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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PL21 (South Hams)

See if solar pays off for you in South Hams — 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
11.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£908
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,531
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 1086 kWh/kW — 72 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 1086 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)
1086 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: £908, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2172 kWh 869 kWh 1303 kWh £233 £130 £363 £4,069 11.2 yrs £3,196
3 kW 3257 kWh 1303 kWh 1954 kWh £349 £195 £545 £6,104 11.2 yrs £4,794
4 kW 4343 kWh 1737 kWh 2606 kWh £466 £261 £727 £8,138 11.2 yrs £6,392
5 kW 5429 kWh 2172 kWh 3257 kWh £582 £326 £908 £10,173 11.2 yrs £7,991
6 kW 6515 kWh 2606 kWh 3909 kWh £699 £391 £1,090 £12,207 11.2 yrs £9,589
7 kW 7601 kWh 3040 kWh 4560 kWh £815 £456 £1,271 £14,242 11.2 yrs £11,187
8 kW 8686 kWh 3475 kWh 5212 kWh £932 £521 £1,453 £16,276 11.2 yrs £12,785

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: £1,091, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2172 kWh 1303 kWh 869 kWh £349 £87 £436 £6,169 14.1 yrs £2,557
3 kW 3257 kWh 1954 kWh 1303 kWh £524 £130 £654 £8,204 12.5 yrs £4,886
4 kW 4343 kWh 2606 kWh 1737 kWh £699 £174 £873 £10,238 11.7 yrs £7,215
5 kW 5429 kWh 3257 kWh 2172 kWh £874 £217 £1,091 £12,273 11.3 yrs £9,543
6 kW 6515 kWh 3909 kWh 2606 kWh £1,048 £261 £1,309 £14,307 10.9 yrs £11,872
7 kW 7601 kWh 4560 kWh 3040 kWh £1,223 £304 £1,527 £16,342 10.7 yrs £14,200
8 kW 8686 kWh 5212 kWh 3475 kWh £1,398 £347 £1,745 £18,376 10.5 yrs £16,529

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: £1,182, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2172 kWh 1520 kWh 651 kWh £408 £65 £473 £7,569 16.0 yrs £1,888
3 kW 3257 kWh 2280 kWh 977 kWh £612 £98 £709 £9,604 13.5 yrs £4,582
4 kW 4343 kWh 3040 kWh 1303 kWh £815 £130 £946 £11,638 12.3 yrs £7,276
5 kW 5429 kWh 3800 kWh 1629 kWh £1,019 £163 £1,182 £13,673 11.6 yrs £9,969
6 kW 6515 kWh 4560 kWh 1954 kWh £1,223 £195 £1,419 £15,707 11.1 yrs £12,663
7 kW 7601 kWh 5320 kWh 2280 kWh £1,427 £228 £1,655 £17,742 10.7 yrs £15,357
8 kW 8686 kWh 6080 kWh 2606 kWh £1,631 £261 £1,891 £19,776 10.5 yrs £18,051

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: £1,209, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2172 kWh 1585 kWh 586 kWh £425 £59 £484 £9,319 19.3 yrs £357
3 kW 3257 kWh 2378 kWh 879 kWh £638 £88 £726 £11,354 15.6 yrs £3,160
4 kW 4343 kWh 3171 kWh 1173 kWh £850 £117 £968 £13,388 13.8 yrs £5,964
5 kW 5429 kWh 3963 kWh 1466 kWh £1,063 £147 £1,209 £15,423 12.8 yrs £8,767
6 kW 6515 kWh 4756 kWh 1759 kWh £1,275 £176 £1,451 £17,457 12.0 yrs £11,571
7 kW 7601 kWh 5548 kWh 2052 kWh £1,488 £205 £1,693 £19,492 11.5 yrs £14,374
8 kW 8686 kWh 6341 kWh 2345 kWh £1,701 £235 £1,935 £21,526 11.1 yrs £17,178

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: £1,228, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2172 kWh 1629 kWh 543 kWh £437 £54 £491 £11,069 22.5 yrs £-1,247
3 kW 3257 kWh 2443 kWh 814 kWh £655 £81 £737 £13,104 17.8 yrs £1,630
4 kW 4343 kWh 3257 kWh 1086 kWh £874 £109 £982 £15,138 15.4 yrs £4,506
5 kW 5429 kWh 4072 kWh 1357 kWh £1,092 £136 £1,228 £17,173 14.0 yrs £7,383
6 kW 6515 kWh 4886 kWh 1629 kWh £1,310 £163 £1,473 £19,207 13.0 yrs £10,259
7 kW 7601 kWh 5700 kWh 1900 kWh £1,529 £190 £1,719 £21,242 12.4 yrs £13,136
8 kW 8686 kWh 6515 kWh 2172 kWh £1,747 £217 £1,964 £23,276 11.8 yrs £16,012

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: £1,246, Upfront: £19,623, 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 2172 kWh 1672 kWh 499 kWh £448 £50 £498 £13,519 27.1 yrs £-3,551
3 kW 3257 kWh 2508 kWh 749 kWh £673 £75 £748 £15,554 20.8 yrs £-601
4 kW 4343 kWh 3344 kWh 999 kWh £897 £100 £997 £17,588 17.6 yrs £2,348
5 kW 5429 kWh 4180 kWh 1249 kWh £1,121 £125 £1,246 £19,623 15.7 yrs £5,298
6 kW 6515 kWh 5016 kWh 1498 kWh £1,345 £150 £1,495 £21,657 14.5 yrs £8,247
7 kW 7601 kWh 5852 kWh 1748 kWh £1,570 £175 £1,744 £23,692 13.6 yrs £11,197
8 kW 8686 kWh 6688 kWh 1998 kWh £1,794 £200 £1,994 £25,726 12.9 yrs £14,147

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 PL21

Figures below are tailored to PL21 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #946 of 2182
5.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #98 of 2997
9.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,045 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1226 of 2997
18.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,045 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
1086kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1086 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: 81% • Flats: 7% • Bungalows: 11% Based on 4,903 properties

Coverage

South Hams (100%)

Areas Covered

Ivybridge West, Ermington & Ugborough, Ivybridge East, Charterlands, Bickleigh & Cornwood, Newton & Yealmpton, Loddiswell & Aveton Gifford, South Brent

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

TQ10 (South Hams)
≈7.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,034 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PL21
PL8 (South Hams)
≈8.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,081 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL21
PL7 (Plymouth)
≈9.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,081 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL21
PL9 (Plymouth)
≈12.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,073 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PL21
PL95 (Plymouth)
≈13.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,043 kWh/kWp · -4% vs PL21
TQ11 (Teignbridge)
≈14.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PL21

Similar sunshine across the UK

BN44 (Horsham)
~1,086 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PL21
CT9 (Thanet)
~1,086 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL21
PO13 (Gosport)
~1,085 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL21