Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in TA12 (Somerset)

See if solar pays off for you in Somerset — 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
12.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£851
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,101
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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

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 1017 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
54.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1017 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: £851, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2035 kWh 814 kWh 1221 kWh £218 £122 £340 £4,069 12.0 yrs £2,739
3 kW 3052 kWh 1221 kWh 1831 kWh £327 £183 £511 £6,104 12.0 yrs £4,108
4 kW 4070 kWh 1628 kWh 2442 kWh £437 £244 £681 £8,138 12.0 yrs £5,477
5 kW 5087 kWh 2035 kWh 3052 kWh £546 £305 £851 £10,173 12.0 yrs £6,846
6 kW 6104 kWh 2442 kWh 3663 kWh £655 £366 £1,021 £12,207 12.0 yrs £8,216
7 kW 7122 kWh 2849 kWh 4273 kWh £764 £427 £1,191 £14,242 12.0 yrs £9,585
8 kW 8139 kWh 3256 kWh 4883 kWh £873 £488 £1,362 £16,276 12.0 yrs £10,954

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: £1,022, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2035 kWh 1221 kWh 814 kWh £327 £81 £409 £6,169 15.1 yrs £2,008
3 kW 3052 kWh 1831 kWh 1221 kWh £491 £122 £613 £8,204 13.4 yrs £4,061
4 kW 4070 kWh 2442 kWh 1628 kWh £655 £163 £818 £10,238 12.5 yrs £6,115
5 kW 5087 kWh 3052 kWh 2035 kWh £819 £203 £1,022 £12,273 12.0 yrs £8,169
6 kW 6104 kWh 3663 kWh 2442 kWh £982 £244 £1,226 £14,307 11.7 yrs £10,223
7 kW 7122 kWh 4273 kWh 2849 kWh £1,146 £285 £1,431 £16,342 11.4 yrs £12,276
8 kW 8139 kWh 4883 kWh 3256 kWh £1,310 £326 £1,635 £18,376 11.2 yrs £14,330

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: £1,108, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2035 kWh 1424 kWh 610 kWh £382 £61 £443 £7,569 17.1 yrs £1,292
3 kW 3052 kWh 2137 kWh 916 kWh £573 £92 £665 £9,604 14.5 yrs £3,688
4 kW 4070 kWh 2849 kWh 1221 kWh £764 £122 £886 £11,638 13.1 yrs £6,084
5 kW 5087 kWh 3561 kWh 1526 kWh £955 £153 £1,108 £13,673 12.3 yrs £8,480
6 kW 6104 kWh 4273 kWh 1831 kWh £1,146 £183 £1,329 £15,707 11.8 yrs £10,876
7 kW 7122 kWh 4985 kWh 2137 kWh £1,337 £214 £1,551 £17,742 11.4 yrs £13,272
8 kW 8139 kWh 5697 kWh 2442 kWh £1,528 £244 £1,772 £19,776 11.2 yrs £15,668

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: £1,133, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2035 kWh 1485 kWh 549 kWh £398 £55 £453 £9,319 20.6 yrs £-253
3 kW 3052 kWh 2228 kWh 824 kWh £598 £82 £680 £11,354 16.7 yrs £2,246
4 kW 4070 kWh 2971 kWh 1099 kWh £797 £110 £907 £13,388 14.8 yrs £4,745
5 kW 5087 kWh 3713 kWh 1373 kWh £996 £137 £1,133 £15,423 13.6 yrs £7,243
6 kW 6104 kWh 4456 kWh 1648 kWh £1,195 £165 £1,360 £17,457 12.8 yrs £9,742
7 kW 7122 kWh 5199 kWh 1923 kWh £1,394 £192 £1,587 £19,492 12.3 yrs £12,241
8 kW 8139 kWh 5942 kWh 2198 kWh £1,594 £220 £1,813 £21,526 11.9 yrs £14,740

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: £1,150, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2035 kWh 1526 kWh 509 kWh £409 £51 £460 £11,069 24.1 yrs £-1,866
3 kW 3052 kWh 2289 kWh 763 kWh £614 £76 £690 £13,104 19.0 yrs £701
4 kW 4070 kWh 3052 kWh 1017 kWh £819 £102 £920 £15,138 16.4 yrs £3,269
5 kW 5087 kWh 3815 kWh 1272 kWh £1,023 £127 £1,150 £17,173 14.9 yrs £5,836
6 kW 6104 kWh 4578 kWh 1526 kWh £1,228 £153 £1,380 £19,207 13.9 yrs £8,403
7 kW 7122 kWh 5341 kWh 1780 kWh £1,433 £178 £1,611 £21,242 13.2 yrs £10,970
8 kW 8139 kWh 6104 kWh 2035 kWh £1,637 £203 £1,841 £23,276 12.6 yrs £13,537

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: £1,168, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2035 kWh 1567 kWh 468 kWh £420 £47 £467 £13,519 28.9 yrs £-4,179
3 kW 3052 kWh 2350 kWh 702 kWh £630 £70 £701 £15,554 22.2 yrs £-1,543
4 kW 4070 kWh 3134 kWh 936 kWh £840 £94 £934 £17,588 18.8 yrs £1,092
5 kW 5087 kWh 3917 kWh 1170 kWh £1,051 £117 £1,168 £19,623 16.8 yrs £3,728
6 kW 6104 kWh 4700 kWh 1404 kWh £1,261 £140 £1,401 £21,657 15.5 yrs £6,364
7 kW 7122 kWh 5484 kWh 1638 kWh £1,471 £164 £1,635 £23,692 14.5 yrs £8,999
8 kW 8139 kWh 6267 kWh 1872 kWh £1,681 £187 £1,868 £25,726 13.8 yrs £11,635

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
1017kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1017 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: 70% • Flats: 11% • Bungalows: 18% Based on 1,711 properties

Coverage

Somerset (100%)

Areas Covered

Martock, Curry Rivel & Langport

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.