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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in TS28 (County Durham)

See if solar pays off for you in County Durham — 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
13.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£776
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,216
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 Northern, the current unit rate is 25.43p/kWh with a 59.86p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 959 kWh/kW — 33 above the regional median (926).

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 959 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)
959 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: £776, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1918 kWh 767 kWh 1151 kWh £195 £115 £310 £4,069 13.1 yrs £2,135
3 kW 2877 kWh 1151 kWh 1726 kWh £293 £173 £465 £6,104 13.1 yrs £3,203
4 kW 3836 kWh 1535 kWh 2302 kWh £390 £230 £620 £8,138 13.1 yrs £4,271
5 kW 4796 kWh 1918 kWh 2877 kWh £488 £288 £776 £10,173 13.1 yrs £5,338
6 kW 5755 kWh 2302 kWh 3453 kWh £585 £345 £931 £12,207 13.1 yrs £6,406
7 kW 6714 kWh 2686 kWh 4028 kWh £683 £403 £1,086 £14,242 13.1 yrs £7,473
8 kW 7673 kWh 3069 kWh 4604 kWh £780 £460 £1,241 £16,276 13.1 yrs £8,541

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: £924, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1918 kWh 1151 kWh 767 kWh £293 £77 £369 £6,169 16.7 yrs £1,219
3 kW 2877 kWh 1726 kWh 1151 kWh £439 £115 £554 £8,204 14.8 yrs £2,879
4 kW 3836 kWh 2302 kWh 1535 kWh £585 £153 £739 £10,238 13.9 yrs £4,538
5 kW 4796 kWh 2877 kWh 1918 kWh £732 £192 £924 £12,273 13.3 yrs £6,198
6 kW 5755 kWh 3453 kWh 2302 kWh £878 £230 £1,108 £14,307 12.9 yrs £7,858
7 kW 6714 kWh 4028 kWh 2686 kWh £1,024 £269 £1,293 £16,342 12.6 yrs £9,517
8 kW 7673 kWh 4604 kWh 3069 kWh £1,171 £307 £1,478 £18,376 12.4 yrs £11,177

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: £998, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1918 kWh 1343 kWh 575 kWh £341 £58 £399 £7,569 19.0 yrs £411
3 kW 2877 kWh 2014 kWh 863 kWh £512 £86 £599 £9,604 16.0 yrs £2,367
4 kW 3836 kWh 2686 kWh 1151 kWh £683 £115 £798 £11,638 14.6 yrs £4,322
5 kW 4796 kWh 3357 kWh 1439 kWh £854 £144 £998 £13,673 13.7 yrs £6,278
6 kW 5755 kWh 4028 kWh 1726 kWh £1,024 £173 £1,197 £15,707 13.1 yrs £8,233
7 kW 6714 kWh 4700 kWh 2014 kWh £1,195 £201 £1,397 £17,742 12.7 yrs £10,189
8 kW 7673 kWh 5371 kWh 2302 kWh £1,366 £230 £1,596 £19,776 12.4 yrs £12,145

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: £1,020, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1918 kWh 1400 kWh 518 kWh £356 £52 £408 £9,319 22.8 yrs £-1,161
3 kW 2877 kWh 2100 kWh 777 kWh £534 £78 £612 £11,354 18.6 yrs £883
4 kW 3836 kWh 2801 kWh 1036 kWh £712 £104 £816 £13,388 16.4 yrs £2,927
5 kW 4796 kWh 3501 kWh 1295 kWh £890 £129 £1,020 £15,423 15.1 yrs £4,972
6 kW 5755 kWh 4201 kWh 1554 kWh £1,068 £155 £1,224 £17,457 14.3 yrs £7,016
7 kW 6714 kWh 4901 kWh 1813 kWh £1,246 £181 £1,428 £19,492 13.7 yrs £9,061
8 kW 7673 kWh 5601 kWh 2072 kWh £1,424 £207 £1,632 £21,526 13.2 yrs £11,105

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: £1,035, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1918 kWh 1439 kWh 480 kWh £366 £48 £414 £11,069 26.7 yrs £-2,793
3 kW 2877 kWh 2158 kWh 719 kWh £549 £72 £621 £13,104 21.1 yrs £-689
4 kW 3836 kWh 2877 kWh 959 kWh £732 £96 £828 £15,138 18.3 yrs £1,414
5 kW 4796 kWh 3597 kWh 1199 kWh £915 £120 £1,035 £17,173 16.6 yrs £3,518
6 kW 5755 kWh 4316 kWh 1439 kWh £1,098 £144 £1,241 £19,207 15.5 yrs £5,621
7 kW 6714 kWh 5035 kWh 1678 kWh £1,280 £168 £1,448 £21,242 14.7 yrs £7,725
8 kW 7673 kWh 5755 kWh 1918 kWh £1,463 £192 £1,655 £23,276 14.1 yrs £9,829

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: £1,049, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1918 kWh 1477 kWh 441 kWh £376 £44 £420 £13,519 32.2 yrs £-5,124
3 kW 2877 kWh 2216 kWh 662 kWh £563 £66 £630 £15,554 24.7 yrs £-2,962
4 kW 3836 kWh 2954 kWh 882 kWh £751 £88 £839 £17,588 21.0 yrs £-799
5 kW 4796 kWh 3693 kWh 1103 kWh £939 £110 £1,049 £19,623 18.7 yrs £1,364
6 kW 5755 kWh 4431 kWh 1324 kWh £1,127 £132 £1,259 £21,657 17.2 yrs £3,527
7 kW 6714 kWh 5170 kWh 1544 kWh £1,315 £154 £1,469 £23,692 16.1 yrs £5,689
8 kW 7673 kWh 5908 kWh 1765 kWh £1,502 £176 £1,679 £25,726 15.3 yrs £7,852

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 TS28

Figures below are tailored to TS28 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #965 of 2182
5.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1807 of 2997
11.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£887 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2172 of 2997
24.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£218 fixed • ~£887 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.43p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.86p/day
Local Sunshine
959kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~959 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: 84% • Flats: 3% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 1,745 properties

Coverage

County Durham (100%)

Areas Covered

Trimdon & Wingate, Castle Eden & Passfield, Sedgefield, Thornley & Wheatley Hill

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 Northern

TS29 (County Durham)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~944 kWh/kWp · -2% vs TS28
SR88 (County Durham)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TS28
SR8 (County Durham)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TS28
TS27 (County Durham)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~930 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TS28
DH6 (County Durham)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~929 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TS28
TS26 (Hartlepool)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~928 kWh/kWp · -3% vs TS28

Similar sunshine across the UK

GL11 (Stroud)
~959 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TS28
CV11 (Nuneaton and Bedworth)
~959 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TS28
LE12 (Charnwood)
~959 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TS28