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Solar Panels in S30 (Sheffield)

See if solar pays off for you in Sheffield — 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
14.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£728
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,033
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 Yorkshire, the current unit rate is 25.33p/kWh with a 58.65p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 903 kWh/kW — 26 below the regional median (929).

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 903 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.3p/kWh
Standing charge
58.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
903 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: £728, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1806 kWh 722 kWh 1083 kWh £183 £108 £291 £4,069 14.0 yrs £1,757
3 kW 2708 kWh 1083 kWh 1625 kWh £274 £163 £437 £6,104 14.0 yrs £2,635
4 kW 3611 kWh 1445 kWh 2167 kWh £366 £217 £583 £8,138 14.0 yrs £3,514
5 kW 4514 kWh 1806 kWh 2708 kWh £457 £271 £728 £10,173 14.0 yrs £4,392
6 kW 5417 kWh 2167 kWh 3250 kWh £549 £325 £874 £12,207 14.0 yrs £5,270
7 kW 6320 kWh 2528 kWh 3792 kWh £640 £379 £1,020 £14,242 14.0 yrs £6,149
8 kW 7223 kWh 2889 kWh 4334 kWh £732 £433 £1,165 £16,276 14.0 yrs £7,027

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: £867, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1806 kWh 1083 kWh 722 kWh £274 £72 £347 £6,169 17.8 yrs £764
3 kW 2708 kWh 1625 kWh 1083 kWh £412 £108 £520 £8,204 15.8 yrs £2,196
4 kW 3611 kWh 2167 kWh 1445 kWh £549 £144 £693 £10,238 14.8 yrs £3,628
5 kW 4514 kWh 2708 kWh 1806 kWh £686 £181 £867 £12,273 14.2 yrs £5,060
6 kW 5417 kWh 3250 kWh 2167 kWh £823 £217 £1,040 £14,307 13.8 yrs £6,492
7 kW 6320 kWh 3792 kWh 2528 kWh £960 £253 £1,213 £16,342 13.5 yrs £7,924
8 kW 7223 kWh 4334 kWh 2889 kWh £1,098 £289 £1,387 £18,376 13.3 yrs £9,356

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: £936, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1806 kWh 1264 kWh 542 kWh £320 £54 £374 £7,569 20.2 yrs £-82
3 kW 2708 kWh 1896 kWh 813 kWh £480 £81 £561 £9,604 17.1 yrs £1,626
4 kW 3611 kWh 2528 kWh 1083 kWh £640 £108 £749 £11,638 15.5 yrs £3,335
5 kW 4514 kWh 3160 kWh 1354 kWh £800 £135 £936 £13,673 14.6 yrs £5,044
6 kW 5417 kWh 3792 kWh 1625 kWh £960 £163 £1,123 £15,707 14.0 yrs £6,753
7 kW 6320 kWh 4424 kWh 1896 kWh £1,121 £190 £1,310 £17,742 13.5 yrs £8,462
8 kW 7223 kWh 5056 kWh 2167 kWh £1,281 £217 £1,497 £19,776 13.2 yrs £10,170

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: £957, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1806 kWh 1318 kWh 488 kWh £334 £49 £383 £9,319 24.4 yrs £-1,666
3 kW 2708 kWh 1977 kWh 731 kWh £501 £73 £574 £11,354 19.8 yrs £126
4 kW 3611 kWh 2636 kWh 975 kWh £668 £98 £765 £13,388 17.5 yrs £1,917
5 kW 4514 kWh 3295 kWh 1219 kWh £835 £122 £957 £15,423 16.1 yrs £3,709
6 kW 5417 kWh 3954 kWh 1463 kWh £1,002 £146 £1,148 £17,457 15.2 yrs £5,501
7 kW 6320 kWh 4613 kWh 1706 kWh £1,169 £171 £1,339 £19,492 14.6 yrs £7,293
8 kW 7223 kWh 5273 kWh 1950 kWh £1,336 £195 £1,531 £21,526 14.1 yrs £9,085

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: £970, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1806 kWh 1354 kWh 451 kWh £343 £45 £388 £11,069 28.5 yrs £-3,306
3 kW 2708 kWh 2031 kWh 677 kWh £515 £68 £582 £13,104 22.5 yrs £-1,458
4 kW 3611 kWh 2708 kWh 903 kWh £686 £90 £776 £15,138 19.5 yrs £389
5 kW 4514 kWh 3386 kWh 1129 kWh £858 £113 £970 £17,173 17.7 yrs £2,236
6 kW 5417 kWh 4063 kWh 1354 kWh £1,029 £135 £1,165 £19,207 16.5 yrs £4,083
7 kW 6320 kWh 4740 kWh 1580 kWh £1,201 £158 £1,359 £21,242 15.6 yrs £5,930
8 kW 7223 kWh 5417 kWh 1806 kWh £1,372 £181 £1,553 £23,276 15.0 yrs £7,778

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: £984, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1806 kWh 1390 kWh 415 kWh £352 £42 £394 £13,519 34.3 yrs £-5,645
3 kW 2708 kWh 2086 kWh 623 kWh £528 £62 £591 £15,554 26.3 yrs £-3,742
4 kW 3611 kWh 2781 kWh 831 kWh £704 £83 £787 £17,588 22.3 yrs £-1,840
5 kW 4514 kWh 3476 kWh 1038 kWh £880 £104 £984 £19,623 19.9 yrs £63
6 kW 5417 kWh 4171 kWh 1246 kWh £1,057 £125 £1,181 £21,657 18.3 yrs £1,965
7 kW 6320 kWh 4866 kWh 1454 kWh £1,233 £145 £1,378 £23,692 17.2 yrs £3,868
8 kW 7223 kWh 5561 kWh 1661 kWh £1,409 £166 £1,575 £25,726 16.3 yrs £5,771

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 S30

Figures below are tailored to S30 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2523 of 2997
12.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£832 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2348 of 2997
25.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£214 fixed • ~£832 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.33p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
58.65p/day
Local Sunshine
903kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~903 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Sheffield (58%)|Barnsley (22%)|Derbyshire Dales (14%)|High Peak (6%)

Areas Covered

Stocksbridge and Upper Don, West Ecclesfield, East Ecclesfield, Penistone West, Hathersage, Penistone East, Hope Valley, Bradwell + 4 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 Yorkshire

S35 (Sheffield)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~916 kWh/kWp · +2% vs S30
S36 (Barnsley)
≈6.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~911 kWh/kWp · +1% vs S30
S6 (Sheffield)
≈8.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · +3% vs S30
S5 (Sheffield)
≈9.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · +3% vs S30
S74 (Barnsley)
≈9.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~932 kWh/kWp · +3% vs S30
S10 (Sheffield)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~918 kWh/kWp · +2% vs S30

Similar sunshine across the UK

CA14 (Cumberland)
~903 kWh/kWp · -0% vs S30
LD6 (Powys)
~903 kWh/kWp · -0% vs S30
LD4 (Powys)
~903 kWh/kWp · -0% vs S30