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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PO38 (Isle of Wight)

See if solar pays off for you in Isle of Wight — 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
10.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,120
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,801
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 1125 kWh/kW — 124 above 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 1125 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)
1125 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: £934, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 10.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2251 kWh 900 kWh 1350 kWh £238 £135 £373 £4,069 10.9 yrs £3,400
3 kW 3376 kWh 1350 kWh 2026 kWh £358 £203 £560 £6,104 10.9 yrs £5,100
4 kW 4501 kWh 1801 kWh 2701 kWh £477 £270 £747 £8,138 10.9 yrs £6,799
5 kW 5627 kWh 2251 kWh 3376 kWh £596 £338 £934 £10,173 10.9 yrs £8,499
6 kW 6752 kWh 2701 kWh 4051 kWh £715 £405 £1,120 £12,207 10.9 yrs £10,199
7 kW 7877 kWh 3151 kWh 4726 kWh £834 £473 £1,307 £14,242 10.9 yrs £11,899
8 kW 9003 kWh 3601 kWh 5402 kWh £954 £540 £1,494 £16,276 10.9 yrs £13,599

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: £1,119, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2251 kWh 1350 kWh 900 kWh £358 £90 £448 £6,169 13.8 yrs £2,783
3 kW 3376 kWh 2026 kWh 1350 kWh £536 £135 £671 £8,204 12.2 yrs £5,225
4 kW 4501 kWh 2701 kWh 1801 kWh £715 £180 £895 £10,238 11.4 yrs £7,667
5 kW 5627 kWh 3376 kWh 2251 kWh £894 £225 £1,119 £12,273 11.0 yrs £10,108
6 kW 6752 kWh 4051 kWh 2701 kWh £1,073 £270 £1,343 £14,307 10.7 yrs £12,550
7 kW 7877 kWh 4726 kWh 3151 kWh £1,252 £315 £1,567 £16,342 10.4 yrs £14,992
8 kW 9003 kWh 5402 kWh 3601 kWh £1,430 £360 £1,790 £18,376 10.3 yrs £17,433

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: £1,212, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2251 kWh 1575 kWh 675 kWh £417 £68 £485 £7,569 15.6 yrs £2,125
3 kW 3376 kWh 2363 kWh 1013 kWh £626 £101 £727 £9,604 13.2 yrs £4,938
4 kW 4501 kWh 3151 kWh 1350 kWh £834 £135 £969 £11,638 12.0 yrs £7,750
5 kW 5627 kWh 3939 kWh 1688 kWh £1,043 £169 £1,212 £13,673 11.3 yrs £10,563
6 kW 6752 kWh 4726 kWh 2026 kWh £1,252 £203 £1,454 £15,707 10.8 yrs £13,376
7 kW 7877 kWh 5514 kWh 2363 kWh £1,460 £236 £1,696 £17,742 10.5 yrs £16,188
8 kW 9003 kWh 6302 kWh 2701 kWh £1,669 £270 £1,939 £19,776 10.2 yrs £19,001

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: £1,240, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2251 kWh 1643 kWh 608 kWh £435 £61 £496 £9,319 18.8 yrs £598
3 kW 3376 kWh 2465 kWh 912 kWh £653 £91 £744 £11,354 15.3 yrs £3,522
4 kW 4501 kWh 3286 kWh 1215 kWh £870 £122 £992 £13,388 13.5 yrs £6,445
5 kW 5627 kWh 4108 kWh 1519 kWh £1,088 £152 £1,240 £15,423 12.4 yrs £9,369
6 kW 6752 kWh 4929 kWh 1823 kWh £1,305 £182 £1,488 £17,457 11.7 yrs £12,293
7 kW 7877 kWh 5751 kWh 2127 kWh £1,523 £213 £1,735 £19,492 11.2 yrs £15,217
8 kW 9003 kWh 6572 kWh 2431 kWh £1,740 £243 £1,983 £21,526 10.9 yrs £18,141

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: £1,258, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2251 kWh 1688 kWh 563 kWh £447 £56 £503 £11,069 22.0 yrs £-1,004
3 kW 3376 kWh 2532 kWh 844 kWh £670 £84 £755 £13,104 17.4 yrs £1,994
4 kW 4501 kWh 3376 kWh 1125 kWh £894 £113 £1,007 £15,138 15.0 yrs £4,992
5 kW 5627 kWh 4220 kWh 1407 kWh £1,117 £141 £1,258 £17,173 13.6 yrs £7,990
6 kW 6752 kWh 5064 kWh 1688 kWh £1,341 £169 £1,510 £19,207 12.7 yrs £10,988
7 kW 7877 kWh 5908 kWh 1969 kWh £1,564 £197 £1,761 £21,242 12.1 yrs £13,986
8 kW 9003 kWh 6752 kWh 2251 kWh £1,788 £225 £2,013 £23,276 11.6 yrs £16,984

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: £1,277, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2251 kWh 1733 kWh 518 kWh £459 £52 £511 £13,519 26.5 yrs £-3,306
3 kW 3376 kWh 2600 kWh 776 kWh £688 £78 £766 £15,554 20.3 yrs £-233
4 kW 4501 kWh 3466 kWh 1035 kWh £918 £104 £1,021 £17,588 17.2 yrs £2,839
5 kW 5627 kWh 4333 kWh 1294 kWh £1,147 £129 £1,277 £19,623 15.4 yrs £5,911
6 kW 6752 kWh 5199 kWh 1553 kWh £1,377 £155 £1,532 £21,657 14.1 yrs £8,983
7 kW 7877 kWh 6066 kWh 1812 kWh £1,606 £181 £1,787 £23,692 13.3 yrs £12,056
8 kW 9003 kWh 6932 kWh 2071 kWh £1,836 £207 £2,043 £25,726 12.6 yrs £15,128

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 PO38

Figures below are tailored to PO38 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #577 of 2182
5.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #51 of 2997
9.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,287 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2 of 2997
12.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£163 fixed • ~£1,287 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.48p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
44.62p/day
Local Sunshine
1125kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1125 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: 49% • Flats: 27% • Bungalows: 22% Based on 4,470 properties

Coverage

Isle of Wight (100%)

Areas Covered

Ventnor & St Lawrence, Chale, Niton & Shorwell, Wroxall, Lowtherville & Bonchurch, Central Rural, Newchurch, Havenstreet & Ashey + 2 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

PO37 (Isle of Wight)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,108 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PO38
PO36 (Isle of Wight)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PO38
PO30 (Isle of Wight)
≈12.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,133 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PO38
PO35 (Isle of Wight)
≈13.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,111 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PO38
PO33 (Isle of Wight)
≈14.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,088 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PO38
PO34 (Isle of Wight)
≈15.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,087 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PO38

Similar sunshine across the UK

TN34 (Hastings)
~1,125 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PO38
TN37 (Hastings)
~1,125 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PO38
BN17 (Arun)
~1,126 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PO38