Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in TQ4 (Torbay)

See if solar pays off for you in Torbay — 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
11.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,062
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,337
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

In Southern Western, the current unit rate is 26.82p/kWh with a 54.03p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1058 kWh/kW — 44 above the regional median (1013).

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 1058 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)
1058 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: £885, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2116 kWh 846 kWh 1269 kWh £227 £127 £354 £4,069 11.5 yrs £3,009
3 kW 3174 kWh 1269 kWh 1904 kWh £340 £190 £531 £6,104 11.5 yrs £4,514
4 kW 4231 kWh 1693 kWh 2539 kWh £454 £254 £708 £8,138 11.5 yrs £6,019
5 kW 5289 kWh 2116 kWh 3174 kWh £567 £317 £885 £10,173 11.5 yrs £7,523
6 kW 6347 kWh 2539 kWh 3808 kWh £681 £381 £1,062 £12,207 11.5 yrs £9,028
7 kW 7405 kWh 2962 kWh 4443 kWh £794 £444 £1,239 £14,242 11.5 yrs £10,532
8 kW 8463 kWh 3385 kWh 5078 kWh £908 £508 £1,416 £16,276 11.5 yrs £12,037

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: £1,063, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2116 kWh 1269 kWh 846 kWh £340 £85 £425 £6,169 14.5 yrs £2,333
3 kW 3174 kWh 1904 kWh 1269 kWh £511 £127 £638 £8,204 12.9 yrs £4,549
4 kW 4231 kWh 2539 kWh 1693 kWh £681 £169 £850 £10,238 12.0 yrs £6,765
5 kW 5289 kWh 3174 kWh 2116 kWh £851 £212 £1,063 £12,273 11.5 yrs £8,982
6 kW 6347 kWh 3808 kWh 2539 kWh £1,021 £254 £1,275 £14,307 11.2 yrs £11,198
7 kW 7405 kWh 4443 kWh 2962 kWh £1,192 £296 £1,488 £16,342 11.0 yrs £13,414
8 kW 8463 kWh 5078 kWh 3385 kWh £1,362 £339 £1,700 £18,376 10.8 yrs £15,631

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: £1,152, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2116 kWh 1481 kWh 635 kWh £397 £63 £461 £7,569 16.4 yrs £1,644
3 kW 3174 kWh 2221 kWh 952 kWh £596 £95 £691 £9,604 13.9 yrs £4,217
4 kW 4231 kWh 2962 kWh 1269 kWh £794 £127 £921 £11,638 12.6 yrs £6,789
5 kW 5289 kWh 3702 kWh 1587 kWh £993 £159 £1,152 £13,673 11.9 yrs £9,361
6 kW 6347 kWh 4443 kWh 1904 kWh £1,192 £190 £1,382 £15,707 11.4 yrs £11,933
7 kW 7405 kWh 5183 kWh 2221 kWh £1,390 £222 £1,612 £17,742 11.0 yrs £14,506
8 kW 8463 kWh 5924 kWh 2539 kWh £1,589 £254 £1,843 £19,776 10.7 yrs £17,078

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: £1,178, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2116 kWh 1544 kWh 571 kWh £414 £57 £471 £9,319 19.8 yrs £108
3 kW 3174 kWh 2317 kWh 857 kWh £621 £86 £707 £11,354 16.1 yrs £2,787
4 kW 4231 kWh 3089 kWh 1142 kWh £828 £114 £943 £13,388 14.2 yrs £5,466
5 kW 5289 kWh 3861 kWh 1428 kWh £1,036 £143 £1,178 £15,423 13.1 yrs £8,145
6 kW 6347 kWh 4633 kWh 1714 kWh £1,243 £171 £1,414 £17,457 12.3 yrs £10,824
7 kW 7405 kWh 5406 kWh 1999 kWh £1,450 £200 £1,650 £19,492 11.8 yrs £13,503
8 kW 8463 kWh 6178 kWh 2285 kWh £1,657 £228 £1,885 £21,526 11.4 yrs £16,182

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: £1,196, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2116 kWh 1587 kWh 529 kWh £426 £53 £478 £11,069 23.1 yrs £-1,500
3 kW 3174 kWh 2380 kWh 793 kWh £638 £79 £718 £13,104 18.3 yrs £1,250
4 kW 4231 kWh 3174 kWh 1058 kWh £851 £106 £957 £15,138 15.8 yrs £4,001
5 kW 5289 kWh 3967 kWh 1322 kWh £1,064 £132 £1,196 £17,173 14.4 yrs £6,751
6 kW 6347 kWh 4760 kWh 1587 kWh £1,277 £159 £1,435 £19,207 13.4 yrs £9,501
7 kW 7405 kWh 5554 kWh 1851 kWh £1,490 £185 £1,675 £21,242 12.7 yrs £12,251
8 kW 8463 kWh 6347 kWh 2116 kWh £1,702 £212 £1,914 £23,276 12.2 yrs £15,001

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: £1,214, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2116 kWh 1629 kWh 487 kWh £437 £49 £486 £13,519 27.8 yrs £-3,807
3 kW 3174 kWh 2444 kWh 730 kWh £655 £73 £728 £15,554 21.4 yrs £-986
4 kW 4231 kWh 3258 kWh 973 kWh £874 £97 £971 £17,588 18.1 yrs £1,835
5 kW 5289 kWh 4073 kWh 1217 kWh £1,092 £122 £1,214 £19,623 16.2 yrs £4,657
6 kW 6347 kWh 4887 kWh 1460 kWh £1,311 £146 £1,457 £21,657 14.9 yrs £7,478
7 kW 7405 kWh 5702 kWh 1703 kWh £1,529 £170 £1,700 £23,692 13.9 yrs £10,299
8 kW 8463 kWh 6516 kWh 1946 kWh £1,748 £195 £1,942 £25,726 13.2 yrs £13,121

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 TQ4

Figures below are tailored to TQ4 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1071 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #203 of 2997
10.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,222 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #576 of 2997
16.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,222 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.82p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.03p/day
Local Sunshine
1058kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1058 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: 47% • Flats: 35% • Bungalows: 15% Based on 6,370 properties

Coverage

Torbay (100%)

Areas Covered

Roundham with Hyde, Goodrington with Roselands, Churston with Galmpton, Collaton St Mary, Clifton with Maidenway

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 Western

TQ3 (Torbay)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,044 kWh/kWp · -1% vs TQ4
TQ5 (Torbay)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,075 kWh/kWp · +2% vs TQ4
TQ2 (Torbay)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,043 kWh/kWp · -1% vs TQ4
TQ1 (Torbay)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,016 kWh/kWp · -4% vs TQ4
TQ9 (South Hams)
≈8.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,058 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TQ4
TQ6 (South Hams)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,062 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TQ4

Similar sunshine across the UK

ME3 (Medway)
~1,058 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TQ4
PO8 (East Hampshire)
~1,058 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TQ4
NR14 (South Norfolk)
~1,057 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TQ4