Find out what solar is worth to you in money. These calculators separate the value of power you use at home from power you export, then project payback and lifetime return.
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Solar saves money in two ways: every kWh you use yourself replaces a kWh you would have bought at your full unit rate, and every kWh you export earns an export payment, which is usually much lower. Self-consumption therefore has a big effect on payback.
Use the savings calculator for a first-year estimate, the payback and ROI calculators for the long view, and the self-consumption calculator to see how a battery or shifting your use changes the result.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do solar panels take to pay back in the UK?
The Energy Saving Trust estimates payback of roughly 9 to 12 years for a typical UK system at mid 2026 prices. Your own figure depends on system cost, how much you use yourself and your export rate, so run the payback calculator with your numbers.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
The Smart Export Guarantee is a UK scheme that requires larger electricity suppliers to pay small generators for electricity exported to the grid. Suppliers set their own rates, which must be above zero, and you need a suitable export meter.
Why is self-consumption so important for solar savings?
A kWh you use yourself saves your full import price, while an exported kWh earns only the export rate. When the import price is around double the export rate, raising self-consumption is one of the most effective ways to shorten payback.
Checked October 2026 by the Solaxyra Editorial Team. Read how we build and check our tools in our editorial policy.