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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PL27 (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
12.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£998
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,752
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 995 kWh/kW — 19 below the regional median (1013).

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 995 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)
995 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: £832, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1989 kWh 796 kWh 1194 kWh £213 £119 £333 £4,069 12.2 yrs £2,587
3 kW 2984 kWh 1194 kWh 1790 kWh £320 £179 £499 £6,104 12.2 yrs £3,880
4 kW 3979 kWh 1592 kWh 2387 kWh £427 £239 £666 £8,138 12.2 yrs £5,173
5 kW 4973 kWh 1989 kWh 2984 kWh £534 £298 £832 £10,173 12.2 yrs £6,467
6 kW 5968 kWh 2387 kWh 3581 kWh £640 £358 £998 £12,207 12.2 yrs £7,760
7 kW 6963 kWh 2785 kWh 4178 kWh £747 £418 £1,165 £14,242 12.2 yrs £9,053
8 kW 7958 kWh 3183 kWh 4775 kWh £854 £477 £1,331 £16,276 12.2 yrs £10,347

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: £999, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1989 kWh 1194 kWh 796 kWh £320 £80 £400 £6,169 15.4 yrs £1,825
3 kW 2984 kWh 1790 kWh 1194 kWh £480 £119 £600 £8,204 13.7 yrs £3,788
4 kW 3979 kWh 2387 kWh 1592 kWh £640 £159 £799 £10,238 12.8 yrs £5,750
5 kW 4973 kWh 2984 kWh 1989 kWh £800 £199 £999 £12,273 12.3 yrs £7,713
6 kW 5968 kWh 3581 kWh 2387 kWh £960 £239 £1,199 £14,307 11.9 yrs £9,675
7 kW 6963 kWh 4178 kWh 2785 kWh £1,120 £279 £1,399 £16,342 11.7 yrs £11,638
8 kW 7958 kWh 4775 kWh 3183 kWh £1,281 £318 £1,599 £18,376 11.5 yrs £13,600

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: £1,083, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1989 kWh 1393 kWh 597 kWh £373 £60 £433 £7,569 17.5 yrs £1,094
3 kW 2984 kWh 2089 kWh 895 kWh £560 £90 £650 £9,604 14.8 yrs £3,391
4 kW 3979 kWh 2785 kWh 1194 kWh £747 £119 £866 £11,638 13.4 yrs £5,689
5 kW 4973 kWh 3481 kWh 1492 kWh £934 £149 £1,083 £13,673 12.6 yrs £7,986
6 kW 5968 kWh 4178 kWh 1790 kWh £1,120 £179 £1,300 £15,707 12.1 yrs £10,283
7 kW 6963 kWh 4874 kWh 2089 kWh £1,307 £209 £1,516 £17,742 11.7 yrs £12,580
8 kW 7958 kWh 5570 kWh 2387 kWh £1,494 £239 £1,733 £19,776 11.4 yrs £14,877

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: £1,108, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1989 kWh 1452 kWh 537 kWh £389 £54 £443 £9,319 21.0 yrs £-455
3 kW 2984 kWh 2178 kWh 806 kWh £584 £81 £665 £11,354 17.1 yrs £1,943
4 kW 3979 kWh 2904 kWh 1074 kWh £779 £107 £886 £13,388 15.1 yrs £4,340
5 kW 4973 kWh 3631 kWh 1343 kWh £974 £134 £1,108 £15,423 13.9 yrs £6,738
6 kW 5968 kWh 4357 kWh 1611 kWh £1,168 £161 £1,330 £17,457 13.1 yrs £9,135
7 kW 6963 kWh 5083 kWh 1880 kWh £1,363 £188 £1,551 £19,492 12.6 yrs £11,533
8 kW 7958 kWh 5809 kWh 2149 kWh £1,558 £215 £1,773 £21,526 12.1 yrs £13,930

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: £1,125, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1989 kWh 1492 kWh 497 kWh £400 £50 £450 £11,069 24.6 yrs £-2,071
3 kW 2984 kWh 2238 kWh 746 kWh £600 £75 £675 £13,104 19.4 yrs £393
4 kW 3979 kWh 2984 kWh 995 kWh £800 £99 £900 £15,138 16.8 yrs £2,858
5 kW 4973 kWh 3730 kWh 1243 kWh £1,000 £124 £1,125 £17,173 15.3 yrs £5,322
6 kW 5968 kWh 4476 kWh 1492 kWh £1,200 £149 £1,350 £19,207 14.2 yrs £7,787
7 kW 6963 kWh 5222 kWh 1741 kWh £1,401 £174 £1,575 £21,242 13.5 yrs £10,251
8 kW 7958 kWh 5968 kWh 1989 kWh £1,601 £199 £1,800 £23,276 12.9 yrs £12,716

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: £1,141, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1989 kWh 1532 kWh 458 kWh £411 £46 £457 £13,519 29.6 yrs £-4,387
3 kW 2984 kWh 2298 kWh 686 kWh £616 £69 £685 £15,554 22.7 yrs £-1,856
4 kW 3979 kWh 3064 kWh 915 kWh £822 £92 £913 £17,588 19.3 yrs £676
5 kW 4973 kWh 3830 kWh 1144 kWh £1,027 £114 £1,141 £19,623 17.2 yrs £3,207
6 kW 5968 kWh 4595 kWh 1373 kWh £1,233 £137 £1,370 £21,657 15.8 yrs £5,738
7 kW 6963 kWh 5361 kWh 1601 kWh £1,438 £160 £1,598 £23,692 14.8 yrs £8,270
8 kW 7958 kWh 6127 kWh 1830 kWh £1,643 £183 £1,826 £25,726 14.1 yrs £10,801

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 PL27

Figures below are tailored to PL27 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #300 of 2182
5.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #708 of 2997
10.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,149 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #809 of 2997
17.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,149 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
995kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~995 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: 67% • Flats: 15% • Bungalows: 17% Based on 4,572 properties

Coverage

Cornwall (100%)

Areas Covered

Wadebridge East & St Minver, Wadebridge West & St Mabyn, Padstow

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

PL30 (Cornwall)
≈8.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL27
PL29 (Cornwall)
≈8.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~983 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PL27
PL28 (Cornwall)
≈9.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,013 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PL27
PL31 (Cornwall)
≈10.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~982 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PL27
TR9 (Cornwall)
≈13.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~988 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PL27
PL33 (Cornwall)
≈14.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~959 kWh/kWp · -4% vs PL27

Similar sunshine across the UK

NN17 (North Northamptonshire)
~995 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL27
IP24 (Breckland)
~995 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL27
RG2 (Reading)
~995 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PL27