Renewable Energy Payback Calculator
Calculate the payback period, 25-year savings, and ROI for home solar panels or a small wind turbine.
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How to use this calculator
- 1
Select your system type (solar, solar + battery, or wind).
- 2
Enter the installation cost and estimated annual energy generation.
- 3
Set your electricity rate and feed-in tariff rate.
- 4
Estimate what percentage of generated energy you use yourself.
- 5
Add your annual maintenance cost and review the payback period and ROI.
Frequently asked questions
What is a feed-in tariff?
A feed-in tariff is a rate paid by your energy company for excess electricity you export to the grid. Rates vary widely by country and scheme.
How many kWh will my solar panels generate?
A typical 4 kW UK system generates around 3,400–4,000 kWh per year. Output depends on roof orientation, shading, and local solar irradiance.
Renewable Energy Payback Calculator
How to use the renewable energy payback calculator
Use this renewable energy payback calculator to estimate how many years it will take for a solar panel or wind turbine installation to pay for itself through energy savings. Enter the system cost, annual energy output, and local electricity rate above. Results show payback period and lifetime ROI. Free and instant.
How the renewable energy payback calculator works
The renewable energy payback calculator divides the total installed cost by the annual energy savings (output × electricity rate) to compute the simple payback period in years. It also projects cumulative savings over a 25-year lifetime. All calculations run locally in your browser with no data uploaded.
What is this tool?
Work out when your solar panels or wind turbine will pay for themselves based on installation cost, energy rates, and generation output.
How to interpret results
A shorter payback period means a faster return on investment. The 25-year savings and ROI figures show the long-term financial and environmental benefit.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional financial, medical, legal, or technical advice. Read full disclaimer →