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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in WR6 (Malvern Hills)

See if solar pays off for you in Malvern Hills — 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
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£937
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,223
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 961 kWh/kW — 19 above the regional median (942).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 961 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)
961 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: £781, 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 1922 kWh 769 kWh 1153 kWh £197 £115 £312 £4,069 13.0 yrs £2,179
3 kW 2883 kWh 1153 kWh 1730 kWh £296 £173 £469 £6,104 13.0 yrs £3,268
4 kW 3843 kWh 1537 kWh 2306 kWh £394 £231 £625 £8,138 13.0 yrs £4,358
5 kW 4804 kWh 1922 kWh 2883 kWh £493 £288 £781 £10,173 13.0 yrs £5,447
6 kW 5765 kWh 2306 kWh 3459 kWh £591 £346 £937 £12,207 13.0 yrs £6,537
7 kW 6726 kWh 2690 kWh 4036 kWh £690 £404 £1,093 £14,242 13.0 yrs £7,626
8 kW 7687 kWh 3075 kWh 4612 kWh £788 £461 £1,250 £16,276 13.0 yrs £8,716

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: £931, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1922 kWh 1153 kWh 769 kWh £296 £77 £373 £6,169 16.6 yrs £1,281
3 kW 2883 kWh 1730 kWh 1153 kWh £443 £115 £559 £8,204 14.7 yrs £2,972
4 kW 3843 kWh 2306 kWh 1537 kWh £591 £154 £745 £10,238 13.7 yrs £4,662
5 kW 4804 kWh 2883 kWh 1922 kWh £739 £192 £931 £12,273 13.2 yrs £6,353
6 kW 5765 kWh 3459 kWh 2306 kWh £887 £231 £1,118 £14,307 12.8 yrs £8,043
7 kW 6726 kWh 4036 kWh 2690 kWh £1,035 £269 £1,304 £16,342 12.5 yrs £9,734
8 kW 7687 kWh 4612 kWh 3075 kWh £1,183 £307 £1,490 £18,376 12.3 yrs £11,424

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: £1,006, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1922 kWh 1345 kWh 577 kWh £345 £58 £403 £7,569 18.8 yrs £482
3 kW 2883 kWh 2018 kWh 865 kWh £517 £86 £604 £9,604 15.9 yrs £2,473
4 kW 3843 kWh 2690 kWh 1153 kWh £690 £115 £805 £11,638 14.5 yrs £4,464
5 kW 4804 kWh 3363 kWh 1441 kWh £862 £144 £1,006 £13,673 13.6 yrs £6,456
6 kW 5765 kWh 4036 kWh 1730 kWh £1,035 £173 £1,208 £15,707 13.0 yrs £8,447
7 kW 6726 kWh 4708 kWh 2018 kWh £1,207 £202 £1,409 £17,742 12.6 yrs £10,438
8 kW 7687 kWh 5381 kWh 2306 kWh £1,380 £231 £1,610 £19,776 12.3 yrs £12,429

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: £1,029, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1922 kWh 1403 kWh 519 kWh £360 £52 £412 £9,319 22.6 yrs £-1,087
3 kW 2883 kWh 2104 kWh 778 kWh £540 £78 £617 £11,354 18.4 yrs £994
4 kW 3843 kWh 2806 kWh 1038 kWh £719 £104 £823 £13,388 16.3 yrs £3,075
5 kW 4804 kWh 3507 kWh 1297 kWh £899 £130 £1,029 £15,423 15.0 yrs £5,156
6 kW 5765 kWh 4209 kWh 1557 kWh £1,079 £156 £1,235 £17,457 14.1 yrs £7,238
7 kW 6726 kWh 4910 kWh 1816 kWh £1,259 £182 £1,441 £19,492 13.5 yrs £9,319
8 kW 7687 kWh 5611 kWh 2075 kWh £1,439 £208 £1,646 £21,526 13.1 yrs £11,400

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: £1,044, 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 1922 kWh 1441 kWh 480 kWh £370 £48 £418 £11,069 26.5 yrs £-2,717
3 kW 2883 kWh 2162 kWh 721 kWh £554 £72 £626 £13,104 20.9 yrs £-576
4 kW 3843 kWh 2883 kWh 961 kWh £739 £96 £835 £15,138 18.1 yrs £1,566
5 kW 4804 kWh 3603 kWh 1201 kWh £924 £120 £1,044 £17,173 16.4 yrs £3,707
6 kW 5765 kWh 4324 kWh 1441 kWh £1,109 £144 £1,253 £19,207 15.3 yrs £5,848
7 kW 6726 kWh 5045 kWh 1682 kWh £1,293 £168 £1,462 £21,242 14.5 yrs £7,990
8 kW 7687 kWh 5765 kWh 1922 kWh £1,478 £192 £1,670 £23,276 13.9 yrs £10,131

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: £1,059, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1922 kWh 1480 kWh 442 kWh £379 £44 £424 £13,519 31.9 yrs £-5,047
3 kW 2883 kWh 2220 kWh 663 kWh £569 £66 £635 £15,554 24.5 yrs £-2,846
4 kW 3843 kWh 2959 kWh 884 kWh £759 £88 £847 £17,588 20.8 yrs £-644
5 kW 4804 kWh 3699 kWh 1105 kWh £949 £110 £1,059 £19,623 18.5 yrs £1,557
6 kW 5765 kWh 4439 kWh 1326 kWh £1,138 £133 £1,271 £21,657 17.0 yrs £3,759
7 kW 6726 kWh 5179 kWh 1547 kWh £1,328 £155 £1,483 £23,692 16.0 yrs £5,960
8 kW 7687 kWh 5919 kWh 1768 kWh £1,518 £177 £1,694 £25,726 15.2 yrs £8,162

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 WR6

Figures below are tailored to WR6 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #22 of 2182
7.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~15 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1719 of 2997
11.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,072 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1004 of 2997
18.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£193 fixed • ~£1,072 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.64p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.00p/day
Local Sunshine
961kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~961 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 72% • Flats: 4% • Bungalows: 23% Based on 3,386 properties

Coverage

Malvern Hills (68%)|Herefordshire, County of (20%)|Worcester (11%)|Wyre Forest (1%)

Areas Covered

Baldwin, Martley, Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick, Bromyard Bringsty, St Nicholas, Bishops Frome & Cradley, Hallow & Holt + 5 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

WR2 (Worcester)
≈9.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~970 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WR6
HR7 (Herefordshire, County of)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~965 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR6
WR99 (Worcester)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~972 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WR6
WR78 (Worcester)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~971 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WR6
WR1 (Worcester)
≈10.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~971 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WR6
WR3 (Worcester)
≈10.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~966 kWh/kWp · +1% vs WR6

Similar sunshine across the UK

B78 (North Warwickshire)
~961 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WR6
SA4 (Swansea)
~961 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR6
CV3 (Coventry)
~961 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR6