £14,307 12.0 yrs £9,603
7 kW 7002 kWh 4201 kWh 2801 kWh £1,115 £280 £1,395 £16,342 11.7 yrs £11,553
8 kW 8003 kWh 4802 kWh 3201 kWh £1,274 £320 £1,594 £18,376 11.5 yrs £13,504

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: £1,079, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2001 kWh 1400 kWh 600 kWh £372 £60 £432 £7,569 17.5 yrs £1,062
3 kW 3001 kWh 2101 kWh 900 kWh £557 £90 £647 £9,604 14.8 yrs £3,343
4 kW 4001 kWh 2801 kWh 1200 kWh £743 £120 £863 £11,638 13.5 yrs £5,625
5 kW 5002 kWh 3501 kWh 1501 kWh £929 £150 £1,079 £13,673 12.7 yrs £7,906
6 kW 6002 kWh 4201 kWh 1801 kWh £1,115 £180 £1,295 £15,707 12.1 yrs £10,187
7 kW 7002 kWh 4902 kWh 2101 kWh £1,300 £210 £1,510 £17,742 11.7 yrs £12,468
8 kW 8003 kWh 5602 kWh 2401 kWh £1,486 £240 £1,726 £19,776 11.5 yrs £14,749

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: £1,104, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2001 kWh 1460 kWh 540 kWh £387 £54 £441 £9,319 21.1 yrs £-489
3 kW 3001 kWh 2191 kWh 810 kWh £581 £81 £662 £11,354 17.1 yrs £1,891
4 kW 4001 kWh 2921 kWh 1080 kWh £775 £108 £883 £13,388 15.2 yrs £4,271
5 kW 5002 kWh 3651 kWh 1350 kWh £969 £135 £1,104 £15,423 14.0 yrs £6,652
6 kW 6002 kWh 4381 kWh 1621 kWh £1,162 £162 £1,324 £17,457 13.2 yrs £9,032
7 kW 7002 kWh 5112 kWh 1891 kWh £1,356 £189 £1,545 £19,492 12.6 yrs £11,413
8 kW 8003 kWh 5842 kWh 2161 kWh £1,550 £216 £1,766 £21,526 12.2 yrs £13,793

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: £1,120, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2001 kWh 1501 kWh 500 kWh £398 £50 £448 £11,069 24.7 yrs £-2,107
3 kW 3001 kWh 2251 kWh 750 kWh £597 £75 £672 £13,104 19.5 yrs £340
4 kW 4001 kWh 3001 kWh 1000 kWh £796 £100 £896 £15,138 16.9 yrs £2,786
5 kW 5002 kWh 3751 kWh 1250 kWh £995 £125 £1,120 £17,173 15.3 yrs £5,233
6 kW 6002 kWh 4502 kWh 1501 kWh £1,194 £150 £1,344 £19,207 14.3 yrs £7,679
7 kW 7002 kWh 5252 kWh 1751 kWh £1,393 £175 £1,568 £21,242 13.5 yrs £10,126
8 kW 8003 kWh 6002 kWh 2001 kWh £1,592 £200 £1,792 £23,276 13.0 yrs £12,572

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: £1,137, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2001 kWh 1541 kWh 460 kWh £409 £46 £455 £13,519 29.7 yrs £-4,425
3 kW 3001 kWh 2311 kWh 690 kWh £613 £69 £682 £15,554 22.8 yrs £-1,912
4 kW 4001 kWh 3081 kWh 920 kWh £817 £92 £909 £17,588 19.3 yrs £601
5 kW 5002 kWh 3851 kWh 1150 kWh £1,022 £115 £1,137 £19,623 17.3 yrs £3,113
6 kW 6002 kWh 4622 kWh 1380 kWh £1,226 £138 £1,364 £21,657 15.9 yrs £5,626
7 kW 7002 kWh 5392 kWh 1611 kWh £1,430 £161 £1,592 £23,692 14.9 yrs £8,139
8 kW 8003 kWh 6162 kWh 1841 kWh £1,635 £184 £1,819 £25,726 14.1 yrs £10,651

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 NR8

Figures below are tailored to NR8 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #547 of 2182
5.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #824 of 2997
10.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,146 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #465 of 2997
15.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,146 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1000kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1000 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: 72% • Flats: 11% • Bungalows: 16% Based on 5,152 properties

Coverage

Broadland (76%)|South Norfolk (24%)

Areas Covered

Drayton South, Old Costessey, Taverham South, Taverham North, Drayton North, Great Witchingham, Sprowston East

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

NR5 (Norwich)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~999 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR8
NR6 (Broadland)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,004 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NR8
NR3 (Norwich)
≈6.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,001 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NR8
NR2 (Norwich)
≈7.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,001 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NR8
NR10 (Broadland)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,005 kWh/kWp · +1% vs NR8
NR4 (Norwich)
≈8.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~999 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR8

Similar sunshine across the UK

TA4 (Somerset)
~1,000 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NR8
NP19 (Newport)
~1,000 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR8
NP20 (Newport)
~1,000 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR8