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Solar panel cost in Eastbourne (BN23)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for BN23 (Eastbourne) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

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
8.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£939
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,325
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: The official cost per kW is lower above 4 kW, so a 5–6 kW system can pay back a little faster than a 3–4 kW system on otherwise identical assumptions.
  • 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

Panel costs: Uses March 2026 TIC mean installation costs: £1,827/kW up to 4 kW and £1,628/kW above 4 kW.

Other costs: Battery prices are modelled at £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 26.67p/kWh with a 54.45p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1126 kWh/kW — 97 above the regional median (1029).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1126 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.7p/kWh
Standing charge
54.5p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1126 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: £8,139, Break-even: 8.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2252 kWh 901 kWh 1351 kWh £240 £135 £375 £3,256 8.7 yrs £4,253
3 kW 3379 kWh 1351 kWh 2027 kWh £360 £203 £563 £4,883 8.7 yrs £6,379
4 kW 4505 kWh 1802 kWh 2703 kWh £481 £270 £751 £6,511 8.7 yrs £8,506
5 kW 5631 kWh 2252 kWh 3379 kWh £601 £338 £939 £8,139 8.7 yrs £10,632
6 kW 6757 kWh 2703 kWh 4054 kWh £721 £405 £1,126 £9,767 8.7 yrs £12,759
7 kW 7883 kWh 3153 kWh 4730 kWh £841 £473 £1,314 £11,394 8.7 yrs £14,885
8 kW 9009 kWh 3604 kWh 5406 kWh £961 £541 £1,502 £13,022 8.7 yrs £17,012

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,126, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 9.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2252 kWh 1351 kWh 901 kWh £360 £90 £451 £5,356 11.9 yrs £3,655
3 kW 3379 kWh 2027 kWh 1351 kWh £541 £135 £676 £6,983 10.3 yrs £6,532
4 kW 4505 kWh 2703 kWh 1802 kWh £721 £180 £901 £8,611 9.6 yrs £9,409
5 kW 5631 kWh 3379 kWh 2252 kWh £901 £225 £1,126 £10,239 9.1 yrs £12,287
6 kW 6757 kWh 4054 kWh 2703 kWh £1,081 £270 £1,352 £11,867 8.8 yrs £15,164
7 kW 7883 kWh 4730 kWh 3153 kWh £1,261 £315 £1,577 £13,494 8.6 yrs £18,042
8 kW 9009 kWh 5406 kWh 3604 kWh £1,442 £360 £1,802 £15,122 8.4 yrs £20,919

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,220, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 9.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2252 kWh 1577 kWh 676 kWh £420 £68 £488 £6,756 13.8 yrs £3,006
3 kW 3379 kWh 2365 kWh 1014 kWh £631 £101 £732 £8,383 11.5 yrs £6,259
4 kW 4505 kWh 3153 kWh 1351 kWh £841 £135 £976 £10,011 10.3 yrs £9,511
5 kW 5631 kWh 3942 kWh 1689 kWh £1,051 £169 £1,220 £11,639 9.5 yrs £12,764
6 kW 6757 kWh 4730 kWh 2027 kWh £1,261 £203 £1,464 £13,267 9.1 yrs £16,017
7 kW 7883 kWh 5518 kWh 2365 kWh £1,472 £236 £1,708 £14,894 8.7 yrs £19,270
8 kW 9009 kWh 6307 kWh 2703 kWh £1,682 £270 £1,952 £16,522 8.5 yrs £22,523

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,248, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 10.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2252 kWh 1644 kWh 608 kWh £439 £61 £499 £8,506 17.0 yrs £1,481
3 kW 3379 kWh 2466 kWh 912 kWh £658 £91 £749 £10,133 13.5 yrs £4,846
4 kW 4505 kWh 3288 kWh 1216 kWh £877 £122 £999 £11,761 11.8 yrs £8,212
5 kW 5631 kWh 4111 kWh 1520 kWh £1,096 £152 £1,248 £13,389 10.7 yrs £11,577
6 kW 6757 kWh 4933 kWh 1824 kWh £1,316 £182 £1,498 £15,017 10.0 yrs £14,943
7 kW 7883 kWh 5755 kWh 2128 kWh £1,535 £213 £1,748 £16,644 9.5 yrs £18,308
8 kW 9009 kWh 6577 kWh 2433 kWh £1,754 £243 £1,997 £18,272 9.1 yrs £21,674

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,267, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2252 kWh 1689 kWh 563 kWh £451 £56 £507 £10,256 20.2 yrs £-119
3 kW 3379 kWh 2534 kWh 845 kWh £676 £84 £760 £11,883 15.6 yrs £3,322
4 kW 4505 kWh 3379 kWh 1126 kWh £901 £113 £1,014 £13,511 13.3 yrs £6,762
5 kW 5631 kWh 4223 kWh 1408 kWh £1,126 £141 £1,267 £15,139 11.9 yrs £10,203
6 kW 6757 kWh 5068 kWh 1689 kWh £1,352 £169 £1,520 £16,767 11.0 yrs £13,643
7 kW 7883 kWh 5912 kWh 1971 kWh £1,577 £197 £1,774 £18,394 10.4 yrs £17,084
8 kW 9009 kWh 6757 kWh 2252 kWh £1,802 £225 £2,027 £20,022 9.9 yrs £20,525

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,286, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2252 kWh 1734 kWh 518 kWh £463 £52 £514 £12,706 24.7 yrs £-2,419
3 kW 3379 kWh 2601 kWh 777 kWh £694 £78 £772 £14,333 18.6 yrs £1,097
4 kW 4505 kWh 3469 kWh 1036 kWh £925 £104 £1,029 £15,961 15.5 yrs £4,613
5 kW 5631 kWh 4336 kWh 1295 kWh £1,156 £130 £1,286 £17,589 13.7 yrs £8,128
6 kW 6757 kWh 5203 kWh 1554 kWh £1,388 £155 £1,543 £19,217 12.5 yrs £11,644
7 kW 7883 kWh 6070 kWh 1813 kWh £1,619 £181 £1,800 £20,844 11.6 yrs £15,160
8 kW 9009 kWh 6937 kWh 2072 kWh £1,850 £207 £2,057 £22,472 10.9 yrs £18,675

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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.

Before you request quotes in Eastbourne

Use the numbers above to sanity-check installer quotes. The main things to compare are system size, battery assumptions, payback claims, MCS certification, DNO paperwork and export assumptions.

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Check what MCS certification means

Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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This is a practical sanity-check request, not an instant quote promise. The Blue Ape quote route above remains available if you already want installer introductions.

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Insights for BN23

Figures below are tailored to BN23 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1135 of 2182
4.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #21 of 2996
8.7 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£938 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #733 of 2996
21.2% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£199 fixed • ~£938 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.6% West −23.5%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in BN23

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 41 Jan 56 Feb 96 Mar 128 Apr 136 May 142 Jun 142 Jul 126 Aug 105 Sep 72 Oct 45 Nov 37 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 47.7% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: Jul / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 45 kWh per month; the average month produces around 94 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 179 kWh in winter, or 375 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.67p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
54.45p/day
Local Sunshine
1126kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1126 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 55% • Flats: 30% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 7,242 properties

Coverage

Eastbourne (92%)|Wealden (8%)

Areas Covered

Sovereign, Langney, St Anthony's, Herstmonceux & Pevensey Levels, Hampden Park, Stone Cross

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q3 2026

Installation costs: DESNZ/MCS data, March 2026 (TIC)

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

BN24 (Wealden)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,137 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BN23
BN22 (Eastbourne)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,138 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BN23
BN21 (Eastbourne)
≈4.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,135 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BN23
BN20 (Eastbourne)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,141 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BN23
BN26 (Wealden)
≈5.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,155 kWh/kWp · +3% vs BN23
BN27 (Wealden)
≈8.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,134 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BN23

Similar sunshine across the UK

PO38 (Isle of Wight)
~1,125 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN23
PO22 (Arun)
~1,128 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN23
TQ7 (South Hams)
~1,123 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN23