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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in OX1 (Oxford)

See if solar pays off for you in Oxford — 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
12.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£982
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,353
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 Southern, the current unit rate is 26.48p/kWh with a 44.62p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 987 kWh/kW — 14 below the regional median (1001).

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 987 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
44.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
987 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: £819, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1974 kWh 789 kWh 1184 kWh £209 £118 £327 £4,069 12.4 yrs £2,480
3 kW 2960 kWh 1184 kWh 1776 kWh £314 £178 £491 £6,104 12.4 yrs £3,721
4 kW 3947 kWh 1579 kWh 2368 kWh £418 £237 £655 £8,138 12.4 yrs £4,961
5 kW 4934 kWh 1974 kWh 2960 kWh £523 £296 £819 £10,173 12.4 yrs £6,201
6 kW 5921 kWh 2368 kWh 3553 kWh £627 £355 £982 £12,207 12.4 yrs £7,441
7 kW 6908 kWh 2763 kWh 4145 kWh £732 £414 £1,146 £14,242 12.4 yrs £8,681
8 kW 7895 kWh 3158 kWh 4737 kWh £836 £474 £1,310 £16,276 12.4 yrs £9,921

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: £981, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1974 kWh 1184 kWh 789 kWh £314 £79 £393 £6,169 15.7 yrs £1,681
3 kW 2960 kWh 1776 kWh 1184 kWh £470 £118 £589 £8,204 13.9 yrs £3,572
4 kW 3947 kWh 2368 kWh 1579 kWh £627 £158 £785 £10,238 13.0 yrs £5,463
5 kW 4934 kWh 2960 kWh 1974 kWh £784 £197 £981 £12,273 12.5 yrs £7,354
6 kW 5921 kWh 3553 kWh 2368 kWh £941 £237 £1,178 £14,307 12.1 yrs £9,244
7 kW 6908 kWh 4145 kWh 2763 kWh £1,098 £276 £1,374 £16,342 11.9 yrs £11,135
8 kW 7895 kWh 4737 kWh 3158 kWh £1,254 £316 £1,570 £18,376 11.7 yrs £13,026

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: £1,063, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1974 kWh 1382 kWh 592 kWh £366 £59 £425 £7,569 17.8 yrs £932
3 kW 2960 kWh 2072 kWh 888 kWh £549 £89 £638 £9,604 15.1 yrs £3,148
4 kW 3947 kWh 2763 kWh 1184 kWh £732 £118 £850 £11,638 13.7 yrs £5,364
5 kW 4934 kWh 3454 kWh 1480 kWh £915 £148 £1,063 £13,673 12.9 yrs £7,580
6 kW 5921 kWh 4145 kWh 1776 kWh £1,098 £178 £1,275 £15,707 12.3 yrs £9,796
7 kW 6908 kWh 4835 kWh 2072 kWh £1,280 £207 £1,488 £17,742 11.9 yrs £12,012
8 kW 7895 kWh 5526 kWh 2368 kWh £1,463 £237 £1,700 £19,776 11.6 yrs £14,228

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: £1,087, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1974 kWh 1441 kWh 533 kWh £382 £53 £435 £9,319 21.4 yrs £-623
3 kW 2960 kWh 2161 kWh 799 kWh £572 £80 £652 £11,354 17.4 yrs £1,691
4 kW 3947 kWh 2882 kWh 1066 kWh £763 £107 £870 £13,388 15.4 yrs £4,004
5 kW 4934 kWh 3602 kWh 1332 kWh £954 £133 £1,087 £15,423 14.2 yrs £6,318
6 kW 5921 kWh 4322 kWh 1599 kWh £1,145 £160 £1,304 £17,457 13.4 yrs £8,631
7 kW 6908 kWh 5043 kWh 1865 kWh £1,335 £187 £1,522 £19,492 12.8 yrs £10,945
8 kW 7895 kWh 5763 kWh 2132 kWh £1,526 £213 £1,739 £21,526 12.4 yrs £13,258

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: £1,103, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1974 kWh 1480 kWh 493 kWh £392 £49 £441 £11,069 25.1 yrs £-2,243
3 kW 2960 kWh 2220 kWh 740 kWh £588 £74 £662 £13,104 19.8 yrs £136
4 kW 3947 kWh 2960 kWh 987 kWh £784 £99 £883 £15,138 17.2 yrs £2,514
5 kW 4934 kWh 3701 kWh 1234 kWh £980 £123 £1,103 £17,173 15.6 yrs £4,893
6 kW 5921 kWh 4441 kWh 1480 kWh £1,176 £148 £1,324 £19,207 14.5 yrs £7,272
7 kW 6908 kWh 5181 kWh 1727 kWh £1,372 £173 £1,545 £21,242 13.8 yrs £9,650
8 kW 7895 kWh 5921 kWh 1974 kWh £1,568 £197 £1,765 £23,276 13.2 yrs £12,029

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: £1,120, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1974 kWh 1520 kWh 454 kWh £402 £45 £448 £13,519 30.2 yrs £-4,563
3 kW 2960 kWh 2280 kWh 681 kWh £604 £68 £672 £15,554 23.2 yrs £-2,119
4 kW 3947 kWh 3039 kWh 908 kWh £805 £91 £896 £17,588 19.6 yrs £325
5 kW 4934 kWh 3799 kWh 1135 kWh £1,006 £113 £1,120 £19,623 17.5 yrs £2,768
6 kW 5921 kWh 4559 kWh 1362 kWh £1,207 £136 £1,343 £21,657 16.1 yrs £5,212
7 kW 6908 kWh 5319 kWh 1589 kWh £1,408 £159 £1,567 £23,692 15.1 yrs £7,656
8 kW 7895 kWh 6079 kWh 1816 kWh £1,610 £182 £1,791 £25,726 14.4 yrs £10,099

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 OX1

Figures below are tailored to OX1 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1963 of 2182
4.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1022 of 2997
10.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,129 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #152 of 2997
14.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£163 fixed • ~£1,129 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.48p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
44.62p/day
Local Sunshine
987kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~987 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: 42% • Flats: 49% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 5,436 properties

Coverage

Oxford (89%)|Vale of White Horse (11%)

Areas Covered

Osney & St Thomas, Carfax & Jericho, Holywell, Hinksey Park, Kennington & Radley, Botley & Sunningwell, Wootton, Walton Manor + 3 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.

Compare nearby areas

Nearby in Southern

OX2 (Oxford)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~987 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OX1
OX3 (Oxford)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OX1
OX4 (Oxford)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OX1
OX5 (Cherwell)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · +1% vs OX1
OX33 (South Oxfordshire)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OX1
OX14 (Vale of White Horse)
≈9.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~998 kWh/kWp · +1% vs OX1

Similar sunshine across the UK

NN99 (West Northamptonshire)
~987 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OX1
LU95 (Central Bedfordshire)
~987 kWh/kWp · +0% vs OX1
LU2 (Luton)
~987 kWh/kWp · -0% vs OX1