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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SA2 (Swansea)

See if solar pays off for you in Swansea — 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
12.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£992
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,597
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 988 kWh/kW — 20 above 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 988 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)
988 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: £827, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1977 kWh 791 kWh 1186 kWh £212 £119 £331 £4,069 12.3 yrs £2,545
3 kW 2965 kWh 1186 kWh 1779 kWh £318 £178 £496 £6,104 12.3 yrs £3,818
4 kW 3953 kWh 1581 kWh 2372 kWh £424 £237 £661 £8,138 12.3 yrs £5,091
5 kW 4942 kWh 1977 kWh 2965 kWh £530 £296 £827 £10,173 12.3 yrs £6,364
6 kW 5930 kWh 2372 kWh 3558 kWh £636 £356 £992 £12,207 12.3 yrs £7,636
7 kW 6918 kWh 2767 kWh 4151 kWh £742 £415 £1,158 £14,242 12.3 yrs £8,909
8 kW 7906 kWh 3163 kWh 4744 kWh £849 £474 £1,323 £16,276 12.3 yrs £10,182

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: £993, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1977 kWh 1186 kWh 791 kWh £318 £79 £397 £6,169 15.5 yrs £1,776
3 kW 2965 kWh 1779 kWh 1186 kWh £477 £119 £596 £8,204 13.8 yrs £3,714
4 kW 3953 kWh 2372 kWh 1581 kWh £636 £158 £795 £10,238 12.9 yrs £5,652
5 kW 4942 kWh 2965 kWh 1977 kWh £795 £198 £993 £12,273 12.4 yrs £7,590
6 kW 5930 kWh 3558 kWh 2372 kWh £955 £237 £1,192 £14,307 12.0 yrs £9,528
7 kW 6918 kWh 4151 kWh 2767 kWh £1,114 £277 £1,390 £16,342 11.8 yrs £11,466
8 kW 7906 kWh 4744 kWh 3163 kWh £1,273 £316 £1,589 £18,376 11.6 yrs £13,404

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: £1,076, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1977 kWh 1384 kWh 593 kWh £371 £59 £431 £7,569 17.6 yrs £1,041
3 kW 2965 kWh 2075 kWh 889 kWh £557 £89 £646 £9,604 14.9 yrs £3,312
4 kW 3953 kWh 2767 kWh 1186 kWh £742 £119 £861 £11,638 13.5 yrs £5,583
5 kW 4942 kWh 3459 kWh 1482 kWh £928 £148 £1,076 £13,673 12.7 yrs £7,854
6 kW 5930 kWh 4151 kWh 1779 kWh £1,114 £178 £1,292 £15,707 12.2 yrs £10,124
7 kW 6918 kWh 4843 kWh 2075 kWh £1,299 £208 £1,507 £17,742 11.8 yrs £12,395
8 kW 7906 kWh 5534 kWh 2372 kWh £1,485 £237 £1,722 £19,776 11.5 yrs £14,666

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: £1,101, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1977 kWh 1443 kWh 534 kWh £387 £53 £441 £9,319 21.2 yrs £-509
3 kW 2965 kWh 2164 kWh 801 kWh £581 £80 £661 £11,354 17.2 yrs £1,862
4 kW 3953 kWh 2886 kWh 1067 kWh £774 £107 £881 £13,388 15.2 yrs £4,232
5 kW 4942 kWh 3607 kWh 1334 kWh £968 £133 £1,101 £15,423 14.0 yrs £6,603
6 kW 5930 kWh 4329 kWh 1601 kWh £1,161 £160 £1,322 £17,457 13.2 yrs £8,973
7 kW 6918 kWh 5050 kWh 1868 kWh £1,355 £187 £1,542 £19,492 12.6 yrs £11,344
8 kW 7906 kWh 5772 kWh 2135 kWh £1,549 £213 £1,762 £21,526 12.2 yrs £13,714

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: £1,118, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1977 kWh 1482 kWh 494 kWh £398 £49 £447 £11,069 24.8 yrs £-2,126
3 kW 2965 kWh 2224 kWh 741 kWh £597 £74 £671 £13,104 19.5 yrs £311
4 kW 3953 kWh 2965 kWh 988 kWh £795 £99 £894 £15,138 16.9 yrs £2,748
5 kW 4942 kWh 3706 kWh 1235 kWh £994 £124 £1,118 £17,173 15.4 yrs £5,185
6 kW 5930 kWh 4447 kWh 1482 kWh £1,193 £148 £1,341 £19,207 14.3 yrs £7,622
7 kW 6918 kWh 5189 kWh 1730 kWh £1,392 £173 £1,565 £21,242 13.6 yrs £10,059
8 kW 7906 kWh 5930 kWh 1977 kWh £1,591 £198 £1,789 £23,276 13.0 yrs £12,496

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: £1,135, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1977 kWh 1522 kWh 455 kWh £408 £45 £454 £13,519 29.8 yrs £-4,443
3 kW 2965 kWh 2283 kWh 682 kWh £613 £68 £681 £15,554 22.8 yrs £-1,939
4 kW 3953 kWh 3044 kWh 909 kWh £817 £91 £908 £17,588 19.4 yrs £564
5 kW 4942 kWh 3805 kWh 1137 kWh £1,021 £114 £1,135 £19,623 17.3 yrs £3,068
6 kW 5930 kWh 4566 kWh 1364 kWh £1,225 £136 £1,361 £21,657 15.9 yrs £5,572
7 kW 6918 kWh 5327 kWh 1591 kWh £1,429 £159 £1,588 £23,692 14.9 yrs £8,075
8 kW 7906 kWh 6088 kWh 1818 kWh £1,633 £182 £1,815 £25,726 14.2 yrs £10,579

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 SA2

Figures below are tailored to SA2 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #606 of 2182
5.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #858 of 2997
10.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,142 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #638 of 2997
16.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£189 fixed • ~£1,142 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.83p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.69p/day
Local Sunshine
988kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~988 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: 70% • Flats: 23% • Bungalows: 6% Based on 8,213 properties

Coverage

Swansea (100%)

Areas Covered

Sketty, Uplands, Dunvant and Killay, Llansamlet, Fairwood, Cockett, Townhill, Pennard + 3 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

SA5 (Swansea)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SA2
SA1 (Swansea)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~982 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SA2
SA3 (Swansea)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,044 kWh/kWp · +6% vs SA2
SA80 (Swansea)
≈5.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~982 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SA2
SA99 (Swansea)
≈6.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · -2% vs SA2
SA4 (Swansea)
≈6.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~961 kWh/kWp · -3% vs SA2

Similar sunshine across the UK

OX27 (Cherwell)
~988 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SA2
N7 (Islington)
~988 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SA2
NW5 (Camden)
~988 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SA2