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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SO45 (New Forest)

See if solar pays off for you in New Forest — 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
11.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£873
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,642
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 Southern, the current unit rate is 26.48p/kWh with a 44.62p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1052 kWh/kW — 51 above the regional median (1001).

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 1052 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
44.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1052 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: £873, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2104 kWh 841 kWh 1262 kWh £223 £126 £349 £4,069 11.7 yrs £2,912
3 kW 3155 kWh 1262 kWh 1893 kWh £334 £189 £524 £6,104 11.7 yrs £4,368
4 kW 4207 kWh 1683 kWh 2524 kWh £446 £252 £698 £8,138 11.7 yrs £5,823
5 kW 5259 kWh 2104 kWh 3155 kWh £557 £316 £873 £10,173 11.7 yrs £7,279
6 kW 6311 kWh 2524 kWh 3787 kWh £668 £379 £1,047 £12,207 11.7 yrs £8,735
7 kW 7363 kWh 2945 kWh 4418 kWh £780 £442 £1,222 £14,242 11.7 yrs £10,191
8 kW 8415 kWh 3366 kWh 5049 kWh £891 £505 £1,396 £16,276 11.7 yrs £11,647

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: £1,046, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2104 kWh 1262 kWh 841 kWh £334 £84 £418 £6,169 14.7 yrs £2,198
3 kW 3155 kWh 1893 kWh 1262 kWh £501 £126 £628 £8,204 13.1 yrs £4,348
4 kW 4207 kWh 2524 kWh 1683 kWh £668 £168 £837 £10,238 12.2 yrs £6,497
5 kW 5259 kWh 3155 kWh 2104 kWh £836 £210 £1,046 £12,273 11.7 yrs £8,646
6 kW 6311 kWh 3787 kWh 2524 kWh £1,003 £252 £1,255 £14,307 11.4 yrs £10,795
7 kW 7363 kWh 4418 kWh 2945 kWh £1,170 £295 £1,464 £16,342 11.2 yrs £12,944
8 kW 8415 kWh 5049 kWh 3366 kWh £1,337 £337 £1,673 £18,376 11.0 yrs £15,094

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: £1,133, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2104 kWh 1473 kWh 631 kWh £390 £63 £453 £7,569 16.7 yrs £1,492
3 kW 3155 kWh 2209 kWh 947 kWh £585 £95 £680 £9,604 14.1 yrs £3,988
4 kW 4207 kWh 2945 kWh 1262 kWh £780 £126 £906 £11,638 12.8 yrs £6,484
5 kW 5259 kWh 3681 kWh 1578 kWh £975 £158 £1,133 £13,673 12.1 yrs £8,979
6 kW 6311 kWh 4418 kWh 1893 kWh £1,170 £189 £1,359 £15,707 11.6 yrs £11,475
7 kW 7363 kWh 5154 kWh 2209 kWh £1,365 £221 £1,586 £17,742 11.2 yrs £13,971
8 kW 8415 kWh 5890 kWh 2524 kWh £1,560 £252 £1,812 £19,776 10.9 yrs £16,467

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: £1,159, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2104 kWh 1536 kWh 568 kWh £407 £57 £463 £9,319 20.1 yrs £-50
3 kW 3155 kWh 2303 kWh 852 kWh £610 £85 £695 £11,354 16.3 yrs £2,550
4 kW 4207 kWh 3071 kWh 1136 kWh £813 £114 £927 £13,388 14.4 yrs £5,150
5 kW 5259 kWh 3839 kWh 1420 kWh £1,017 £142 £1,159 £15,423 13.3 yrs £7,749
6 kW 6311 kWh 4607 kWh 1704 kWh £1,220 £170 £1,390 £17,457 12.6 yrs £10,349
7 kW 7363 kWh 5375 kWh 1988 kWh £1,423 £199 £1,622 £19,492 12.0 yrs £12,949
8 kW 8415 kWh 6143 kWh 2272 kWh £1,627 £227 £1,854 £21,526 11.6 yrs £15,549

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: £1,176, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2104 kWh 1578 kWh 526 kWh £418 £53 £470 £11,069 23.5 yrs £-1,662
3 kW 3155 kWh 2367 kWh 789 kWh £627 £79 £706 £13,104 18.6 yrs £1,008
4 kW 4207 kWh 3155 kWh 1052 kWh £836 £105 £941 £15,138 16.1 yrs £3,677
5 kW 5259 kWh 3944 kWh 1315 kWh £1,044 £131 £1,176 £17,173 14.6 yrs £6,346
6 kW 6311 kWh 4733 kWh 1578 kWh £1,253 £158 £1,411 £19,207 13.6 yrs £9,015
7 kW 7363 kWh 5522 kWh 1841 kWh £1,462 £184 £1,646 £21,242 12.9 yrs £11,685
8 kW 8415 kWh 6311 kWh 2104 kWh £1,671 £210 £1,881 £23,276 12.4 yrs £14,354

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: £1,193, Upfront: £19,623, 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 2104 kWh 1620 kWh 484 kWh £429 £48 £477 £13,519 28.3 yrs £-3,973
3 kW 3155 kWh 2430 kWh 726 kWh £643 £73 £716 £15,554 21.7 yrs £-1,234
4 kW 4207 kWh 3240 kWh 968 kWh £858 £97 £955 £17,588 18.4 yrs £1,504
5 kW 5259 kWh 4050 kWh 1210 kWh £1,072 £121 £1,193 £19,623 16.4 yrs £4,243
6 kW 6311 kWh 4859 kWh 1452 kWh £1,287 £145 £1,432 £21,657 15.1 yrs £6,981
7 kW 7363 kWh 5669 kWh 1693 kWh £1,501 £169 £1,671 £23,692 14.2 yrs £9,720
8 kW 8415 kWh 6479 kWh 1935 kWh £1,716 £194 £1,909 £25,726 13.5 yrs £12,459

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 SO45

Figures below are tailored to SO45 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #891 of 2182
5.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #240 of 2997
10.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,003 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #583 of 2997
16.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£163 fixed • ~£1,003 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.48p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
44.62p/day
Local Sunshine
1052kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1052 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: 60% • Flats: 19% • Bungalows: 18% Based on 7,647 properties

Coverage

New Forest (100%)

Areas Covered

Hythe Central, Hythe South, Fawley, Blackfield, Calshot & Langley, Hardley, Holbury & North Blackfield, Dibden & Dibden Purlieu + 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 Southern

SO14 (Southampton)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,037 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SO45
SO19 (Southampton)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,063 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SO45
SO9 (Southampton)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,050 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO45
SO15 (Southampton)
≈7.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,032 kWh/kWp · -2% vs SO45
SO2 (Southampton)
≈7.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,031 kWh/kWp · -2% vs SO45
SO4 (New Forest)
≈7.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,107 kWh/kWp · +5% vs SO45

Similar sunshine across the UK

CF35 (Bridgend)
~1,052 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SO45
TN19 (Rother)
~1,052 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SO45
IP16 (East Suffolk)
~1,051 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SO45