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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in WR3 (Worcester)

See if solar pays off for you in Worcester — 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
13.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£785
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,453
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 Midlands, the current unit rate is 25.64p/kWh with a 53.00p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 966 kWh/kW — 24 above the regional median (942).

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 966 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
53.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
966 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: £785, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1932 kWh 773 kWh 1159 kWh £198 £116 £314 £4,069 13.0 yrs £2,211
3 kW 2897 kWh 1159 kWh 1738 kWh £297 £174 £471 £6,104 13.0 yrs £3,317
4 kW 3863 kWh 1545 kWh 2318 kWh £396 £232 £628 £8,138 13.0 yrs £4,422
5 kW 4829 kWh 1932 kWh 2897 kWh £495 £290 £785 £10,173 13.0 yrs £5,528
6 kW 5795 kWh 2318 kWh 3477 kWh £594 £348 £942 £12,207 13.0 yrs £6,634
7 kW 6761 kWh 2704 kWh 4056 kWh £693 £406 £1,099 £14,242 13.0 yrs £7,739
8 kW 7727 kWh 3091 kWh 4636 kWh £792 £464 £1,256 £16,276 13.0 yrs £8,845

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: £936, 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 1932 kWh 1159 kWh 773 kWh £297 £77 £374 £6,169 16.5 yrs £1,320
3 kW 2897 kWh 1738 kWh 1159 kWh £446 £116 £562 £8,204 14.6 yrs £3,029
4 kW 3863 kWh 2318 kWh 1545 kWh £594 £155 £749 £10,238 13.7 yrs £4,739
5 kW 4829 kWh 2897 kWh 1932 kWh £743 £193 £936 £12,273 13.1 yrs £6,449
6 kW 5795 kWh 3477 kWh 2318 kWh £891 £232 £1,123 £14,307 12.7 yrs £8,159
7 kW 6761 kWh 4056 kWh 2704 kWh £1,040 £270 £1,311 £16,342 12.5 yrs £9,869
8 kW 7727 kWh 4636 kWh 3091 kWh £1,189 £309 £1,498 £18,376 12.3 yrs £11,579

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: £1,012, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1932 kWh 1352 kWh 579 kWh £347 £58 £405 £7,569 18.7 yrs £524
3 kW 2897 kWh 2028 kWh 869 kWh £520 £87 £607 £9,604 15.8 yrs £2,536
4 kW 3863 kWh 2704 kWh 1159 kWh £693 £116 £809 £11,638 14.4 yrs £4,548
5 kW 4829 kWh 3380 kWh 1449 kWh £867 £145 £1,012 £13,673 13.5 yrs £6,560
6 kW 5795 kWh 4056 kWh 1738 kWh £1,040 £174 £1,214 £15,707 12.9 yrs £8,572
7 kW 6761 kWh 4733 kWh 2028 kWh £1,213 £203 £1,416 £17,742 12.5 yrs £10,584
8 kW 7727 kWh 5409 kWh 2318 kWh £1,387 £232 £1,619 £19,776 12.2 yrs £12,595

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: £1,034, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1932 kWh 1410 kWh 522 kWh £362 £52 £414 £9,319 22.5 yrs £-1,045
3 kW 2897 kWh 2115 kWh 782 kWh £542 £78 £621 £11,354 18.3 yrs £1,058
4 kW 3863 kWh 2820 kWh 1043 kWh £723 £104 £827 £13,388 16.2 yrs £3,160
5 kW 4829 kWh 3525 kWh 1304 kWh £904 £130 £1,034 £15,423 14.9 yrs £5,263
6 kW 5795 kWh 4230 kWh 1565 kWh £1,085 £156 £1,241 £17,457 14.1 yrs £7,365
7 kW 6761 kWh 4935 kWh 1825 kWh £1,265 £183 £1,448 £19,492 13.5 yrs £9,468
8 kW 7727 kWh 5640 kWh 2086 kWh £1,446 £209 £1,655 £21,526 13.0 yrs £11,571

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: £1,049, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1932 kWh 1449 kWh 483 kWh £371 £48 £420 £11,069 26.4 yrs £-2,674
3 kW 2897 kWh 2173 kWh 724 kWh £557 £72 £630 £13,104 20.8 yrs £-511
4 kW 3863 kWh 2897 kWh 966 kWh £743 £97 £839 £15,138 18.0 yrs £1,652
5 kW 4829 kWh 3622 kWh 1207 kWh £929 £121 £1,049 £17,173 16.4 yrs £3,815
6 kW 5795 kWh 4346 kWh 1449 kWh £1,114 £145 £1,259 £19,207 15.3 yrs £5,978
7 kW 6761 kWh 5071 kWh 1690 kWh £1,300 £169 £1,469 £21,242 14.5 yrs £8,141
8 kW 7727 kWh 5795 kWh 1932 kWh £1,486 £193 £1,679 £23,276 13.9 yrs £10,304

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: £1,064, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1932 kWh 1487 kWh 444 kWh £381 £44 £426 £13,519 31.8 yrs £-5,003
3 kW 2897 kWh 2231 kWh 666 kWh £572 £67 £639 £15,554 24.4 yrs £-2,780
4 kW 3863 kWh 2975 kWh 889 kWh £763 £89 £852 £17,588 20.7 yrs £-556
5 kW 4829 kWh 3718 kWh 1111 kWh £953 £111 £1,064 £19,623 18.4 yrs £1,667
6 kW 5795 kWh 4462 kWh 1333 kWh £1,144 £133 £1,277 £21,657 17.0 yrs £3,890
7 kW 6761 kWh 5206 kWh 1555 kWh £1,335 £155 £1,490 £23,692 15.9 yrs £6,114
8 kW 7727 kWh 5950 kWh 1777 kWh £1,525 £178 £1,703 £25,726 15.1 yrs £8,337

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 WR3

Figures below are tailored to WR3 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1097 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1637 of 2997
11.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£898 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1713 of 2997
21.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£193 fixed • ~£898 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.64p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.00p/day
Local Sunshine
966kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~966 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: 72% • Flats: 18% • Bungalows: 9% Based on 5,417 properties

Coverage

Worcester (77%)|Wychavon (23%)

Areas Covered

Claines, North Claines & Salwarpe, St Stephen, St Nicholas, Rainbow Hill, Arboretum, Warndon & Elbury Park, Fort Royal + 2 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 Midlands

WR78 (Worcester)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~971 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR3
WR99 (Worcester)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~972 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WR3
WR4 (Worcester)
≈2.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~967 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR3
WR1 (Worcester)
≈2.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~971 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR3
WR2 (Worcester)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~970 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR3
WR5 (Worcester)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR3

Similar sunshine across the UK

NP4 (Torfaen)
~966 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR3
LL77 (Isle of Anglesey)
~966 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WR3
LE87 (Leicester)
~966 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR3