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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BN45 (Mid Sussex)

See if solar pays off for you in Mid Sussex — 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
11.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,074
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,652
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 1068 kWh/kW — 39 above the regional median (1029).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1068 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)
1068 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: £895, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2136 kWh 854 kWh 1281 kWh £230 £128 £358 £4,069 11.4 yrs £3,093
3 kW 3204 kWh 1281 kWh 1922 kWh £345 £192 £537 £6,104 11.4 yrs £4,640
4 kW 4271 kWh 1709 kWh 2563 kWh £460 £256 £716 £8,138 11.4 yrs £6,187
5 kW 5339 kWh 2136 kWh 3204 kWh £575 £320 £895 £10,173 11.4 yrs £7,733
6 kW 6407 kWh 2563 kWh 3844 kWh £690 £384 £1,074 £12,207 11.4 yrs £9,280
7 kW 7475 kWh 2990 kWh 4485 kWh £805 £449 £1,253 £14,242 11.4 yrs £10,827
8 kW 8543 kWh 3417 kWh 5126 kWh £920 £513 £1,432 £16,276 11.4 yrs £12,373

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: £1,076, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2136 kWh 1281 kWh 854 kWh £345 £85 £430 £6,169 14.3 yrs £2,439
3 kW 3204 kWh 1922 kWh 1281 kWh £517 £128 £646 £8,204 12.7 yrs £4,708
4 kW 4271 kWh 2563 kWh 1709 kWh £690 £171 £861 £10,238 11.9 yrs £6,978
5 kW 5339 kWh 3204 kWh 2136 kWh £862 £214 £1,076 £12,273 11.4 yrs £9,247
6 kW 6407 kWh 3844 kWh 2563 kWh £1,035 £256 £1,291 £14,307 11.1 yrs £11,516
7 kW 7475 kWh 4485 kWh 2990 kWh £1,207 £299 £1,506 £16,342 10.8 yrs £13,786
8 kW 8543 kWh 5126 kWh 3417 kWh £1,380 £342 £1,722 £18,376 10.7 yrs £16,055

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: £1,166, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2136 kWh 1495 kWh 641 kWh £402 £64 £467 £7,569 16.2 yrs £1,762
3 kW 3204 kWh 2243 kWh 961 kWh £604 £96 £700 £9,604 13.7 yrs £4,392
4 kW 4271 kWh 2990 kWh 1281 kWh £805 £128 £933 £11,638 12.5 yrs £7,023
5 kW 5339 kWh 3738 kWh 1602 kWh £1,006 £160 £1,166 £13,673 11.7 yrs £9,654
6 kW 6407 kWh 4485 kWh 1922 kWh £1,207 £192 £1,400 £15,707 11.2 yrs £12,285
7 kW 7475 kWh 5233 kWh 2243 kWh £1,409 £224 £1,633 £17,742 10.9 yrs £14,915
8 kW 8543 kWh 5980 kWh 2563 kWh £1,610 £256 £1,866 £19,776 10.6 yrs £17,546

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: £1,193, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2136 kWh 1559 kWh 577 kWh £420 £58 £477 £9,319 19.5 yrs £228
3 kW 3204 kWh 2339 kWh 865 kWh £630 £86 £716 £11,354 15.9 yrs £2,967
4 kW 4271 kWh 3118 kWh 1153 kWh £839 £115 £955 £13,388 14.0 yrs £5,707
5 kW 5339 kWh 3898 kWh 1442 kWh £1,049 £144 £1,193 £15,423 12.9 yrs £8,446
6 kW 6407 kWh 4677 kWh 1730 kWh £1,259 £173 £1,432 £17,457 12.2 yrs £11,185
7 kW 7475 kWh 5457 kWh 2018 kWh £1,469 £202 £1,671 £19,492 11.7 yrs £13,924
8 kW 8543 kWh 6236 kWh 2307 kWh £1,679 £231 £1,909 £21,526 11.3 yrs £16,663

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: £1,211, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2136 kWh 1602 kWh 534 kWh £431 £53 £485 £11,069 22.8 yrs £-1,377
3 kW 3204 kWh 2403 kWh 801 kWh £647 £80 £727 £13,104 18.0 yrs £1,434
4 kW 4271 kWh 3204 kWh 1068 kWh £862 £107 £969 £15,138 15.6 yrs £4,246
5 kW 5339 kWh 4004 kWh 1335 kWh £1,078 £133 £1,211 £17,173 14.2 yrs £7,057
6 kW 6407 kWh 4805 kWh 1602 kWh £1,294 £160 £1,454 £19,207 13.2 yrs £9,869
7 kW 7475 kWh 5606 kWh 1869 kWh £1,509 £187 £1,696 £21,242 12.5 yrs £12,680
8 kW 8543 kWh 6407 kWh 2136 kWh £1,725 £214 £1,938 £23,276 12.0 yrs £15,492

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: £1,230, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2136 kWh 1645 kWh 491 kWh £443 £49 £492 £13,519 27.5 yrs £-3,683
3 kW 3204 kWh 2467 kWh 737 kWh £664 £74 £738 £15,554 21.1 yrs £-799
4 kW 4271 kWh 3289 kWh 982 kWh £885 £98 £984 £17,588 17.9 yrs £2,085
5 kW 5339 kWh 4111 kWh 1228 kWh £1,107 £123 £1,230 £19,623 16.0 yrs £4,969
6 kW 6407 kWh 4934 kWh 1474 kWh £1,328 £147 £1,475 £21,657 14.7 yrs £7,852
7 kW 7475 kWh 5756 kWh 1719 kWh £1,549 £172 £1,721 £23,692 13.8 yrs £10,736
8 kW 8543 kWh 6578 kWh 1965 kWh £1,771 £196 £1,967 £25,726 13.1 yrs £13,620

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 BN45

Figures below are tailored to BN45 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #355 of 2182
5.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #153 of 2997
9.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,237 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #86 of 2997
14.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,237 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1068kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1068 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 84% • Flats: 11% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 166 properties

Coverage

Mid Sussex (88%)|Brighton and Hove (12%)

Areas Covered

Downland Villages, West Hill & North Laine, Westdene & Hove Park

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

BN6 (Mid Sussex)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,084 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BN45
BN5 (Horsham)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,083 kWh/kWp · +1% vs BN45
BN41 (Brighton and Hove)
≈6.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · +4% vs BN45
BN3 (Brighton and Hove)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,113 kWh/kWp · +4% vs BN45
BN52 (Brighton and Hove)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,113 kWh/kWp · +4% vs BN45
BN42 (Adur)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · +4% vs BN45

Similar sunshine across the UK

IP10 (East Suffolk)
~1,068 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN45
SS22 (Southend-on-Sea)
~1,068 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN45
SO42 (New Forest)
~1,068 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN45