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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in WF3 (Leeds)

See if solar pays off for you in Leeds — 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
£8,510
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 Yorkshire, the current unit rate is 25.33p/kWh with a 58.65p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 926 kWh/kW — 3 below the regional median (929).

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 926 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.3p/kWh
Standing charge
58.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
926 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 1853 kWh 741 kWh 1112 kWh £188 £111 £299 £4,069 13.6 yrs £1,909
3 kW 2780 kWh 1112 kWh 1668 kWh £282 £167 £448 £6,104 13.6 yrs £2,864
4 kW 3706 kWh 1482 kWh 2224 kWh £375 £222 £598 £8,138 13.6 yrs £3,819
5 kW 4632 kWh 1853 kWh 2780 kWh £469 £278 £747 £10,173 13.6 yrs £4,774
6 kW 5559 kWh 2224 kWh 3335 kWh £563 £334 £897 £12,207 13.6 yrs £5,728
7 kW 6486 kWh 2594 kWh 3891 kWh £657 £389 £1,046 £14,242 13.6 yrs £6,683
8 kW 7412 kWh 2965 kWh 4447 kWh £751 £445 £1,196 £16,276 13.6 yrs £7,638

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: £889, 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 1853 kWh 1112 kWh 741 kWh £282 £74 £356 £6,169 17.3 yrs £946
3 kW 2780 kWh 1668 kWh 1112 kWh £422 £111 £534 £8,204 15.4 yrs £2,469
4 kW 3706 kWh 2224 kWh 1482 kWh £563 £148 £711 £10,238 14.4 yrs £3,992
5 kW 4632 kWh 2780 kWh 1853 kWh £704 £185 £889 £12,273 13.8 yrs £5,514
6 kW 5559 kWh 3335 kWh 2224 kWh £845 £222 £1,067 £14,307 13.4 yrs £7,037
7 kW 6486 kWh 3891 kWh 2594 kWh £986 £259 £1,245 £16,342 13.1 yrs £8,560
8 kW 7412 kWh 4447 kWh 2965 kWh £1,126 £296 £1,423 £18,376 12.9 yrs £10,083

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: £960, 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 1853 kWh 1297 kWh 556 kWh £329 £56 £384 £7,569 19.7 yrs £114
3 kW 2780 kWh 1946 kWh 834 kWh £493 £83 £576 £9,604 16.7 yrs £1,921
4 kW 3706 kWh 2594 kWh 1112 kWh £657 £111 £768 £11,638 15.1 yrs £3,728
5 kW 4632 kWh 3243 kWh 1390 kWh £821 £139 £960 £13,673 14.2 yrs £5,535
6 kW 5559 kWh 3891 kWh 1668 kWh £986 £167 £1,152 £15,707 13.6 yrs £7,342
7 kW 6486 kWh 4540 kWh 1946 kWh £1,150 £195 £1,345 £17,742 13.2 yrs £9,149
8 kW 7412 kWh 5188 kWh 2224 kWh £1,314 £222 £1,537 £19,776 12.9 yrs £10,956

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: £982, 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 1853 kWh 1353 kWh 500 kWh £343 £50 £393 £9,319 23.7 yrs £-1,466
3 kW 2780 kWh 2029 kWh 750 kWh £514 £75 £589 £11,354 19.3 yrs £426
4 kW 3706 kWh 2705 kWh 1001 kWh £685 £100 £785 £13,388 17.0 yrs £2,319
5 kW 4632 kWh 3382 kWh 1251 kWh £857 £125 £982 £15,423 15.7 yrs £4,211
6 kW 5559 kWh 4058 kWh 1501 kWh £1,028 £150 £1,178 £17,457 14.8 yrs £6,103
7 kW 6486 kWh 4734 kWh 1751 kWh £1,199 £175 £1,374 £19,492 14.2 yrs £7,995
8 kW 7412 kWh 5411 kWh 2001 kWh £1,371 £200 £1,571 £21,526 13.7 yrs £9,887

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: £996, 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 1853 kWh 1390 kWh 463 kWh £352 £46 £398 £11,069 27.8 yrs £-3,102
3 kW 2780 kWh 2085 kWh 695 kWh £528 £69 £598 £13,104 21.9 yrs £-1,153
4 kW 3706 kWh 2780 kWh 926 kWh £704 £93 £797 £15,138 19.0 yrs £796
5 kW 4632 kWh 3474 kWh 1158 kWh £880 £116 £996 £17,173 17.2 yrs £2,745
6 kW 5559 kWh 4169 kWh 1390 kWh £1,056 £139 £1,195 £19,207 16.1 yrs £4,694
7 kW 6486 kWh 4864 kWh 1621 kWh £1,232 £162 £1,394 £21,242 15.2 yrs £6,643
8 kW 7412 kWh 5559 kWh 1853 kWh £1,408 £185 £1,593 £23,276 14.6 yrs £8,592

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: £1,010, 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 1853 kWh 1427 kWh 426 kWh £361 £43 £404 £13,519 33.5 yrs £-5,438
3 kW 2780 kWh 2140 kWh 639 kWh £542 £64 £606 £15,554 25.7 yrs £-3,433
4 kW 3706 kWh 2854 kWh 852 kWh £723 £85 £808 £17,588 21.8 yrs £-1,427
5 kW 4632 kWh 3567 kWh 1065 kWh £904 £107 £1,010 £19,623 19.4 yrs £579
6 kW 5559 kWh 4280 kWh 1279 kWh £1,084 £128 £1,212 £21,657 17.9 yrs £2,585
7 kW 6486 kWh 4994 kWh 1492 kWh £1,265 £149 £1,414 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,591
8 kW 7412 kWh 5707 kWh 1705 kWh £1,446 £170 £1,616 £25,726 15.9 yrs £6,596

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 WF3

Figures below are tailored to WF3 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1513 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2280 of 2997
11.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£854 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2227 of 2997
25.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£214 fixed • ~£854 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.33p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
58.65p/day
Local Sunshine
926kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~926 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: 76% • Flats: 11% • Bungalows: 12% Based on 8,626 properties

Coverage

Leeds (64%)|Wakefield (36%)

Areas Covered

Ardsley & Robin Hood, Stanley and Outwood East, Morley South, Wakefield North, Rothwell, Wrenthorpe and Outwood West, Batley East, Wakefield East

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 Yorkshire

LS88 (Leeds)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~927 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WF3
LS99 (Leeds)
≈4.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WF3
WF1 (Wakefield)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~932 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WF3
LS98 (Leeds)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WF3
LS10 (Leeds)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~923 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WF3
WF2 (Wakefield)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~932 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WF3

Similar sunshine across the UK

DL8 (North Yorkshire)
~927 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WF3
SA46 (Ceredigion)
~927 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WF3
HG2 (North Yorkshire)
~927 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WF3