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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SR6 (Sunderland)

See if solar pays off for you in Sunderland — 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
13.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£886
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,945
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 Northern, the current unit rate is 25.43p/kWh with a 59.86p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 913 kWh/kW — 13 below the regional median (926).

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 913 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.4p/kWh
Standing charge
59.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
913 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: £738, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1826 kWh 731 kWh 1096 kWh £186 £110 £295 £4,069 13.8 yrs £1,838
3 kW 2740 kWh 1096 kWh 1644 kWh £279 £164 £443 £6,104 13.8 yrs £2,757
4 kW 3653 kWh 1461 kWh 2192 kWh £372 £219 £591 £8,138 13.8 yrs £3,676
5 kW 4566 kWh 1826 kWh 2740 kWh £464 £274 £738 £10,173 13.8 yrs £4,596
6 kW 5479 kWh 2192 kWh 3287 kWh £557 £329 £886 £12,207 13.8 yrs £5,515
7 kW 6392 kWh 2557 kWh 3835 kWh £650 £384 £1,034 £14,242 13.8 yrs £6,434
8 kW 7306 kWh 2922 kWh 4383 kWh £743 £438 £1,181 £16,276 13.8 yrs £7,353

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: £879, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1826 kWh 1096 kWh 731 kWh £279 £73 £352 £6,169 17.5 yrs £865
3 kW 2740 kWh 1644 kWh 1096 kWh £418 £110 £528 £8,204 15.5 yrs £2,348
4 kW 3653 kWh 2192 kWh 1461 kWh £557 £146 £703 £10,238 14.6 yrs £3,831
5 kW 4566 kWh 2740 kWh 1826 kWh £697 £183 £879 £12,273 14.0 yrs £5,314
6 kW 5479 kWh 3287 kWh 2192 kWh £836 £219 £1,055 £14,307 13.6 yrs £6,796
7 kW 6392 kWh 3835 kWh 2557 kWh £975 £256 £1,231 £16,342 13.3 yrs £8,279
8 kW 7306 kWh 4383 kWh 2922 kWh £1,115 £292 £1,407 £18,376 13.1 yrs £9,762

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: £950, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1826 kWh 1278 kWh 548 kWh £325 £55 £380 £7,569 19.9 yrs £29
3 kW 2740 kWh 1918 kWh 822 kWh £488 £82 £570 £9,604 16.9 yrs £1,794
4 kW 3653 kWh 2557 kWh 1096 kWh £650 £110 £760 £11,638 15.3 yrs £3,558
5 kW 4566 kWh 3196 kWh 1370 kWh £813 £137 £950 £13,673 14.4 yrs £5,323
6 kW 5479 kWh 3835 kWh 1644 kWh £975 £164 £1,140 £15,707 13.8 yrs £7,087
7 kW 6392 kWh 4475 kWh 1918 kWh £1,138 £192 £1,330 £17,742 13.3 yrs £8,852
8 kW 7306 kWh 5114 kWh 2192 kWh £1,300 £219 £1,520 £19,776 13.0 yrs £10,616

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: £971, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1826 kWh 1333 kWh 493 kWh £339 £49 £388 £9,319 24.0 yrs £-1,552
3 kW 2740 kWh 2000 kWh 740 kWh £509 £74 £583 £11,354 19.5 yrs £297
4 kW 3653 kWh 2667 kWh 986 kWh £678 £99 £777 £13,388 17.2 yrs £2,146
5 kW 4566 kWh 3333 kWh 1233 kWh £848 £123 £971 £15,423 15.9 yrs £3,995
6 kW 5479 kWh 4000 kWh 1479 kWh £1,017 £148 £1,165 £17,457 15.0 yrs £5,845
7 kW 6392 kWh 4666 kWh 1726 kWh £1,187 £173 £1,359 £19,492 14.3 yrs £7,694
8 kW 7306 kWh 5333 kWh 1972 kWh £1,356 £197 £1,553 £21,526 13.9 yrs £9,543

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: £985, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1826 kWh 1370 kWh 457 kWh £348 £46 £394 £11,069 28.1 yrs £-3,189
3 kW 2740 kWh 2055 kWh 685 kWh £523 £68 £591 £13,104 22.2 yrs £-1,284
4 kW 3653 kWh 2740 kWh 913 kWh £697 £91 £788 £15,138 19.2 yrs £622
5 kW 4566 kWh 3424 kWh 1141 kWh £871 £114 £985 £17,173 17.4 yrs £2,527
6 kW 5479 kWh 4109 kWh 1370 kWh £1,045 £137 £1,182 £19,207 16.2 yrs £4,433
7 kW 6392 kWh 4794 kWh 1598 kWh £1,219 £160 £1,379 £21,242 15.4 yrs £6,338
8 kW 7306 kWh 5479 kWh 1826 kWh £1,393 £183 £1,576 £23,276 14.8 yrs £8,244

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: £999, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1826 kWh 1406 kWh 420 kWh £358 £42 £400 £13,519 33.8 yrs £-5,526
3 kW 2740 kWh 2109 kWh 630 kWh £536 £63 £599 £15,554 25.9 yrs £-3,565
4 kW 3653 kWh 2813 kWh 840 kWh £715 £84 £799 £17,588 22.0 yrs £-1,603
5 kW 4566 kWh 3516 kWh 1050 kWh £894 £105 £999 £19,623 19.6 yrs £359
6 kW 5479 kWh 4219 kWh 1260 kWh £1,073 £126 £1,199 £21,657 18.1 yrs £2,321
7 kW 6392 kWh 4922 kWh 1470 kWh £1,252 £147 £1,399 £23,692 16.9 yrs £4,283
8 kW 7306 kWh 5625 kWh 1680 kWh £1,431 £168 £1,599 £25,726 16.1 yrs £6,244

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 SR6

Figures below are tailored to SR6 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #889 of 2182
5.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2438 of 2997
12.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,013 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1727 of 2997
21.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£218 fixed • ~£1,013 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.43p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.86p/day
Local Sunshine
913kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~913 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: 51% • Flats: 31% • Bungalows: 17% Based on 8,397 properties

Coverage

Sunderland (68%)|South Tyneside (32%)

Areas Covered

St Peter's, Fulwell, Whitburn and Marsden, Cleadon and East Boldon, Southwick

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 Northern

SR1 (Sunderland)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~916 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SR6
SR5 (Sunderland)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~916 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SR6
SR9 (Sunderland)
≈3.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~904 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SR6
SR43 (Sunderland)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~941 kWh/kWp · +3% vs SR6
SR4 (Sunderland)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~941 kWh/kWp · +3% vs SR6
NE36 (South Tyneside)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~957 kWh/kWp · +5% vs SR6

Similar sunshine across the UK

LS4 (Leeds)
~913 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SR6
DD9 (Angus)
~913 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SR6
EH42 (East Lothian)
~913 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SR6