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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in TD15 (Northumberland)

See if solar pays off for you in Northumberland — 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
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£739
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,298
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 Scotland, the current unit rate is 25.84p/kWh with a 56.55p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 905 kWh/kW — 55 above the regional median (850).

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 905 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.8p/kWh
Standing charge
56.5p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
905 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: £739, 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 1809 kWh 724 kWh 1085 kWh £187 £109 £296 £4,069 13.8 yrs £1,842
3 kW 2714 kWh 1085 kWh 1628 kWh £280 £163 £443 £6,104 13.8 yrs £2,763
4 kW 3618 kWh 1447 kWh 2171 kWh £374 £217 £591 £8,138 13.8 yrs £3,683
5 kW 4523 kWh 1809 kWh 2714 kWh £467 £271 £739 £10,173 13.8 yrs £4,604
6 kW 5427 kWh 2171 kWh 3256 kWh £561 £326 £887 £12,207 13.8 yrs £5,525
7 kW 6332 kWh 2533 kWh 3799 kWh £654 £380 £1,034 £14,242 13.8 yrs £6,446
8 kW 7236 kWh 2895 kWh 4342 kWh £748 £434 £1,182 £16,276 13.8 yrs £7,367

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: £882, 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 1809 kWh 1085 kWh 724 kWh £280 £72 £353 £6,169 17.5 yrs £888
3 kW 2714 kWh 1628 kWh 1085 kWh £421 £109 £529 £8,204 15.5 yrs £2,382
4 kW 3618 kWh 2171 kWh 1447 kWh £561 £145 £706 £10,238 14.5 yrs £3,876
5 kW 4523 kWh 2714 kWh 1809 kWh £701 £181 £882 £12,273 13.9 yrs £5,370
6 kW 5427 kWh 3256 kWh 2171 kWh £841 £217 £1,059 £14,307 13.5 yrs £6,864
7 kW 6332 kWh 3799 kWh 2533 kWh £982 £253 £1,235 £16,342 13.2 yrs £8,358
8 kW 7236 kWh 4342 kWh 2895 kWh £1,122 £289 £1,411 £18,376 13.0 yrs £9,852

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: £954, 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 1809 kWh 1266 kWh 543 kWh £327 £54 £382 £7,569 19.8 yrs £61
3 kW 2714 kWh 1900 kWh 814 kWh £491 £81 £572 £9,604 16.8 yrs £1,842
4 kW 3618 kWh 2533 kWh 1085 kWh £654 £109 £763 £11,638 15.3 yrs £3,622
5 kW 4523 kWh 3166 kWh 1357 kWh £818 £136 £954 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,403
6 kW 5427 kWh 3799 kWh 1628 kWh £982 £163 £1,145 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,183
7 kW 6332 kWh 4432 kWh 1900 kWh £1,145 £190 £1,335 £17,742 13.3 yrs £8,964
8 kW 7236 kWh 5065 kWh 2171 kWh £1,309 £217 £1,526 £19,776 13.0 yrs £10,744

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: £975, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1809 kWh 1321 kWh 488 kWh £341 £49 £390 £9,319 23.9 yrs £-1,517
3 kW 2714 kWh 1981 kWh 733 kWh £512 £73 £585 £11,354 19.4 yrs £349
4 kW 3618 kWh 2641 kWh 977 kWh £683 £98 £780 £13,388 17.2 yrs £2,216
5 kW 4523 kWh 3302 kWh 1221 kWh £853 £122 £975 £15,423 15.8 yrs £4,082
6 kW 5427 kWh 3962 kWh 1465 kWh £1,024 £147 £1,170 £17,457 14.9 yrs £5,949
7 kW 6332 kWh 4622 kWh 1710 kWh £1,194 £171 £1,365 £19,492 14.3 yrs £7,815
8 kW 7236 kWh 5283 kWh 1954 kWh £1,365 £195 £1,560 £21,526 13.8 yrs £9,682

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: £990, 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 1809 kWh 1357 kWh 452 kWh £351 £45 £396 £11,069 28.0 yrs £-3,152
3 kW 2714 kWh 2035 kWh 678 kWh £526 £68 £594 £13,104 22.1 yrs £-1,229
4 kW 3618 kWh 2714 kWh 905 kWh £701 £90 £792 £15,138 19.1 yrs £695
5 kW 4523 kWh 3392 kWh 1131 kWh £877 £113 £990 £17,173 17.4 yrs £2,619
6 kW 5427 kWh 4070 kWh 1357 kWh £1,052 £136 £1,187 £19,207 16.2 yrs £4,543
7 kW 6332 kWh 4749 kWh 1583 kWh £1,227 £158 £1,385 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,467
8 kW 7236 kWh 5427 kWh 1809 kWh £1,402 £181 £1,583 £23,276 14.7 yrs £8,390

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: £1,004, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1809 kWh 1393 kWh 416 kWh £360 £42 £402 £13,519 33.7 yrs £-5,488
3 kW 2714 kWh 2090 kWh 624 kWh £540 £62 £602 £15,554 25.8 yrs £-3,507
4 kW 3618 kWh 2786 kWh 832 kWh £720 £83 £803 £17,588 21.9 yrs £-1,526
5 kW 4523 kWh 3483 kWh 1040 kWh £900 £104 £1,004 £19,623 19.5 yrs £456
6 kW 5427 kWh 4179 kWh 1248 kWh £1,080 £125 £1,205 £21,657 18.0 yrs £2,437
7 kW 6332 kWh 4876 kWh 1456 kWh £1,260 £146 £1,405 £23,692 16.9 yrs £4,418
8 kW 7236 kWh 5572 kWh 1664 kWh £1,440 £166 £1,606 £25,726 16.0 yrs £6,399

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 TD15

Figures below are tailored to TD15 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #738 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2360 of 2997
12.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£846 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2155 of 2997
24.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£846 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
905kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~905 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: 59% • Flats: 17% • Bungalows: 21% Based on 5,038 properties

Coverage

Northumberland (95%)|Scottish Borders (5%)

Areas Covered

Berwick North, Norham & Islandshires, Berwick East, Berwick West with Ord, East Berwickshire, Mid Berwickshire, Wooler

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 Scotland

TD14 (Scottish Borders)
≈13.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~900 kWh/kWp · -1% vs TD15
TD12 (Scottish Borders)
≈19.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~921 kWh/kWp · +2% vs TD15
TD11 (Scottish Borders)
≈20.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~933 kWh/kWp · +3% vs TD15
TD10 (Scottish Borders)
≈29.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~913 kWh/kWp · +1% vs TD15
TD13 (Scottish Borders)
≈29.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~902 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TD15
TD5 (Scottish Borders)
≈32.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~874 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TD15

Similar sunshine across the UK

TS25 (Hartlepool)
~905 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TD15
DD10 (Angus)
~904 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TD15
PR3 (Wyre)
~905 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TD15