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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PE8 (North Northamptonshire)

See if solar pays off for you in North Northamptonshire — 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
£12,336
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 East Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.55p/kWh with a 49.09p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1009 kWh/kW — 41 above the regional median (968).

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 1009 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
49.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1009 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: £818, 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 2018 kWh 807 kWh 1211 kWh £206 £121 £327 £4,069 12.4 yrs £2,476
3 kW 3026 kWh 1211 kWh 1816 kWh £309 £182 £491 £6,104 12.4 yrs £3,714
4 kW 4035 kWh 1614 kWh 2421 kWh £412 £242 £654 £8,138 12.4 yrs £4,952
5 kW 5044 kWh 2018 kWh 3026 kWh £515 £303 £818 £10,173 12.4 yrs £6,190
6 kW 6053 kWh 2421 kWh 3632 kWh £619 £363 £982 £12,207 12.4 yrs £7,427
7 kW 7061 kWh 2825 kWh 4237 kWh £722 £424 £1,145 £14,242 12.4 yrs £8,665
8 kW 8070 kWh 3228 kWh 4842 kWh £825 £484 £1,309 £16,276 12.4 yrs £9,903

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: £975, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2018 kWh 1211 kWh 807 kWh £309 £81 £390 £6,169 15.8 yrs £1,631
3 kW 3026 kWh 1816 kWh 1211 kWh £464 £121 £585 £8,204 14.0 yrs £3,496
4 kW 4035 kWh 2421 kWh 1614 kWh £619 £161 £780 £10,238 13.1 yrs £5,361
5 kW 5044 kWh 3026 kWh 2018 kWh £773 £202 £975 £12,273 12.6 yrs £7,227
6 kW 6053 kWh 3632 kWh 2421 kWh £928 £242 £1,170 £14,307 12.2 yrs £9,092
7 kW 7061 kWh 4237 kWh 2825 kWh £1,083 £282 £1,365 £16,342 12.0 yrs £10,957
8 kW 8070 kWh 4842 kWh 3228 kWh £1,237 £323 £1,560 £18,376 11.8 yrs £12,823

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: £1,053, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2018 kWh 1412 kWh 605 kWh £361 £61 £421 £7,569 18.0 yrs £858
3 kW 3026 kWh 2118 kWh 908 kWh £541 £91 £632 £9,604 15.2 yrs £3,037
4 kW 4035 kWh 2825 kWh 1211 kWh £722 £121 £843 £11,638 13.8 yrs £5,216
5 kW 5044 kWh 3531 kWh 1513 kWh £902 £151 £1,053 £13,673 13.0 yrs £7,395
6 kW 6053 kWh 4237 kWh 1816 kWh £1,083 £182 £1,264 £15,707 12.4 yrs £9,574
7 kW 7061 kWh 4943 kWh 2118 kWh £1,263 £212 £1,475 £17,742 12.0 yrs £11,754
8 kW 8070 kWh 5649 kWh 2421 kWh £1,443 £242 £1,685 £19,776 11.7 yrs £13,933

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: £1,077, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2018 kWh 1473 kWh 545 kWh £376 £54 £431 £9,319 21.6 yrs £-704
3 kW 3026 kWh 2209 kWh 817 kWh £564 £82 £646 £11,354 17.6 yrs £1,570
4 kW 4035 kWh 2946 kWh 1089 kWh £753 £109 £862 £13,388 15.5 yrs £3,843
5 kW 5044 kWh 3682 kWh 1362 kWh £941 £136 £1,077 £15,423 14.3 yrs £6,116
6 kW 6053 kWh 4418 kWh 1634 kWh £1,129 £163 £1,292 £17,457 13.5 yrs £8,389
7 kW 7061 kWh 5155 kWh 1907 kWh £1,317 £191 £1,508 £19,492 12.9 yrs £10,662
8 kW 8070 kWh 5891 kWh 2179 kWh £1,505 £218 £1,723 £21,526 12.5 yrs £12,936

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: £1,093, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2018 kWh 1513 kWh 504 kWh £387 £50 £437 £11,069 25.3 yrs £-2,328
3 kW 3026 kWh 2270 kWh 757 kWh £580 £76 £656 £13,104 20.0 yrs £8
4 kW 4035 kWh 3026 kWh 1009 kWh £773 £101 £874 £15,138 17.3 yrs £2,344
5 kW 5044 kWh 3783 kWh 1261 kWh £967 £126 £1,093 £17,173 15.7 yrs £4,680
6 kW 6053 kWh 4539 kWh 1513 kWh £1,160 £151 £1,311 £19,207 14.6 yrs £7,016
7 kW 7061 kWh 5296 kWh 1765 kWh £1,353 £177 £1,530 £21,242 13.9 yrs £9,352
8 kW 8070 kWh 6053 kWh 2018 kWh £1,546 £202 £1,748 £23,276 13.3 yrs £11,688

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: £1,108, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2018 kWh 1553 kWh 464 kWh £397 £46 £443 £13,519 30.5 yrs £-4,653
3 kW 3026 kWh 2330 kWh 696 kWh £595 £70 £665 £15,554 23.4 yrs £-2,254
4 kW 4035 kWh 3107 kWh 928 kWh £794 £93 £887 £17,588 19.8 yrs £145
5 kW 5044 kWh 3884 kWh 1160 kWh £992 £116 £1,108 £19,623 17.7 yrs £2,543
6 kW 6053 kWh 4660 kWh 1392 kWh £1,191 £139 £1,330 £21,657 16.3 yrs £4,942
7 kW 7061 kWh 5437 kWh 1624 kWh £1,389 £162 £1,552 £23,692 15.3 yrs £7,341
8 kW 8070 kWh 6214 kWh 1856 kWh £1,588 £186 £1,773 £25,726 14.5 yrs £9,740

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 PE8

Figures below are tailored to PE8 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #486 of 2182
5.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1169 of 2997
10.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,123 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #558 of 2997
16.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£179 fixed • ~£1,123 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.55p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.09p/day
Local Sunshine
1009kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1009 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: 82% • Flats: 4% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 5,583 properties

Coverage

North Northamptonshire (69%)|Peterborough (23%)|Huntingdonshire (7%)

Areas Covered

Oundle, Wittering, Thrapston, Werrington, Stilton, Folksworth & Washingley, Glinton and Castor, Rushden Lakes

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 East Midlands

NN17 (North Northamptonshire)
≈15.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~995 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PE8
PE9 (South Kesteven)
≈16.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,007 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PE8
NN18 (North Northamptonshire)
≈17.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PE8
PE6 (Peterborough)
≈21.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,010 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PE8
NN15 (North Northamptonshire)
≈21.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~997 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PE8
NN16 (North Northamptonshire)
≈21.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~995 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PE8

Similar sunshine across the UK

BA16 (Somerset)
~1,009 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PE8
CF91 (Cardiff)
~1,009 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PE8
TN16 (Bromley)
~1,009 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PE8