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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BN41 (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
10.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£931
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,093
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 1110 kWh/kW — 81 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 1110 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)
1110 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: £931, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2220 kWh 888 kWh 1332 kWh £239 £133 £372 £4,069 10.9 yrs £3,376
3 kW 3330 kWh 1332 kWh 1998 kWh £359 £200 £558 £6,104 10.9 yrs £5,064
4 kW 4440 kWh 1776 kWh 2664 kWh £478 £266 £745 £8,138 10.9 yrs £6,752
5 kW 5550 kWh 2220 kWh 3330 kWh £598 £333 £931 £10,173 10.9 yrs £8,440
6 kW 6660 kWh 2664 kWh 3996 kWh £717 £400 £1,117 £12,207 10.9 yrs £10,128
7 kW 7770 kWh 3108 kWh 4662 kWh £837 £466 £1,303 £14,242 10.9 yrs £11,816
8 kW 8880 kWh 3552 kWh 5328 kWh £956 £533 £1,489 £16,276 10.9 yrs £13,504

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: £1,118, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2220 kWh 1332 kWh 888 kWh £359 £89 £447 £6,169 13.8 yrs £2,779
3 kW 3330 kWh 1998 kWh 1332 kWh £538 £133 £671 £8,204 12.2 yrs £5,218
4 kW 4440 kWh 2664 kWh 1776 kWh £717 £178 £895 £10,238 11.4 yrs £7,657
5 kW 5550 kWh 3330 kWh 2220 kWh £896 £222 £1,118 £12,273 11.0 yrs £10,096
6 kW 6660 kWh 3996 kWh 2664 kWh £1,076 £266 £1,342 £14,307 10.7 yrs £12,536
7 kW 7770 kWh 4662 kWh 3108 kWh £1,255 £311 £1,566 £16,342 10.4 yrs £14,975
8 kW 8880 kWh 5328 kWh 3552 kWh £1,434 £355 £1,790 £18,376 10.3 yrs £17,414

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: £1,212, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2220 kWh 1554 kWh 666 kWh £418 £67 £485 £7,569 15.6 yrs £2,130
3 kW 3330 kWh 2331 kWh 999 kWh £628 £100 £727 £9,604 13.2 yrs £4,945
4 kW 4440 kWh 3108 kWh 1332 kWh £837 £133 £970 £11,638 12.0 yrs £7,760
5 kW 5550 kWh 3885 kWh 1665 kWh £1,046 £167 £1,212 £13,673 11.3 yrs £10,575
6 kW 6660 kWh 4662 kWh 1998 kWh £1,255 £200 £1,455 £15,707 10.8 yrs £13,389
7 kW 7770 kWh 5439 kWh 2331 kWh £1,464 £233 £1,697 £17,742 10.5 yrs £16,204
8 kW 8880 kWh 6216 kWh 2664 kWh £1,673 £266 £1,940 £19,776 10.2 yrs £19,019

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: £1,241, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2220 kWh 1621 kWh 599 kWh £436 £60 £496 £9,319 18.8 yrs £605
3 kW 3330 kWh 2431 kWh 899 kWh £654 £90 £744 £11,354 15.3 yrs £3,533
4 kW 4440 kWh 3241 kWh 1199 kWh £873 £120 £992 £13,388 13.5 yrs £6,460
5 kW 5550 kWh 4052 kWh 1499 kWh £1,091 £150 £1,241 £15,423 12.4 yrs £9,388
6 kW 6660 kWh 4862 kWh 1798 kWh £1,309 £180 £1,489 £17,457 11.7 yrs £12,316
7 kW 7770 kWh 5672 kWh 2098 kWh £1,527 £210 £1,737 £19,492 11.2 yrs £15,243
8 kW 8880 kWh 6482 kWh 2398 kWh £1,745 £240 £1,985 £21,526 10.8 yrs £18,171

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: £1,259, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2220 kWh 1665 kWh 555 kWh £448 £56 £504 £11,069 22.0 yrs £-995
3 kW 3330 kWh 2498 kWh 833 kWh £672 £83 £756 £13,104 17.3 yrs £2,008
4 kW 4440 kWh 3330 kWh 1110 kWh £896 £111 £1,007 £15,138 15.0 yrs £5,011
5 kW 5550 kWh 4163 kWh 1388 kWh £1,121 £139 £1,259 £17,173 13.6 yrs £8,014
6 kW 6660 kWh 4995 kWh 1665 kWh £1,345 £167 £1,511 £19,207 12.7 yrs £11,016
7 kW 7770 kWh 5828 kWh 1943 kWh £1,569 £194 £1,763 £21,242 12.0 yrs £14,019
8 kW 8880 kWh 6660 kWh 2220 kWh £1,793 £222 £2,015 £23,276 11.6 yrs £17,022

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: £1,278, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2220 kWh 1709 kWh 511 kWh £460 £51 £511 £13,519 26.4 yrs £-3,294
3 kW 3330 kWh 2564 kWh 766 kWh £690 £77 £767 £15,554 20.3 yrs £-216
4 kW 4440 kWh 3419 kWh 1021 kWh £920 £102 £1,022 £17,588 17.2 yrs £2,861
5 kW 5550 kWh 4274 kWh 1277 kWh £1,150 £128 £1,278 £19,623 15.4 yrs £5,939
6 kW 6660 kWh 5128 kWh 1532 kWh £1,381 £153 £1,534 £21,657 14.1 yrs £9,017
7 kW 7770 kWh 5983 kWh 1787 kWh £1,611 £179 £1,789 £23,692 13.2 yrs £12,095
8 kW 8880 kWh 6838 kWh 2042 kWh £1,841 £204 £2,045 £25,726 12.6 yrs £15,173

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 BN41

Figures below are tailored to BN41 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1645 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #39 of 2997
9.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,071 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #588 of 2997
16.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,071 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1110kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1110 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: 56% • Flats: 29% • Bungalows: 12% Based on 5,060 properties

Coverage

Brighton and Hove (95%)|Adur (5%)

Areas Covered

South Portslade, North Portslade, Wish, Eastbrook, Southwick Green

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

BN42 (Adur)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN41
BN4 (Adur)
≈2.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN41
BN3 (Brighton and Hove)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,113 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN41
BN52 (Brighton and Hove)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,113 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN41
BN43 (Adur)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,109 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN41
BN1 (Brighton and Hove)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,118 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BN41

Similar sunshine across the UK

DT3 (Dorset)
~1,110 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN41
DT4 (Dorset)
~1,110 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN41
PO36 (Isle of Wight)
~1,110 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN41