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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in WR8 (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
12.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£951
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,567
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 975 kWh/kW — 33 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 975 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)
975 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: £792, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1950 kWh 780 kWh 1170 kWh £200 £117 £317 £4,069 12.8 yrs £2,271
3 kW 2925 kWh 1170 kWh 1755 kWh £300 £175 £475 £6,104 12.8 yrs £3,406
4 kW 3900 kWh 1560 kWh 2340 kWh £400 £234 £634 £8,138 12.8 yrs £4,541
5 kW 4875 kWh 1950 kWh 2925 kWh £500 £292 £792 £10,173 12.8 yrs £5,677
6 kW 5850 kWh 2340 kWh 3510 kWh £600 £351 £951 £12,207 12.8 yrs £6,812
7 kW 6825 kWh 2730 kWh 4095 kWh £700 £409 £1,109 £14,242 12.8 yrs £7,947
8 kW 7800 kWh 3120 kWh 4680 kWh £800 £468 £1,268 £16,276 12.8 yrs £9,082

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: £945, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1950 kWh 1170 kWh 780 kWh £300 £78 £378 £6,169 16.3 yrs £1,391
3 kW 2925 kWh 1755 kWh 1170 kWh £450 £117 £567 £8,204 14.5 yrs £3,136
4 kW 3900 kWh 2340 kWh 1560 kWh £600 £156 £756 £10,238 13.5 yrs £4,881
5 kW 4875 kWh 2925 kWh 1950 kWh £750 £195 £945 £12,273 13.0 yrs £6,626
6 kW 5850 kWh 3510 kWh 2340 kWh £900 £234 £1,134 £14,307 12.6 yrs £8,372
7 kW 6825 kWh 4095 kWh 2730 kWh £1,050 £273 £1,323 £16,342 12.4 yrs £10,117
8 kW 7800 kWh 4680 kWh 3120 kWh £1,200 £312 £1,512 £18,376 12.2 yrs £11,862

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 1950 kWh 1365 kWh 585 kWh £350 £58 £408 £7,569 18.5 yrs £600
3 kW 2925 kWh 2047 kWh 877 kWh £525 £88 £613 £9,604 15.7 yrs £2,651
4 kW 3900 kWh 2730 kWh 1170 kWh £700 £117 £817 £11,638 14.2 yrs £4,701
5 kW 4875 kWh 3412 kWh 1462 kWh £875 £146 £1,021 £13,673 13.4 yrs £6,751
6 kW 5850 kWh 4095 kWh 1755 kWh £1,050 £175 £1,225 £15,707 12.8 yrs £8,801
7 kW 6825 kWh 4777 kWh 2047 kWh £1,225 £205 £1,430 £17,742 12.4 yrs £10,852
8 kW 7800 kWh 5460 kWh 2340 kWh £1,400 £234 £1,634 £19,776 12.1 yrs £12,902

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: £1,044, 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 1950 kWh 1423 kWh 526 kWh £365 £53 £418 £9,319 22.3 yrs £-967
3 kW 2925 kWh 2135 kWh 790 kWh £547 £79 £626 £11,354 18.1 yrs £1,175
4 kW 3900 kWh 2847 kWh 1053 kWh £730 £105 £835 £13,388 16.0 yrs £3,317
5 kW 4875 kWh 3559 kWh 1316 kWh £912 £132 £1,044 £15,423 14.8 yrs £5,459
6 kW 5850 kWh 4270 kWh 1579 kWh £1,095 £158 £1,253 £17,457 13.9 yrs £7,600
7 kW 6825 kWh 4982 kWh 1843 kWh £1,277 £184 £1,462 £19,492 13.3 yrs £9,742
8 kW 7800 kWh 5694 kWh 2106 kWh £1,460 £211 £1,670 £21,526 12.9 yrs £11,884

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: £1,059, 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 1950 kWh 1462 kWh 487 kWh £375 £49 £424 £11,069 26.1 yrs £-2,595
3 kW 2925 kWh 2194 kWh 731 kWh £562 £73 £636 £13,104 20.6 yrs £-392
4 kW 3900 kWh 2925 kWh 975 kWh £750 £97 £847 £15,138 17.9 yrs £1,811
5 kW 4875 kWh 3656 kWh 1219 kWh £937 £122 £1,059 £17,173 16.2 yrs £4,014
6 kW 5850 kWh 4387 kWh 1462 kWh £1,125 £146 £1,271 £19,207 15.1 yrs £6,216
7 kW 6825 kWh 5119 kWh 1706 kWh £1,312 £171 £1,483 £21,242 14.3 yrs £8,419
8 kW 7800 kWh 5850 kWh 1950 kWh £1,500 £195 £1,695 £23,276 13.7 yrs £10,622

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: £1,075, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1950 kWh 1501 kWh 448 kWh £385 £45 £430 £13,519 31.5 yrs £-4,923
3 kW 2925 kWh 2252 kWh 673 kWh £577 £67 £645 £15,554 24.1 yrs £-2,659
4 kW 3900 kWh 3003 kWh 897 kWh £770 £90 £860 £17,588 20.5 yrs £-395
5 kW 4875 kWh 3754 kWh 1121 kWh £962 £112 £1,075 £19,623 18.3 yrs £1,869
6 kW 5850 kWh 4504 kWh 1345 kWh £1,155 £135 £1,289 £21,657 16.8 yrs £4,132
7 kW 6825 kWh 5255 kWh 1570 kWh £1,347 £157 £1,504 £23,692 15.7 yrs £6,396
8 kW 7800 kWh 6006 kWh 1794 kWh £1,540 £179 £1,719 £25,726 15.0 yrs £8,660

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 WR8

Figures below are tailored to WR8 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #237 of 2182
6.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~13 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1560 of 2997
11.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,088 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #927 of 2997
17.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£193 fixed • ~£1,088 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.64p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.00p/day
Local Sunshine
975kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~975 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: 65% • Flats: 12% • Bungalows: 23% Based on 2,392 properties

Coverage

Malvern Hills (68%)|Wychavon (20%)|Worcester (12%)

Areas Covered

Upton & Ripple, Eckington, Powick & the Hanleys, St Nicholas, Kempsey, Drakes Broughton, Norton & Whittington, Longdon + 4 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

GL20 (Tewkesbury)
≈9.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~977 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR8
WR14 (Malvern Hills)
≈9.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~972 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WR8
WR13 (Malvern Hills)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~975 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WR8
WR10 (Wychavon)
≈11.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~977 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR8
WR5 (Worcester)
≈12.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~968 kWh/kWp · -1% vs WR8
WR2 (Worcester)
≈13.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~970 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WR8

Similar sunshine across the UK

HP16 (Buckinghamshire)
~975 kWh/kWp · +0% vs WR8
YO25 (East Riding of Yorkshire)
~975 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WR8
DN19 (North Lincolnshire)
~975 kWh/kWp · -0% vs WR8