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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in WA9 (St. Helens)

See if solar pays off for you in St. Helens — 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
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£623
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,433
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 North Wales and Mersey, the current unit rate is 27.72p/kWh with a 69.95p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 911 kWh/kW — 19 below the regional median (930).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 911 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.7p/kWh
Standing charge
70.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
911 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: £779, 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 1822 kWh 729 kWh 1094 kWh £202 £109 £311 £4,069 13.1 yrs £2,160
3 kW 2734 kWh 1094 kWh 1640 kWh £303 £164 £467 £6,104 13.1 yrs £3,239
4 kW 3645 kWh 1458 kWh 2187 kWh £404 £219 £623 £8,138 13.1 yrs £4,319
5 kW 4556 kWh 1822 kWh 2734 kWh £505 £273 £779 £10,173 13.1 yrs £5,399
6 kW 5468 kWh 2187 kWh 3280 kWh £606 £328 £934 £12,207 13.1 yrs £6,479
7 kW 6379 kWh 2552 kWh 3827 kWh £707 £383 £1,090 £14,242 13.1 yrs £7,558
8 kW 7290 kWh 2916 kWh 4374 kWh £808 £437 £1,246 £16,276 13.1 yrs £8,638

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: £940, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1822 kWh 1094 kWh 729 kWh £303 £73 £376 £6,169 16.4 yrs £1,351
3 kW 2734 kWh 1640 kWh 1094 kWh £455 £109 £564 £8,204 14.5 yrs £3,077
4 kW 3645 kWh 2187 kWh 1458 kWh £606 £146 £752 £10,238 13.6 yrs £4,803
5 kW 4556 kWh 2734 kWh 1822 kWh £758 £182 £940 £12,273 13.1 yrs £6,528
6 kW 5468 kWh 3280 kWh 2187 kWh £909 £219 £1,128 £14,307 12.7 yrs £8,254
7 kW 6379 kWh 3827 kWh 2552 kWh £1,061 £255 £1,316 £16,342 12.4 yrs £9,980
8 kW 7290 kWh 4374 kWh 2916 kWh £1,212 £292 £1,504 £18,376 12.2 yrs £11,705

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: £1,021, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1822 kWh 1276 kWh 547 kWh £354 £55 £408 £7,569 18.5 yrs £597
3 kW 2734 kWh 1914 kWh 820 kWh £530 £82 £612 £9,604 15.7 yrs £2,646
4 kW 3645 kWh 2552 kWh 1094 kWh £707 £109 £817 £11,638 14.3 yrs £4,694
5 kW 4556 kWh 3189 kWh 1367 kWh £884 £137 £1,021 £13,673 13.4 yrs £6,743
6 kW 5468 kWh 3827 kWh 1640 kWh £1,061 £164 £1,225 £15,707 12.8 yrs £8,792
7 kW 6379 kWh 4465 kWh 1914 kWh £1,238 £191 £1,429 £17,742 12.4 yrs £10,840
8 kW 7290 kWh 5103 kWh 2187 kWh £1,415 £219 £1,633 £19,776 12.1 yrs £12,889

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: £1,045, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1822 kWh 1330 kWh 492 kWh £369 £49 £418 £9,319 22.3 yrs £-959
3 kW 2734 kWh 1996 kWh 738 kWh £553 £74 £627 £11,354 18.1 yrs £1,187
4 kW 3645 kWh 2661 kWh 984 kWh £738 £98 £836 £13,388 16.0 yrs £3,332
5 kW 4556 kWh 3326 kWh 1230 kWh £922 £123 £1,045 £15,423 14.8 yrs £5,478
6 kW 5468 kWh 3991 kWh 1476 kWh £1,106 £148 £1,254 £17,457 13.9 yrs £7,623
7 kW 6379 kWh 4656 kWh 1722 kWh £1,291 £172 £1,463 £19,492 13.3 yrs £9,769
8 kW 7290 kWh 5322 kWh 1968 kWh £1,475 £197 £1,672 £21,526 12.9 yrs £11,914

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: £1,061, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1822 kWh 1367 kWh 456 kWh £379 £46 £424 £11,069 26.1 yrs £-2,580
3 kW 2734 kWh 2050 kWh 683 kWh £568 £68 £637 £13,104 20.6 yrs £-370
4 kW 3645 kWh 2734 kWh 911 kWh £758 £91 £849 £15,138 17.8 yrs £1,840
5 kW 4556 kWh 3417 kWh 1139 kWh £947 £114 £1,061 £17,173 16.2 yrs £4,050
6 kW 5468 kWh 4101 kWh 1367 kWh £1,137 £137 £1,273 £19,207 15.1 yrs £6,261
7 kW 6379 kWh 4784 kWh 1595 kWh £1,326 £159 £1,486 £21,242 14.3 yrs £8,471
8 kW 7290 kWh 5468 kWh 1822 kWh £1,516 £182 £1,698 £23,276 13.7 yrs £10,681

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: £1,077, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1822 kWh 1403 kWh 419 kWh £389 £42 £431 £13,519 31.4 yrs £-4,901
3 kW 2734 kWh 2105 kWh 629 kWh £584 £63 £646 £15,554 24.1 yrs £-2,626
4 kW 3645 kWh 2807 kWh 838 kWh £778 £84 £862 £17,588 20.4 yrs £-351
5 kW 4556 kWh 3508 kWh 1048 kWh £973 £105 £1,077 £19,623 18.2 yrs £1,923
6 kW 5468 kWh 4210 kWh 1258 kWh £1,167 £126 £1,293 £21,657 16.8 yrs £4,198
7 kW 6379 kWh 4912 kWh 1467 kWh £1,362 £147 £1,508 £23,692 15.7 yrs £6,473
8 kW 7290 kWh 5613 kWh 1677 kWh £1,556 £168 £1,724 £25,726 14.9 yrs £8,747

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 WA9

Figures below are tailored to WA9 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1891 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1631 of 2997
11.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£720 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2879 of 2997
35.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£255 fixed • ~£720 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.72p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
69.95p/day
Local Sunshine
911kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~911 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 78% • Flats: 16% • Bungalows: 6% Based on 17,633 properties

Coverage

St. Helens (100%)

Areas Covered

Bold & Lea Green, Parr, Thatto Heath, Peasley Cross & Fingerpost, Sutton North West, Sutton South East, St Helens Town Centre, Burtonwood and Winwick + 1 more

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 North Wales and Mersey

WA10 (St. Helens)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~911 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WA9
WA11 (St. Helens)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~908 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WA9
L35 (Knowsley)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~914 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WA9
L34 (Knowsley)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~922 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WA9
WA5 (Warrington)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~907 kWh/kWp · -1% vs WA9
WA8 (Halton)
≈7.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~912 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WA9

Similar sunshine across the UK

EH35 (East Lothian)
~911 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WA9
ST2 (Stoke-on-Trent)
~911 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WA9
NE68 (Northumberland)
~911 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WA9