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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in WN5 (Wigan)

See if solar pays off for you in Wigan — 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
13.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£610
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,106
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 West, the current unit rate is 27.11p/kWh with a 51.16p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 905 kWh/kW — 35 above the regional median (870).

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 905 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
51.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
905 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: £762, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1810 kWh 724 kWh 1086 kWh £196 £109 £305 £4,069 13.3 yrs £2,029
3 kW 2715 kWh 1086 kWh 1629 kWh £294 £163 £457 £6,104 13.3 yrs £3,043
4 kW 3620 kWh 1448 kWh 2172 kWh £393 £217 £610 £8,138 13.3 yrs £4,057
5 kW 4525 kWh 1810 kWh 2715 kWh £491 £272 £762 £10,173 13.3 yrs £5,071
6 kW 5430 kWh 2172 kWh 3258 kWh £589 £326 £915 £12,207 13.3 yrs £6,086
7 kW 6335 kWh 2534 kWh 3801 kWh £687 £380 £1,067 £14,242 13.3 yrs £7,100
8 kW 7240 kWh 2896 kWh 4344 kWh £785 £434 £1,220 £16,276 13.3 yrs £8,114

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: £917, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1810 kWh 1086 kWh 724 kWh £294 £72 £367 £6,169 16.8 yrs £1,167
3 kW 2715 kWh 1629 kWh 1086 kWh £442 £109 £550 £8,204 14.9 yrs £2,801
4 kW 3620 kWh 2172 kWh 1448 kWh £589 £145 £734 £10,238 14.0 yrs £4,435
5 kW 4525 kWh 2715 kWh 1810 kWh £736 £181 £917 £12,273 13.4 yrs £6,068
6 kW 5430 kWh 3258 kWh 2172 kWh £883 £217 £1,100 £14,307 13.0 yrs £7,702
7 kW 6335 kWh 3801 kWh 2534 kWh £1,030 £253 £1,284 £16,342 12.7 yrs £9,335
8 kW 7240 kWh 4344 kWh 2896 kWh £1,178 £290 £1,467 £18,376 12.5 yrs £10,969

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: £994, 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 1810 kWh 1267 kWh 543 kWh £343 £54 £398 £7,569 19.0 yrs £387
3 kW 2715 kWh 1900 kWh 815 kWh £515 £81 £597 £9,604 16.1 yrs £2,330
4 kW 3620 kWh 2534 kWh 1086 kWh £687 £109 £796 £11,638 14.6 yrs £4,273
5 kW 4525 kWh 3168 kWh 1358 kWh £859 £136 £994 £13,673 13.7 yrs £6,217
6 kW 5430 kWh 3801 kWh 1629 kWh £1,030 £163 £1,193 £15,707 13.2 yrs £8,160
7 kW 6335 kWh 4434 kWh 1900 kWh £1,202 £190 £1,392 £17,742 12.7 yrs £10,103
8 kW 7240 kWh 5068 kWh 2172 kWh £1,374 £217 £1,591 £19,776 12.4 yrs £12,047

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: £1,018, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1810 kWh 1321 kWh 489 kWh £358 £49 £407 £9,319 22.9 yrs £-1,178
3 kW 2715 kWh 1982 kWh 733 kWh £537 £73 £611 £11,354 18.6 yrs £859
4 kW 3620 kWh 2643 kWh 977 kWh £716 £98 £814 £13,388 16.4 yrs £2,895
5 kW 4525 kWh 3303 kWh 1222 kWh £896 £122 £1,018 £15,423 15.2 yrs £4,931
6 kW 5430 kWh 3964 kWh 1466 kWh £1,075 £147 £1,221 £17,457 14.3 yrs £6,967
7 kW 6335 kWh 4625 kWh 1710 kWh £1,254 £171 £1,425 £19,492 13.7 yrs £9,004
8 kW 7240 kWh 5285 kWh 1955 kWh £1,433 £195 £1,628 £21,526 13.2 yrs £11,040

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: £1,033, 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 1810 kWh 1358 kWh 452 kWh £368 £45 £413 £11,069 26.8 yrs £-2,804
3 kW 2715 kWh 2036 kWh 679 kWh £552 £68 £620 £13,104 21.1 yrs £-705
4 kW 3620 kWh 2715 kWh 905 kWh £736 £90 £827 £15,138 18.3 yrs £1,393
5 kW 4525 kWh 3394 kWh 1131 kWh £920 £113 £1,033 £17,173 16.6 yrs £3,491
6 kW 5430 kWh 4072 kWh 1358 kWh £1,104 £136 £1,240 £19,207 15.5 yrs £5,589
7 kW 6335 kWh 4751 kWh 1584 kWh £1,288 £158 £1,446 £21,242 14.7 yrs £7,687
8 kW 7240 kWh 5430 kWh 1810 kWh £1,472 £181 £1,653 £23,276 14.1 yrs £9,785

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 1810 kWh 1394 kWh 416 kWh £378 £42 £419 £13,519 32.2 yrs £-5,130
3 kW 2715 kWh 2091 kWh 624 kWh £567 £62 £629 £15,554 24.7 yrs £-2,970
4 kW 3620 kWh 2787 kWh 833 kWh £756 £83 £839 £17,588 21.0 yrs £-810
5 kW 4525 kWh 3484 kWh 1041 kWh £945 £104 £1,049 £19,623 18.7 yrs £1,351
6 kW 5430 kWh 4181 kWh 1249 kWh £1,133 £125 £1,258 £21,657 17.2 yrs £3,511
7 kW 6335 kWh 4878 kWh 1457 kWh £1,322 £146 £1,468 £23,692 16.1 yrs £5,671
8 kW 7240 kWh 5575 kWh 1665 kWh £1,511 £167 £1,678 £25,726 15.3 yrs £7,831

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 WN5

Figures below are tailored to WN5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1275 of 2182
4.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1919 of 2997
11.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£703 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2406 of 2997
26.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£187 fixed • ~£703 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.11p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
51.16p/day
Local Sunshine
905kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~905 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: 75% • Flats: 14% • Bungalows: 11% Based on 9,581 properties

Coverage

Wigan (86%)|St. Helens (12%)|West Lancashire (2%)

Areas Covered

Pemberton, Douglas, Orrell, Billinge & Seneley Green, Wigan Central, Up Holland, Wigan West, Winstanley + 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 West

WN3 (Wigan)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~901 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WN5
WN1 (Wigan)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~901 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WN5
WN6 (Wigan)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · -2% vs WN5
WN4 (Wigan)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~900 kWh/kWp · -1% vs WN5
WN8 (West Lancashire)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~909 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN5
WN2 (Wigan)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~885 kWh/kWp · -2% vs WN5

Similar sunshine across the UK

AB21 (Aberdeen City)
~905 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN5
PA49 (Argyll and Bute)
~905 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN5
HX2 (Calderdale)
~905 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WN5