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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in OL3 (Oldham)

See if solar pays off for you in Oldham — 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
14.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£823
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,379
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 815 kWh/kW — 55 below the regional median (870).

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 815 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)
815 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: £686, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1630 kWh 652 kWh 978 kWh £177 £98 £274 £4,069 14.8 yrs £1,421
3 kW 2444 kWh 978 kWh 1467 kWh £265 £147 £412 £6,104 14.8 yrs £2,131
4 kW 3259 kWh 1304 kWh 1955 kWh £353 £196 £549 £8,138 14.8 yrs £2,841
5 kW 4074 kWh 1630 kWh 2444 kWh £442 £244 £686 £10,173 14.8 yrs £3,552
6 kW 4889 kWh 1955 kWh 2933 kWh £530 £293 £823 £12,207 14.8 yrs £4,262
7 kW 5703 kWh 2281 kWh 3422 kWh £618 £342 £961 £14,242 14.8 yrs £4,972
8 kW 6518 kWh 2607 kWh 3911 kWh £707 £391 £1,098 £16,276 14.8 yrs £5,683

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: £826, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1630 kWh 978 kWh 652 kWh £265 £65 £330 £6,169 18.7 yrs £436
3 kW 2444 kWh 1467 kWh 978 kWh £398 £98 £495 £8,204 16.6 yrs £1,704
4 kW 3259 kWh 1955 kWh 1304 kWh £530 £130 £660 £10,238 15.5 yrs £2,972
5 kW 4074 kWh 2444 kWh 1630 kWh £663 £163 £826 £12,273 14.9 yrs £4,240
6 kW 4889 kWh 2933 kWh 1955 kWh £795 £196 £991 £14,307 14.4 yrs £5,508
7 kW 5703 kWh 3422 kWh 2281 kWh £928 £228 £1,156 £16,342 14.1 yrs £6,776
8 kW 6518 kWh 3911 kWh 2607 kWh £1,060 £261 £1,321 £18,376 13.9 yrs £8,044

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: £895, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1630 kWh 1141 kWh 489 kWh £309 £49 £358 £7,569 21.1 yrs £-406
3 kW 2444 kWh 1711 kWh 733 kWh £464 £73 £537 £9,604 17.9 yrs £1,140
4 kW 3259 kWh 2281 kWh 978 kWh £618 £98 £716 £11,638 16.2 yrs £2,687
5 kW 4074 kWh 2852 kWh 1222 kWh £773 £122 £895 £13,673 15.3 yrs £4,234
6 kW 4889 kWh 3422 kWh 1467 kWh £928 £147 £1,074 £15,707 14.6 yrs £5,781
7 kW 5703 kWh 3992 kWh 1711 kWh £1,082 £171 £1,253 £17,742 14.2 yrs £7,327
8 kW 6518 kWh 4563 kWh 1955 kWh £1,237 £196 £1,433 £19,776 13.8 yrs £8,874

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: £916, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1630 kWh 1190 kWh 440 kWh £322 £44 £366 £9,319 25.4 yrs £-1,989
3 kW 2444 kWh 1784 kWh 660 kWh £484 £66 £550 £11,354 20.7 yrs £-359
4 kW 3259 kWh 2379 kWh 880 kWh £645 £88 £733 £13,388 18.3 yrs £1,272
5 kW 4074 kWh 2974 kWh 1100 kWh £806 £110 £916 £15,423 16.8 yrs £2,902
6 kW 4889 kWh 3569 kWh 1320 kWh £967 £132 £1,099 £17,457 15.9 yrs £4,533
7 kW 5703 kWh 4164 kWh 1540 kWh £1,129 £154 £1,283 £19,492 15.2 yrs £6,163
8 kW 6518 kWh 4758 kWh 1760 kWh £1,290 £176 £1,466 £21,526 14.7 yrs £7,793

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: £930, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1630 kWh 1222 kWh 407 kWh £331 £41 £372 £11,069 29.7 yrs £-3,628
3 kW 2444 kWh 1833 kWh 611 kWh £497 £61 £558 £13,104 23.5 yrs £-1,941
4 kW 3259 kWh 2444 kWh 815 kWh £663 £81 £744 £15,138 20.3 yrs £-255
5 kW 4074 kWh 3055 kWh 1018 kWh £828 £102 £930 £17,173 18.5 yrs £1,431
6 kW 4889 kWh 3667 kWh 1222 kWh £994 £122 £1,116 £19,207 17.2 yrs £3,117
7 kW 5703 kWh 4278 kWh 1426 kWh £1,160 £143 £1,302 £21,242 16.3 yrs £4,803
8 kW 6518 kWh 4889 kWh 1630 kWh £1,325 £163 £1,488 £23,276 15.6 yrs £6,489

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: £944, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1630 kWh 1255 kWh 375 kWh £340 £37 £378 £13,519 35.8 yrs £-5,966
3 kW 2444 kWh 1882 kWh 562 kWh £510 £56 £566 £15,554 27.5 yrs £-4,224
4 kW 3259 kWh 2510 kWh 750 kWh £680 £75 £755 £17,588 23.3 yrs £-2,482
5 kW 4074 kWh 3137 kWh 937 kWh £850 £94 £944 £19,623 20.8 yrs £-740
6 kW 4889 kWh 3764 kWh 1124 kWh £1,020 £112 £1,133 £21,657 19.1 yrs £1,002
7 kW 5703 kWh 4392 kWh 1312 kWh £1,191 £131 £1,322 £23,692 17.9 yrs £2,744
8 kW 6518 kWh 5019 kWh 1499 kWh £1,361 £150 £1,511 £25,726 17.0 yrs £4,486

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 OL3

Figures below are tailored to OL3 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #653 of 2182
5.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2769 of 2997
12.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£949 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1345 of 2997
19.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£949 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
815kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~815 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: 74% • Flats: 17% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 3,335 properties

Coverage

Oldham (100%)

Areas Covered

Saddleworth South, Saddleworth North, Failsworth East, Royton North

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

OL5 (Tameside)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~803 kWh/kWp · -1% vs OL3
OL4 (Oldham)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~837 kWh/kWp · +3% vs OL3
OL1 (Oldham)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +2% vs OL3
OL95 (Oldham)
≈6.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · +2% vs OL3
OL2 (Oldham)
≈7.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~832 kWh/kWp · +2% vs OL3
OL8 (Oldham)
≈7.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~837 kWh/kWp · +3% vs OL3

Similar sunshine across the UK

IV10 (Highland)
~815 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OL3
KW1 (Highland)
~815 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OL3
KA4 (East Ayrshire)
~814 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OL3