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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in S32 (Derbyshire Dales)

See if solar pays off for you in Derbyshire Dales — 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
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£869
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,515
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 East Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.55p/kWh with a 49.09p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 893 kWh/kW — 75 below the regional median (968).

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 893 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
49.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
893 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: £724, 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 1786 kWh 714 kWh 1071 kWh £182 £107 £290 £4,069 14.0 yrs £1,723
3 kW 2678 kWh 1071 kWh 1607 kWh £274 £161 £434 £6,104 14.0 yrs £2,585
4 kW 3571 kWh 1428 kWh 2143 kWh £365 £214 £579 £8,138 14.0 yrs £3,447
5 kW 4464 kWh 1786 kWh 2678 kWh £456 £268 £724 £10,173 14.0 yrs £4,309
6 kW 5357 kWh 2143 kWh 3214 kWh £547 £321 £869 £12,207 14.0 yrs £5,170
7 kW 6250 kWh 2500 kWh 3750 kWh £639 £375 £1,014 £14,242 14.0 yrs £6,032
8 kW 7142 kWh 2857 kWh 4285 kWh £730 £429 £1,158 £16,276 14.0 yrs £6,894

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: £863, 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 1786 kWh 1071 kWh 714 kWh £274 £71 £345 £6,169 17.9 yrs £734
3 kW 2678 kWh 1607 kWh 1071 kWh £411 £107 £518 £8,204 15.8 yrs £2,151
4 kW 3571 kWh 2143 kWh 1428 kWh £547 £143 £690 £10,238 14.8 yrs £3,568
5 kW 4464 kWh 2678 kWh 1786 kWh £684 £179 £863 £12,273 14.2 yrs £4,985
6 kW 5357 kWh 3214 kWh 2143 kWh £821 £214 £1,035 £14,307 13.8 yrs £6,402
7 kW 6250 kWh 3750 kWh 2500 kWh £958 £250 £1,208 £16,342 13.5 yrs £7,819
8 kW 7142 kWh 4285 kWh 2857 kWh £1,095 £286 £1,381 £18,376 13.3 yrs £9,236

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: £932, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1786 kWh 1250 kWh 536 kWh £319 £54 £373 £7,569 20.3 yrs £-111
3 kW 2678 kWh 1875 kWh 804 kWh £479 £80 £559 £9,604 17.2 yrs £1,584
4 kW 3571 kWh 2500 kWh 1071 kWh £639 £107 £746 £11,638 15.6 yrs £3,279
5 kW 4464 kWh 3125 kWh 1339 kWh £798 £134 £932 £13,673 14.7 yrs £4,974
6 kW 5357 kWh 3750 kWh 1607 kWh £958 £161 £1,119 £15,707 14.0 yrs £6,668
7 kW 6250 kWh 4375 kWh 1875 kWh £1,118 £187 £1,305 £17,742 13.6 yrs £8,363
8 kW 7142 kWh 5000 kWh 2143 kWh £1,277 £214 £1,492 £19,776 13.3 yrs £10,058

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: £953, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1786 kWh 1303 kWh 482 kWh £333 £48 £381 £9,319 24.4 yrs £-1,694
3 kW 2678 kWh 1955 kWh 723 kWh £500 £72 £572 £11,354 19.9 yrs £84
4 kW 3571 kWh 2607 kWh 964 kWh £666 £96 £763 £13,388 17.6 yrs £1,862
5 kW 4464 kWh 3259 kWh 1205 kWh £833 £121 £953 £15,423 16.2 yrs £3,640
6 kW 5357 kWh 3910 kWh 1446 kWh £999 £145 £1,144 £17,457 15.3 yrs £5,418
7 kW 6250 kWh 4562 kWh 1687 kWh £1,166 £169 £1,334 £19,492 14.6 yrs £7,196
8 kW 7142 kWh 5214 kWh 1928 kWh £1,332 £193 £1,525 £21,526 14.1 yrs £8,974

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: £967, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1786 kWh 1339 kWh 446 kWh £342 £45 £387 £11,069 28.6 yrs £-3,333
3 kW 2678 kWh 2009 kWh 670 kWh £513 £67 £580 £13,104 22.6 yrs £-1,499
4 kW 3571 kWh 2678 kWh 893 kWh £684 £89 £774 £15,138 19.6 yrs £334
5 kW 4464 kWh 3348 kWh 1116 kWh £855 £112 £967 £17,173 17.8 yrs £2,168
6 kW 5357 kWh 4018 kWh 1339 kWh £1,026 £134 £1,160 £19,207 16.6 yrs £4,001
7 kW 6250 kWh 4687 kWh 1562 kWh £1,198 £156 £1,354 £21,242 15.7 yrs £5,835
8 kW 7142 kWh 5357 kWh 1786 kWh £1,369 £179 £1,547 £23,276 15.0 yrs £7,668

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: £981, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1786 kWh 1375 kWh 411 kWh £351 £41 £392 £13,519 34.5 yrs £-5,672
3 kW 2678 kWh 2062 kWh 616 kWh £527 £62 £589 £15,554 26.4 yrs £-3,783
4 kW 3571 kWh 2750 kWh 821 kWh £703 £82 £785 £17,588 22.4 yrs £-1,894
5 kW 4464 kWh 3437 kWh 1027 kWh £878 £103 £981 £19,623 20.0 yrs £-5
6 kW 5357 kWh 4125 kWh 1232 kWh £1,054 £123 £1,177 £21,657 18.4 yrs £1,884
7 kW 6250 kWh 4812 kWh 1437 kWh £1,230 £144 £1,373 £23,692 17.3 yrs £3,774
8 kW 7142 kWh 5500 kWh 1643 kWh £1,405 £164 £1,569 £25,726 16.4 yrs £5,663

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 S32

Figures below are tailored to S32 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #353 of 2182
5.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2576 of 2997
12.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£994 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #985 of 2997
18.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£179 fixed • ~£994 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.55p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
49.09p/day
Local Sunshine
893kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~893 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: 71% • Flats: 15% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 1,419 properties

Coverage

Derbyshire Dales (96%)|North East Derbyshire (3%)

Areas Covered

Hathersage, Calver & Longstone, Dronfield North, Bradwell, Dore and Totley, Chatsworth

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 East Midlands

DE45 (Derbyshire Dales)
≈8.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~901 kWh/kWp · +1% vs S32
S40 (Chesterfield)
≈15.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~933 kWh/kWp · +5% vs S32
S41 (Chesterfield)
≈15.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~935 kWh/kWp · +5% vs S32
S49 (Chesterfield)
≈15.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~933 kWh/kWp · +5% vs S32
DE4 (Derbyshire Dales)
≈17.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~900 kWh/kWp · +1% vs S32
S42 (North East Derbyshire)
≈18.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~935 kWh/kWp · +5% vs S32

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT9 (Belfast)
~893 kWh/kWp · +0% vs S32
EH21 (East Lothian)
~893 kWh/kWp · -0% vs S32
BT7 (Belfast)
~893 kWh/kWp · +0% vs S32