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

Solar Panels in TS19 (Stockton-on-Tees)

See if solar pays off for you in Stockton-on-Tees — 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
£8,512
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

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 924 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)
924 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 1849 kWh 739 kWh 1109 kWh £188 £111 £299 £4,069 13.6 yrs £1,910
3 kW 2773 kWh 1109 kWh 1664 kWh £282 £166 £448 £6,104 13.6 yrs £2,865
4 kW 3697 kWh 1479 kWh 2218 kWh £376 £222 £598 £8,138 13.6 yrs £3,820
5 kW 4621 kWh 1849 kWh 2773 kWh £470 £277 £747 £10,173 13.6 yrs £4,775
6 kW 5546 kWh 2218 kWh 3327 kWh £564 £333 £897 £12,207 13.6 yrs £5,730
7 kW 6470 kWh 2588 kWh 3882 kWh £658 £388 £1,046 £14,242 13.6 yrs £6,685
8 kW 7394 kWh 2958 kWh 4437 kWh £752 £444 £1,196 £16,276 13.6 yrs £7,640

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: £890, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1849 kWh 1109 kWh 739 kWh £282 £74 £356 £6,169 17.3 yrs £951
3 kW 2773 kWh 1664 kWh 1109 kWh £423 £111 £534 £8,204 15.4 yrs £2,476
4 kW 3697 kWh 2218 kWh 1479 kWh £564 £148 £712 £10,238 14.4 yrs £4,002
5 kW 4621 kWh 2773 kWh 1849 kWh £705 £185 £890 £12,273 13.8 yrs £5,527
6 kW 5546 kWh 3327 kWh 2218 kWh £846 £222 £1,068 £14,307 13.4 yrs £7,053
7 kW 6470 kWh 3882 kWh 2588 kWh £987 £259 £1,246 £16,342 13.1 yrs £8,578
8 kW 7394 kWh 4437 kWh 2958 kWh £1,128 £296 £1,424 £18,376 12.9 yrs £10,104

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: £961, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1849 kWh 1294 kWh 555 kWh £329 £55 £385 £7,569 19.7 yrs £121
3 kW 2773 kWh 1941 kWh 832 kWh £494 £83 £577 £9,604 16.7 yrs £1,932
4 kW 3697 kWh 2588 kWh 1109 kWh £658 £111 £769 £11,638 15.1 yrs £3,743
5 kW 4621 kWh 3235 kWh 1386 kWh £823 £139 £961 £13,673 14.2 yrs £5,554
6 kW 5546 kWh 3882 kWh 1664 kWh £987 £166 £1,154 £15,707 13.6 yrs £7,364
7 kW 6470 kWh 4529 kWh 1941 kWh £1,152 £194 £1,346 £17,742 13.2 yrs £9,175
8 kW 7394 kWh 5176 kWh 2218 kWh £1,316 £222 £1,538 £19,776 12.9 yrs £10,986

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: £983, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1849 kWh 1349 kWh 499 kWh £343 £50 £393 £9,319 23.7 yrs £-1,457
3 kW 2773 kWh 2024 kWh 749 kWh £515 £75 £590 £11,354 19.3 yrs £439
4 kW 3697 kWh 2699 kWh 998 kWh £686 £100 £786 £13,388 17.0 yrs £2,335
5 kW 4621 kWh 3374 kWh 1248 kWh £858 £125 £983 £15,423 15.7 yrs £4,231
6 kW 5546 kWh 4048 kWh 1497 kWh £1,030 £150 £1,179 £17,457 14.8 yrs £6,128
7 kW 6470 kWh 4723 kWh 1747 kWh £1,201 £175 £1,376 £19,492 14.2 yrs £8,024
8 kW 7394 kWh 5398 kWh 1996 kWh £1,373 £200 £1,572 £21,526 13.7 yrs £9,920

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: £997, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1849 kWh 1386 kWh 462 kWh £353 £46 £399 £11,069 27.8 yrs £-3,093
3 kW 2773 kWh 2080 kWh 693 kWh £529 £69 £598 £13,104 21.9 yrs £-1,140
4 kW 3697 kWh 2773 kWh 924 kWh £705 £92 £798 £15,138 19.0 yrs £813
5 kW 4621 kWh 3466 kWh 1155 kWh £881 £116 £997 £17,173 17.2 yrs £2,767
6 kW 5546 kWh 4159 kWh 1386 kWh £1,058 £139 £1,196 £19,207 16.1 yrs £4,720
7 kW 6470 kWh 4853 kWh 1618 kWh £1,234 £162 £1,396 £21,242 15.2 yrs £6,673
8 kW 7394 kWh 5546 kWh 1849 kWh £1,410 £185 £1,595 £23,276 14.6 yrs £8,627

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: £1,011, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1849 kWh 1423 kWh 425 kWh £362 £43 £404 £13,519 33.4 yrs £-5,429
3 kW 2773 kWh 2135 kWh 638 kWh £543 £64 £607 £15,554 25.6 yrs £-3,419
4 kW 3697 kWh 2847 kWh 850 kWh £724 £85 £809 £17,588 21.7 yrs £-1,408
5 kW 4621 kWh 3559 kWh 1063 kWh £905 £106 £1,011 £19,623 19.4 yrs £602
6 kW 5546 kWh 4270 kWh 1276 kWh £1,086 £128 £1,213 £21,657 17.8 yrs £2,612
7 kW 6470 kWh 4982 kWh 1488 kWh £1,267 £149 £1,416 £23,692 16.7 yrs £4,623
8 kW 7394 kWh 5694 kWh 1701 kWh £1,448 £170 £1,618 £25,726 15.9 yrs £6,633

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
25.43p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.86p/day
Local Sunshine
924kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~924 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: 75% • Flats: 10% • Bungalows: 14% Based on 9,548 properties

Coverage

Stockton-on-Tees (100%)

Areas Covered

Newtown, Hardwick & Salters Lane, Roseworth, Fairfield, Bishopsgarth & Elm Tree, Stockton Town Centre, Grangefield, Hartburn

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.