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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in ST7 (Newcastle-under-Lyme)

See if solar pays off for you in Newcastle-under-Lyme — 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
13.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£747
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,513
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 Wales and Mersey, the current unit rate is 27.72p/kWh with a 69.95p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 875 kWh/kW — 55 below the regional median (930).

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 875 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.7p/kWh
Standing charge
70.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
875 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: £747, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 700 kWh 1050 kWh £194 £105 £299 £4,069 13.6 yrs £1,910
3 kW 2624 kWh 1050 kWh 1575 kWh £291 £157 £448 £6,104 13.6 yrs £2,866
4 kW 3499 kWh 1400 kWh 2099 kWh £388 £210 £598 £8,138 13.6 yrs £3,821
5 kW 4374 kWh 1750 kWh 2624 kWh £485 £262 £747 £10,173 13.6 yrs £4,776
6 kW 5249 kWh 2099 kWh 3149 kWh £582 £315 £897 £12,207 13.6 yrs £5,731
7 kW 6124 kWh 2449 kWh 3674 kWh £679 £367 £1,046 £14,242 13.6 yrs £6,686
8 kW 6998 kWh 2799 kWh 4199 kWh £776 £420 £1,196 £16,276 13.6 yrs £7,641

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: £902, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 1050 kWh 700 kWh £291 £70 £361 £6,169 17.1 yrs £1,050
3 kW 2624 kWh 1575 kWh 1050 kWh £436 £105 £541 £8,204 15.2 yrs £2,626
4 kW 3499 kWh 2099 kWh 1400 kWh £582 £140 £722 £10,238 14.2 yrs £4,201
5 kW 4374 kWh 2624 kWh 1750 kWh £727 £175 £902 £12,273 13.6 yrs £5,776
6 kW 5249 kWh 3149 kWh 2099 kWh £873 £210 £1,083 £14,307 13.2 yrs £7,351
7 kW 6124 kWh 3674 kWh 2449 kWh £1,018 £245 £1,263 £16,342 12.9 yrs £8,927
8 kW 6998 kWh 4199 kWh 2799 kWh £1,164 £280 £1,444 £18,376 12.7 yrs £10,502

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: £980, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1750 kWh 1225 kWh 525 kWh £339 £52 £392 £7,569 19.3 yrs £270
3 kW 2624 kWh 1837 kWh 787 kWh £509 £79 £588 £9,604 16.3 yrs £2,156
4 kW 3499 kWh 2449 kWh 1050 kWh £679 £105 £784 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,041
5 kW 4374 kWh 3062 kWh 1312 kWh £849 £131 £980 £13,673 14.0 yrs £5,926
6 kW 5249 kWh 3674 kWh 1575 kWh £1,018 £157 £1,176 £15,707 13.4 yrs £7,811
7 kW 6124 kWh 4286 kWh 1837 kWh £1,188 £184 £1,372 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,697
8 kW 6998 kWh 4899 kWh 2099 kWh £1,358 £210 £1,568 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,582

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: £1,003, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1750 kWh 1277 kWh 472 kWh £354 £47 £401 £9,319 23.2 yrs £-1,293
3 kW 2624 kWh 1916 kWh 709 kWh £531 £71 £602 £11,354 18.9 yrs £685
4 kW 3499 kWh 2554 kWh 945 kWh £708 £94 £803 £13,388 16.7 yrs £2,663
5 kW 4374 kWh 3193 kWh 1181 kWh £885 £118 £1,003 £15,423 15.4 yrs £4,641
6 kW 5249 kWh 3832 kWh 1417 kWh £1,062 £142 £1,204 £17,457 14.5 yrs £6,620
7 kW 6124 kWh 4470 kWh 1653 kWh £1,239 £165 £1,404 £19,492 13.9 yrs £8,598
8 kW 6998 kWh 5109 kWh 1890 kWh £1,416 £189 £1,605 £21,526 13.4 yrs £10,576

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: £1,019, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 1312 kWh 437 kWh £364 £44 £407 £11,069 27.2 yrs £-2,919
3 kW 2624 kWh 1968 kWh 656 kWh £546 £66 £611 £13,104 21.4 yrs £-879
4 kW 3499 kWh 2624 kWh 875 kWh £727 £87 £815 £15,138 18.6 yrs £1,161
5 kW 4374 kWh 3280 kWh 1093 kWh £909 £109 £1,019 £17,173 16.9 yrs £3,201
6 kW 5249 kWh 3937 kWh 1312 kWh £1,091 £131 £1,222 £19,207 15.7 yrs £5,242
7 kW 6124 kWh 4593 kWh 1531 kWh £1,273 £153 £1,426 £21,242 14.9 yrs £7,282
8 kW 6998 kWh 5249 kWh 1750 kWh £1,455 £175 £1,630 £23,276 14.3 yrs £9,322

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: £1,034, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1750 kWh 1347 kWh 402 kWh £373 £40 £414 £13,519 32.7 yrs £-5,245
3 kW 2624 kWh 2021 kWh 604 kWh £560 £60 £621 £15,554 25.1 yrs £-3,143
4 kW 3499 kWh 2694 kWh 805 kWh £747 £80 £827 £17,588 21.3 yrs £-1,041
5 kW 4374 kWh 3368 kWh 1006 kWh £934 £101 £1,034 £19,623 19.0 yrs £1,061
6 kW 5249 kWh 4042 kWh 1207 kWh £1,120 £121 £1,241 £21,657 17.5 yrs £3,164
7 kW 6124 kWh 4715 kWh 1408 kWh £1,307 £141 £1,448 £23,692 16.4 yrs £5,266
8 kW 6998 kWh 5389 kWh 1610 kWh £1,494 £161 £1,655 £25,726 15.5 yrs £7,368

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 ST7

Figures below are tailored to ST7 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #878 of 2182
5.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2157 of 2997
11.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£864 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2628 of 2997
29.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£255 fixed • ~£864 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.72p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
69.95p/day
Local Sunshine
875kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~875 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: 74% • Flats: 8% • Bungalows: 17% Based on 13,311 properties

Coverage

Newcastle-under-Lyme (59%)|Cheshire East (39%)|Stoke-on-Trent (2%)

Areas Covered

Talke & Butt Lane, Alsager, Odd Rode, Kidsgrove & Ravenscliffe, Audley, Newchapel & Mow Cop, Great Chell & Packmoor, Haslington + 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 North Wales and Mersey

CW11 (Cheshire East)
≈9.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~907 kWh/kWp · +4% vs ST7
CW98 (Cheshire East)
≈11.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · +6% vs ST7
CW1 (Cheshire East)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · +6% vs ST7
CW2 (Cheshire East)
≈12.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · +5% vs ST7
CW3 (Newcastle-under-Lyme)
≈13.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~932 kWh/kWp · +7% vs ST7
CW4 (Cheshire East)
≈14.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~903 kWh/kWp · +3% vs ST7

Similar sunshine across the UK

CA4 (Cumberland)
~875 kWh/kWp · -0% vs ST7
M30 (Salford)
~875 kWh/kWp · +0% vs ST7
M50 (Salford)
~875 kWh/kWp · +0% vs ST7