Plug-in Solar:
Building Shadow Simulator & Payback Calculator

Will your DIY solar panel get sun?

Search a postcode, drop a pin on your property, and see when it's in sun or shade — the main thing that decides whether a plug-in solar kit is worth it for you.

Click the map to drop a pin on your property

Drop a pin on your property to begin.

This is a model, not a survey. Building shapes and heights come from OpenStreetMap and may be missing, dated, or estimated. Trees and ground terrain are not modelled in this version. Treat the result as a guide, then check the spot in person.

Plug-in solar payback calculator

See how much a UK plug-in solar kit could save you. Adjust the sliders to match your postcode, system size, budget, and how much of the power you'd use during the day.

Enter your postcode to refine the estimate

UK legal limit is 800 W AC per device

Typical 800 W kit: £400–£800

How much of your generation you actually use at home (typical: 60–80%)

Annual generation
— kWh
UK average
Annual saving
£—
@ 24.5p/kWh import
Simple payback
— years
—

Estimates only. Real-world output depends on shading, panel tilt, season, and the unit rate you actually pay. The calculator assumes any generation above your self-consumption is exported for free — plug-in solar cannot use the Smart Export Guarantee yet. You must notify your DNO within 28 days of installing (free G98 form, no approval required).

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What is plug-in solar?

Can renters get solar panels?

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