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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BN2 (Brighton and Hove)

See if solar pays off for you in Brighton and Hove — 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
10.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£6,104
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£564
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,984
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 South East, the current unit rate is 26.92p/kWh with a 47.60p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1120 kWh/kW — 91 above the regional median (1029).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1120 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.9p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.9p/kWh
Standing charge
47.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1120 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: £939, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 10.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 896 kWh 1344 kWh £241 £134 £376 £4,069 10.8 yrs £3,444
3 kW 3361 kWh 1344 kWh 2016 kWh £362 £202 £564 £6,104 10.8 yrs £5,167
4 kW 4481 kWh 1792 kWh 2689 kWh £482 £269 £751 £8,138 10.8 yrs £6,889
5 kW 5601 kWh 2240 kWh 3361 kWh £603 £336 £939 £10,173 10.8 yrs £8,611
6 kW 6721 kWh 2689 kWh 4033 kWh £724 £403 £1,127 £12,207 10.8 yrs £10,333
7 kW 7841 kWh 3137 kWh 4705 kWh £844 £470 £1,315 £14,242 10.8 yrs £12,056
8 kW 8962 kWh 3585 kWh 5377 kWh £965 £538 £1,503 £16,276 10.8 yrs £13,778

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: £1,129, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 10.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1344 kWh 896 kWh £362 £90 £451 £6,169 13.7 yrs £2,861
3 kW 3361 kWh 2016 kWh 1344 kWh £543 £134 £677 £8,204 12.1 yrs £5,341
4 kW 4481 kWh 2689 kWh 1792 kWh £724 £179 £903 £10,238 11.3 yrs £7,822
5 kW 5601 kWh 3361 kWh 2240 kWh £905 £224 £1,129 £12,273 10.9 yrs £10,302
6 kW 6721 kWh 4033 kWh 2689 kWh £1,086 £269 £1,354 £14,307 10.6 yrs £12,782
7 kW 7841 kWh 4705 kWh 3137 kWh £1,267 £314 £1,580 £16,342 10.3 yrs £15,263
8 kW 8962 kWh 5377 kWh 3585 kWh £1,447 £358 £1,806 £18,376 10.2 yrs £17,743

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: £1,223, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1568 kWh 672 kWh £422 £67 £489 £7,569 15.5 yrs £2,219
3 kW 3361 kWh 2352 kWh 1008 kWh £633 £101 £734 £9,604 13.1 yrs £5,078
4 kW 4481 kWh 3137 kWh 1344 kWh £844 £134 £979 £11,638 11.9 yrs £7,938
5 kW 5601 kWh 3921 kWh 1680 kWh £1,055 £168 £1,223 £13,673 11.2 yrs £10,797
6 kW 6721 kWh 4705 kWh 2016 kWh £1,267 £202 £1,468 £15,707 10.7 yrs £13,657
7 kW 7841 kWh 5489 kWh 2352 kWh £1,478 £235 £1,713 £17,742 10.4 yrs £16,516
8 kW 8962 kWh 6273 kWh 2689 kWh £1,689 £269 £1,958 £19,776 10.1 yrs £19,376

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: £1,252, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1636 kWh 605 kWh £440 £60 £501 £9,319 18.6 yrs £696
3 kW 3361 kWh 2453 kWh 907 kWh £660 £91 £751 £11,354 15.1 yrs £3,670
4 kW 4481 kWh 3271 kWh 1210 kWh £881 £121 £1,002 £13,388 13.4 yrs £6,643
5 kW 5601 kWh 4089 kWh 1512 kWh £1,101 £151 £1,252 £15,423 12.3 yrs £9,616
6 kW 6721 kWh 4907 kWh 1815 kWh £1,321 £181 £1,502 £17,457 11.6 yrs £12,589
7 kW 7841 kWh 5724 kWh 2117 kWh £1,541 £212 £1,753 £19,492 11.1 yrs £15,562
8 kW 8962 kWh 6542 kWh 2420 kWh £1,761 £242 £2,003 £21,526 10.7 yrs £18,535

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: £1,271, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1680 kWh 560 kWh £452 £56 £508 £11,069 21.8 yrs £-902
3 kW 3361 kWh 2520 kWh 840 kWh £679 £84 £763 £13,104 17.2 yrs £2,147
4 kW 4481 kWh 3361 kWh 1120 kWh £905 £112 £1,017 £15,138 14.9 yrs £5,196
5 kW 5601 kWh 4201 kWh 1400 kWh £1,131 £140 £1,271 £17,173 13.5 yrs £8,245
6 kW 6721 kWh 5041 kWh 1680 kWh £1,357 £168 £1,525 £19,207 12.6 yrs £11,294
7 kW 7841 kWh 5881 kWh 1960 kWh £1,583 £196 £1,779 £21,242 11.9 yrs £14,343
8 kW 8962 kWh 6721 kWh 2240 kWh £1,809 £224 £2,033 £23,276 11.4 yrs £17,392

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: £1,290, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2240 kWh 1725 kWh 515 kWh £464 £52 £516 £13,519 26.2 yrs £-3,200
3 kW 3361 kWh 2588 kWh 773 kWh £697 £77 £774 £15,554 20.1 yrs £-76
4 kW 4481 kWh 3450 kWh 1031 kWh £929 £103 £1,032 £17,588 17.0 yrs £3,049
5 kW 5601 kWh 4313 kWh 1288 kWh £1,161 £129 £1,290 £19,623 15.2 yrs £6,174
6 kW 6721 kWh 5175 kWh 1546 kWh £1,393 £155 £1,548 £21,657 14.0 yrs £9,299
7 kW 7841 kWh 6038 kWh 1804 kWh £1,625 £180 £1,806 £23,692 13.1 yrs £12,424
8 kW 8962 kWh 6900 kWh 2061 kWh £1,858 £206 £2,064 £25,726 12.5 yrs £15,549

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 BN2

Figures below are tailored to BN2 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1862 of 2182
4.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #19 of 2997
9.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,081 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #571 of 2997
16.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,081 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1120kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1120 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

⚠️ This area is predominantly flats. Many residents require freeholder approval for solar installations. System size shown reflects houses and bungalows only.

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 38% • Flats: 50% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 29,361 properties

Coverage

Brighton and Hove (98%)|Lewes (2%)

Areas Covered

Queen's Park, Rottingdean & West Saltdean, Hanover & Elm Grove, West Hill & North Laine, Kemptown, Whitehawk & Marina, Moulsecoomb & Bevendean, Woodingdean + 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 South East

BN50 (Brighton and Hove)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,118 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN2
BN88 (Brighton and Hove)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,120 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN2
BN1 (Brighton and Hove)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,118 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN2
BN52 (Brighton and Hove)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,113 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BN2
BN3 (Brighton and Hove)
≈3.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,113 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BN2
BN51 (Brighton and Hove)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,137 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BN2

Similar sunshine across the UK

PO20 (Chichester)
~1,122 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN2
TQ7 (South Hams)
~1,123 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN2
PO38 (Isle of Wight)
~1,125 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN2