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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SK9 (Cheshire East)

See if solar pays off for you in Cheshire East — 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
13.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£881
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,821
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 North West, the current unit rate is 27.11p/kWh with a 51.16p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 872 kWh/kW — 2 above the regional median (870).

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 872 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
51.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
872 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: £734, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1744 kWh 697 kWh 1046 kWh £189 £105 £294 £4,069 13.9 yrs £1,805
3 kW 2616 kWh 1046 kWh 1569 kWh £284 £157 £441 £6,104 13.9 yrs £2,708
4 kW 3487 kWh 1395 kWh 2092 kWh £378 £209 £587 £8,138 13.9 yrs £3,610
5 kW 4359 kWh 1744 kWh 2616 kWh £473 £262 £734 £10,173 13.9 yrs £4,513
6 kW 5231 kWh 2092 kWh 3139 kWh £567 £314 £881 £12,207 13.9 yrs £5,415
7 kW 6103 kWh 2441 kWh 3662 kWh £662 £366 £1,028 £14,242 13.9 yrs £6,318
8 kW 6975 kWh 2790 kWh 4185 kWh £756 £418 £1,175 £16,276 13.9 yrs £7,220

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: £883, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1744 kWh 1046 kWh 697 kWh £284 £70 £353 £6,169 17.5 yrs £898
3 kW 2616 kWh 1569 kWh 1046 kWh £425 £105 £530 £8,204 15.5 yrs £2,398
4 kW 3487 kWh 2092 kWh 1395 kWh £567 £139 £707 £10,238 14.5 yrs £3,897
5 kW 4359 kWh 2616 kWh 1744 kWh £709 £174 £883 £12,273 13.9 yrs £5,396
6 kW 5231 kWh 3139 kWh 2092 kWh £851 £209 £1,060 £14,307 13.5 yrs £6,895
7 kW 6103 kWh 3662 kWh 2441 kWh £993 £244 £1,237 £16,342 13.2 yrs £8,395
8 kW 6975 kWh 4185 kWh 2790 kWh £1,135 £279 £1,413 £18,376 13.0 yrs £9,894

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: £958, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1744 kWh 1221 kWh 523 kWh £331 £52 £383 £7,569 19.8 yrs £95
3 kW 2616 kWh 1831 kWh 785 kWh £496 £78 £575 £9,604 16.7 yrs £1,893
4 kW 3487 kWh 2441 kWh 1046 kWh £662 £105 £766 £11,638 15.2 yrs £3,690
5 kW 4359 kWh 3051 kWh 1308 kWh £827 £131 £958 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,488
6 kW 5231 kWh 3662 kWh 1569 kWh £993 £157 £1,150 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,285
7 kW 6103 kWh 4272 kWh 1831 kWh £1,158 £183 £1,341 £17,742 13.2 yrs £9,083
8 kW 6975 kWh 4882 kWh 2092 kWh £1,324 £209 £1,533 £19,776 12.9 yrs £10,881

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: £980, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1744 kWh 1273 kWh 471 kWh £345 £47 £392 £9,319 23.8 yrs £-1,476
3 kW 2616 kWh 1909 kWh 706 kWh £518 £71 £588 £11,354 19.3 yrs £411
4 kW 3487 kWh 2546 kWh 942 kWh £690 £94 £784 £13,388 17.1 yrs £2,298
5 kW 4359 kWh 3182 kWh 1177 kWh £863 £118 £980 £15,423 15.7 yrs £4,185
6 kW 5231 kWh 3819 kWh 1412 kWh £1,035 £141 £1,176 £17,457 14.8 yrs £6,072
7 kW 6103 kWh 4455 kWh 1648 kWh £1,208 £165 £1,373 £19,492 14.2 yrs £7,960
8 kW 6975 kWh 5092 kWh 1883 kWh £1,380 £188 £1,569 £21,526 13.7 yrs £9,847

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: £995, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1744 kWh 1308 kWh 436 kWh £355 £44 £398 £11,069 27.8 yrs £-3,107
3 kW 2616 kWh 1962 kWh 654 kWh £532 £65 £597 £13,104 21.9 yrs £-1,160
4 kW 3487 kWh 2616 kWh 872 kWh £709 £87 £796 £15,138 19.0 yrs £787
5 kW 4359 kWh 3269 kWh 1090 kWh £886 £109 £995 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,734
6 kW 5231 kWh 3923 kWh 1308 kWh £1,064 £131 £1,194 £19,207 16.1 yrs £4,680
7 kW 6103 kWh 4577 kWh 1526 kWh £1,241 £153 £1,393 £21,242 15.2 yrs £6,627
8 kW 6975 kWh 5231 kWh 1744 kWh £1,418 £174 £1,593 £23,276 14.6 yrs £8,574

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: £1,010, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1744 kWh 1343 kWh 401 kWh £364 £40 £404 £13,519 33.5 yrs £-5,437
3 kW 2616 kWh 2014 kWh 602 kWh £546 £60 £606 £15,554 25.7 yrs £-3,431
4 kW 3487 kWh 2685 kWh 802 kWh £728 £80 £808 £17,588 21.8 yrs £-1,424
5 kW 4359 kWh 3357 kWh 1003 kWh £910 £100 £1,010 £19,623 19.4 yrs £582
6 kW 5231 kWh 4028 kWh 1203 kWh £1,092 £120 £1,212 £21,657 17.9 yrs £2,588
7 kW 6103 kWh 4699 kWh 1404 kWh £1,274 £140 £1,414 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,595
8 kW 6975 kWh 5371 kWh 1604 kWh £1,456 £160 £1,616 £25,726 15.9 yrs £6,601

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 SK9

Figures below are tailored to SK9 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #725 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2353 of 2997
12.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,015 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1136 of 2997
18.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£1,015 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
872kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~872 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: 23% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 11,784 properties

Coverage

Cheshire East (100%)

Areas Covered

Wilmslow West and Chorley, Handforth, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow East, Wilmslow Lacey Green, Wilmslow Dean Row, Mobberley, Chelford + 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 North West

M90 (Manchester)
≈4.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SK9
SK8 (Stockport)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~875 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SK9
M22 (Manchester)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SK9
SK7 (Stockport)
≈6.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SK9
M23 (Manchester)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~876 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SK9
SK3 (Stockport)
≈9.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~861 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SK9

Similar sunshine across the UK

KY13 (Perth and Kinross)
~871 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SK9
BT80 (Mid Ulster)
~873 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SK9
BT37 (Antrim and Newtownabbey)
~871 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SK9