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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SA11 (Neath Port Talbot)

See if solar pays off for you in Neath Port Talbot — 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
13.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£777
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,248
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 South Wales, the current unit rate is 26.83p/kWh with a 51.69p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 929 kWh/kW — 40 below the regional median (968).

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 929 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
51.7p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
929 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: £777, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 743 kWh 1114 kWh £199 £111 £311 £4,069 13.1 yrs £2,145
3 kW 2786 kWh 1114 kWh 1671 kWh £299 £167 £466 £6,104 13.1 yrs £3,218
4 kW 3714 kWh 1486 kWh 2228 kWh £399 £223 £621 £8,138 13.1 yrs £4,291
5 kW 4643 kWh 1857 kWh 2786 kWh £498 £279 £777 £10,173 13.1 yrs £5,364
6 kW 5571 kWh 2228 kWh 3343 kWh £598 £334 £932 £12,207 13.1 yrs £6,436
7 kW 6500 kWh 2600 kWh 3900 kWh £698 £390 £1,088 £14,242 13.1 yrs £7,509
8 kW 7428 kWh 2971 kWh 4457 kWh £797 £446 £1,243 £16,276 13.1 yrs £8,582

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: £933, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 1114 kWh 743 kWh £299 £74 £373 £6,169 16.5 yrs £1,296
3 kW 2786 kWh 1671 kWh 1114 kWh £448 £111 £560 £8,204 14.7 yrs £2,993
4 kW 3714 kWh 2228 kWh 1486 kWh £598 £149 £746 £10,238 13.7 yrs £4,691
5 kW 4643 kWh 2786 kWh 1857 kWh £747 £186 £933 £12,273 13.2 yrs £6,389
6 kW 5571 kWh 3343 kWh 2228 kWh £897 £223 £1,120 £14,307 12.8 yrs £8,087
7 kW 6500 kWh 3900 kWh 2600 kWh £1,046 £260 £1,306 £16,342 12.5 yrs £9,785
8 kW 7428 kWh 4457 kWh 2971 kWh £1,196 £297 £1,493 £18,376 12.3 yrs £11,482

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: £1,011, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 1300 kWh 557 kWh £349 £56 £404 £7,569 18.7 yrs £521
3 kW 2786 kWh 1950 kWh 836 kWh £523 £84 £607 £9,604 15.8 yrs £2,531
4 kW 3714 kWh 2600 kWh 1114 kWh £698 £111 £809 £11,638 14.4 yrs £4,541
5 kW 4643 kWh 3250 kWh 1393 kWh £872 £139 £1,011 £13,673 13.5 yrs £6,552
6 kW 5571 kWh 3900 kWh 1671 kWh £1,046 £167 £1,213 £15,707 12.9 yrs £8,562
7 kW 6500 kWh 4550 kWh 1950 kWh £1,221 £195 £1,416 £17,742 12.5 yrs £10,572
8 kW 7428 kWh 5200 kWh 2228 kWh £1,395 £223 £1,618 £19,776 12.2 yrs £12,583

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: £1,035, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 1356 kWh 501 kWh £364 £50 £414 £9,319 22.5 yrs £-1,042
3 kW 2786 kWh 2033 kWh 752 kWh £546 £75 £621 £11,354 18.3 yrs £1,062
4 kW 3714 kWh 2711 kWh 1003 kWh £727 £100 £828 £13,388 16.2 yrs £3,166
5 kW 4643 kWh 3389 kWh 1254 kWh £909 £125 £1,035 £15,423 14.9 yrs £5,271
6 kW 5571 kWh 4067 kWh 1504 kWh £1,091 £150 £1,242 £17,457 14.1 yrs £7,375
7 kW 6500 kWh 4745 kWh 1755 kWh £1,273 £175 £1,449 £19,492 13.5 yrs £9,479
8 kW 7428 kWh 5423 kWh 2006 kWh £1,455 £201 £1,655 £21,526 13.0 yrs £11,583

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: £1,050, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 1393 kWh 464 kWh £374 £46 £420 £11,069 26.3 yrs £-2,667
3 kW 2786 kWh 2089 kWh 696 kWh £561 £70 £630 £13,104 20.8 yrs £-500
4 kW 3714 kWh 2786 kWh 929 kWh £747 £93 £840 £15,138 18.0 yrs £1,666
5 kW 4643 kWh 3482 kWh 1161 kWh £934 £116 £1,050 £17,173 16.4 yrs £3,833
6 kW 5571 kWh 4178 kWh 1393 kWh £1,121 £139 £1,260 £19,207 15.2 yrs £6,000
7 kW 6500 kWh 4875 kWh 1625 kWh £1,308 £162 £1,470 £21,242 14.4 yrs £8,166
8 kW 7428 kWh 5571 kWh 1857 kWh £1,495 £186 £1,680 £23,276 13.9 yrs £10,333

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: £1,066, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1857 kWh 1430 kWh 427 kWh £384 £43 £426 £13,519 31.7 yrs £-4,992
3 kW 2786 kWh 2145 kWh 641 kWh £575 £64 £640 £15,554 24.3 yrs £-2,763
4 kW 3714 kWh 2860 kWh 854 kWh £767 £85 £853 £17,588 20.6 yrs £-533
5 kW 4643 kWh 3575 kWh 1068 kWh £959 £107 £1,066 £19,623 18.4 yrs £1,696
6 kW 5571 kWh 4290 kWh 1281 kWh £1,151 £128 £1,279 £21,657 16.9 yrs £3,925
7 kW 6500 kWh 5005 kWh 1495 kWh £1,343 £149 £1,492 £23,692 15.9 yrs £6,154
8 kW 7428 kWh 5720 kWh 1708 kWh £1,535 £171 £1,705 £25,726 15.1 yrs £8,383

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 SA11

Figures below are tailored to SA11 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1412 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1712 of 2997
11.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£894 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1629 of 2997
21.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£189 fixed • ~£894 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.83p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.69p/day
Local Sunshine
929kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~929 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: 73% • Flats: 22% • Bungalows: 5% Based on 10,122 properties

Coverage

Neath Port Talbot (98%)|Powys (2%)

Areas Covered

Neath North, Neath East, Resolven and Tonna, Neath South, Blaengwrach and Glynneath West, Briton Ferry East, Briton Ferry West, Cimla and Pelenna + 5 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 South Wales

SA10 (Neath Port Talbot)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~935 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SA11
SA7 (Swansea)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · +4% vs SA11
SA12 (Neath Port Talbot)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,006 kWh/kWp · +8% vs SA11
SA8 (Neath Port Talbot)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~888 kWh/kWp · -4% vs SA11
SA13 (Neath Port Talbot)
≈8.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,005 kWh/kWp · +8% vs SA11
SA6 (Swansea)
≈8.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · +4% vs SA11

Similar sunshine across the UK

NG15 (Ashfield)
~928 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SA11
NE20 (Northumberland)
~928 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SA11
CW6 (Cheshire West and Chester)
~929 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SA11