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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PL14 (Cornwall)

See if solar pays off for you in Cornwall — 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
11.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£858
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,276
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 Western, the current unit rate is 26.82p/kWh with a 54.03p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1026 kWh/kW — 12 above the regional median (1013).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1026 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.8p/kWh
Standing charge
54.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1026 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: £858, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2052 kWh 821 kWh 1231 kWh £220 £123 £343 £4,069 11.9 yrs £2,794
3 kW 3077 kWh 1231 kWh 1846 kWh £330 £185 £515 £6,104 11.9 yrs £4,192
4 kW 4103 kWh 1641 kWh 2462 kWh £440 £246 £686 £8,138 11.9 yrs £5,589
5 kW 5129 kWh 2052 kWh 3077 kWh £550 £308 £858 £10,173 11.9 yrs £6,986
6 kW 6154 kWh 2462 kWh 3693 kWh £660 £369 £1,030 £12,207 11.9 yrs £8,383
7 kW 7180 kWh 2872 kWh 4308 kWh £770 £431 £1,201 £14,242 11.9 yrs £9,781
8 kW 8206 kWh 3282 kWh 4924 kWh £880 £492 £1,373 £16,276 11.9 yrs £11,178

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: £1,030, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2052 kWh 1231 kWh 821 kWh £330 £82 £412 £6,169 15.0 yrs £2,075
3 kW 3077 kWh 1846 kWh 1231 kWh £495 £123 £618 £8,204 13.3 yrs £4,162
4 kW 4103 kWh 2462 kWh 1641 kWh £660 £164 £824 £10,238 12.4 yrs £6,249
5 kW 5129 kWh 3077 kWh 2052 kWh £825 £205 £1,030 £12,273 11.9 yrs £8,337
6 kW 6154 kWh 3693 kWh 2462 kWh £990 £246 £1,237 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,424
7 kW 7180 kWh 4308 kWh 2872 kWh £1,155 £287 £1,443 £16,342 11.3 yrs £12,512
8 kW 8206 kWh 4924 kWh 3282 kWh £1,321 £328 £1,649 £18,376 11.1 yrs £14,599

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: £1,117, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2052 kWh 1436 kWh 615 kWh £385 £62 £447 £7,569 16.9 yrs £1,365
3 kW 3077 kWh 2154 kWh 923 kWh £578 £92 £670 £9,604 14.3 yrs £3,797
4 kW 4103 kWh 2872 kWh 1231 kWh £770 £123 £893 £11,638 13.0 yrs £6,230
5 kW 5129 kWh 3590 kWh 1539 kWh £963 £154 £1,117 £13,673 12.2 yrs £8,662
6 kW 6154 kWh 4308 kWh 1846 kWh £1,155 £185 £1,340 £15,707 11.7 yrs £11,095
7 kW 7180 kWh 5026 kWh 2154 kWh £1,348 £215 £1,563 £17,742 11.3 yrs £13,527
8 kW 8206 kWh 5744 kWh 2462 kWh £1,541 £246 £1,787 £19,776 11.1 yrs £15,959

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: £1,143, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2052 kWh 1498 kWh 554 kWh £402 £55 £457 £9,319 20.4 yrs £-178
3 kW 3077 kWh 2246 kWh 831 kWh £602 £83 £686 £11,354 16.6 yrs £2,358
4 kW 4103 kWh 2995 kWh 1108 kWh £803 £111 £914 £13,388 14.6 yrs £4,894
5 kW 5129 kWh 3744 kWh 1385 kWh £1,004 £138 £1,143 £15,423 13.5 yrs £7,430
6 kW 6154 kWh 4493 kWh 1662 kWh £1,205 £166 £1,371 £17,457 12.7 yrs £9,966
7 kW 7180 kWh 5242 kWh 1939 kWh £1,406 £194 £1,600 £19,492 12.2 yrs £12,502
8 kW 8206 kWh 5990 kWh 2216 kWh £1,607 £222 £1,828 £21,526 11.8 yrs £15,038

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: £1,160, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2052 kWh 1539 kWh 513 kWh £413 £51 £464 £11,069 23.9 yrs £-1,790
3 kW 3077 kWh 2308 kWh 769 kWh £619 £77 £696 £13,104 18.8 yrs £815
4 kW 4103 kWh 3077 kWh 1026 kWh £825 £103 £928 £15,138 16.3 yrs £3,420
5 kW 5129 kWh 3847 kWh 1282 kWh £1,032 £128 £1,160 £17,173 14.8 yrs £6,025
6 kW 6154 kWh 4616 kWh 1539 kWh £1,238 £154 £1,392 £19,207 13.8 yrs £8,630
7 kW 7180 kWh 5385 kWh 1795 kWh £1,444 £180 £1,624 £21,242 13.1 yrs £11,235
8 kW 8206 kWh 6154 kWh 2052 kWh £1,651 £205 £1,856 £23,276 12.5 yrs £13,840

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: £1,177, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2052 kWh 1580 kWh 472 kWh £424 £47 £471 £13,519 28.7 yrs £-4,102
3 kW 3077 kWh 2369 kWh 708 kWh £635 £71 £706 £15,554 22.0 yrs £-1,428
4 kW 4103 kWh 3159 kWh 944 kWh £847 £94 £942 £17,588 18.7 yrs £1,246
5 kW 5129 kWh 3949 kWh 1180 kWh £1,059 £118 £1,177 £19,623 16.7 yrs £3,920
6 kW 6154 kWh 4739 kWh 1416 kWh £1,271 £142 £1,413 £21,657 15.3 yrs £6,594
7 kW 7180 kWh 5529 kWh 1651 kWh £1,483 £165 £1,648 £23,692 14.4 yrs £9,268
8 kW 8206 kWh 6319 kWh 1887 kWh £1,695 £189 £1,883 £25,726 13.7 yrs £11,942

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 PL14

Figures below are tailored to PL14 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #871 of 2182
5.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #338 of 2997
10.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£987 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1401 of 2997
20.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£987 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
1026kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1026 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 68% • Flats: 11% • Bungalows: 20% Based on 7,359 properties

Coverage

Cornwall (100%)

Areas Covered

Liskeard Central, Liskeard South & Dobwalls, St Cleer & Menheniot, Lynher, Looe East & Deviock, Lostwithiel & Lanreath

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 Western

PL13 (Cornwall)
≈11.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,046 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PL14
PL17 (Cornwall)
≈12.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PL14
PL22 (Cornwall)
≈15.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,019 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PL14
PL12 (Cornwall)
≈17.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,041 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PL14
PL23 (Cornwall)
≈18.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,041 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PL14
PL31 (Cornwall)
≈18.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~982 kWh/kWp · -4% vs PL14

Similar sunshine across the UK

TN6 (Wealden)
~1,026 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PL14
CM6 (Uttlesford)
~1,025 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL14
HU12 (East Riding of Yorkshire)
~1,025 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL14