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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in OL13 (Rossendale)

See if solar pays off for you in Rossendale — 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
14.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£565
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£5,985
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 North West, the current unit rate is 27.11p/kWh with a 51.16p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 838 kWh/kW — 32 below the regional median (870).

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 838 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
51.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
838 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: £706, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1677 kWh 671 kWh 1006 kWh £182 £101 £282 £4,069 14.4 yrs £1,580
3 kW 2515 kWh 1006 kWh 1509 kWh £273 £151 £424 £6,104 14.4 yrs £2,370
4 kW 3354 kWh 1342 kWh 2012 kWh £364 £201 £565 £8,138 14.4 yrs £3,160
5 kW 4192 kWh 1677 kWh 2515 kWh £455 £252 £706 £10,173 14.4 yrs £3,950
6 kW 5031 kWh 2012 kWh 3018 kWh £546 £302 £847 £12,207 14.4 yrs £4,740
7 kW 5869 kWh 2348 kWh 3521 kWh £636 £352 £989 £14,242 14.4 yrs £5,530
8 kW 6708 kWh 2683 kWh 4025 kWh £727 £402 £1,130 £16,276 14.4 yrs £6,320

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: £850, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1677 kWh 1006 kWh 671 kWh £273 £67 £340 £6,169 18.2 yrs £628
3 kW 2515 kWh 1509 kWh 1006 kWh £409 £101 £510 £8,204 16.1 yrs £1,992
4 kW 3354 kWh 2012 kWh 1342 kWh £546 £134 £680 £10,238 15.1 yrs £3,355
5 kW 4192 kWh 2515 kWh 1677 kWh £682 £168 £850 £12,273 14.4 yrs £4,719
6 kW 5031 kWh 3018 kWh 2012 kWh £818 £201 £1,020 £14,307 14.0 yrs £6,083
7 kW 5869 kWh 3521 kWh 2348 kWh £955 £235 £1,189 £16,342 13.7 yrs £7,447
8 kW 6708 kWh 4025 kWh 2683 kWh £1,091 £268 £1,359 £18,376 13.5 yrs £8,811

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: £921, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1677 kWh 1174 kWh 503 kWh £318 £50 £369 £7,569 20.5 yrs £-198
3 kW 2515 kWh 1761 kWh 755 kWh £477 £75 £553 £9,604 17.4 yrs £1,452
4 kW 3354 kWh 2348 kWh 1006 kWh £636 £101 £737 £11,638 15.8 yrs £3,103
5 kW 4192 kWh 2935 kWh 1258 kWh £796 £126 £921 £13,673 14.8 yrs £4,754
6 kW 5031 kWh 3521 kWh 1509 kWh £955 £151 £1,106 £15,707 14.2 yrs £6,405
7 kW 5869 kWh 4108 kWh 1761 kWh £1,114 £176 £1,290 £17,742 13.8 yrs £8,055
8 kW 6708 kWh 4695 kWh 2012 kWh £1,273 £201 £1,474 £19,776 13.4 yrs £9,706

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: £943, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1677 kWh 1224 kWh 453 kWh £332 £45 £377 £9,319 24.7 yrs £-1,776
3 kW 2515 kWh 1836 kWh 679 kWh £498 £68 £566 £11,354 20.1 yrs £-39
4 kW 3354 kWh 2448 kWh 906 kWh £664 £91 £754 £13,388 17.7 yrs £1,697
5 kW 4192 kWh 3060 kWh 1132 kWh £830 £113 £943 £15,423 16.4 yrs £3,434
6 kW 5031 kWh 3672 kWh 1358 kWh £996 £136 £1,131 £17,457 15.4 yrs £5,171
7 kW 5869 kWh 4284 kWh 1585 kWh £1,162 £158 £1,320 £19,492 14.8 yrs £6,908
8 kW 6708 kWh 4896 kWh 1811 kWh £1,327 £181 £1,509 £21,526 14.3 yrs £8,645

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: £957, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1677 kWh 1258 kWh 419 kWh £341 £42 £383 £11,069 28.9 yrs £-3,412
3 kW 2515 kWh 1886 kWh 629 kWh £511 £63 £574 £13,104 22.8 yrs £-1,617
4 kW 3354 kWh 2515 kWh 838 kWh £682 £84 £766 £15,138 19.8 yrs £177
5 kW 4192 kWh 3144 kWh 1048 kWh £852 £105 £957 £17,173 17.9 yrs £1,971
6 kW 5031 kWh 3773 kWh 1258 kWh £1,023 £126 £1,149 £19,207 16.7 yrs £3,765
7 kW 5869 kWh 4402 kWh 1467 kWh £1,193 £147 £1,340 £21,242 15.9 yrs £5,560
8 kW 6708 kWh 5031 kWh 1677 kWh £1,364 £168 £1,531 £23,276 15.2 yrs £7,354

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: £972, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1677 kWh 1291 kWh 386 kWh £350 £39 £389 £13,519 34.8 yrs £-5,747
3 kW 2515 kWh 1937 kWh 579 kWh £525 £58 £583 £15,554 26.7 yrs £-3,895
4 kW 3354 kWh 2582 kWh 771 kWh £700 £77 £777 £17,588 22.6 yrs £-2,044
5 kW 4192 kWh 3228 kWh 964 kWh £875 £96 £972 £19,623 20.2 yrs £-192
6 kW 5031 kWh 3874 kWh 1157 kWh £1,050 £116 £1,166 £21,657 18.6 yrs £1,660
7 kW 5869 kWh 4519 kWh 1350 kWh £1,225 £135 £1,360 £23,692 17.4 yrs £3,511
8 kW 6708 kWh 5165 kWh 1543 kWh £1,400 £154 £1,554 £25,726 16.5 yrs £5,363

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 OL13

Figures below are tailored to OL13 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1451 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2650 of 2997
12.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£651 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2611 of 2997
28.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£651 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
838kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~838 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: 76% • Flats: 13% • Bungalows: 10% Based on 4,624 properties

Coverage

Rossendale (100%)

Areas Covered

Bacup, Britannia & Lee Mill, Whitewell & Stacksteads, Whitworth

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 North West

BB4 (Rossendale)
≈5.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~836 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OL13
OL12 (Rochdale)
≈8.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~843 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OL13
OL15 (Rochdale)
≈9.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~834 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OL13
BL0 (Bury)
≈9.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · +4% vs OL13
BB11 (Burnley)
≈9.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~848 kWh/kWp · +1% vs OL13
OL16 (Rochdale)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~833 kWh/kWp · -1% vs OL13

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT43 (Mid and East Antrim)
~838 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OL13
BT42 (Mid and East Antrim)
~838 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OL13
IV17 (Highland)
~839 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OL13