Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in BN5 (Horsham)

See if solar pays off for you in Horsham — 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
11.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,089
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,023
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 1083 kWh/kW — 54 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 1083 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)
1083 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: £908, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2165 kWh 866 kWh 1299 kWh £233 £130 £363 £4,069 11.2 yrs £3,192
3 kW 3248 kWh 1299 kWh 1949 kWh £350 £195 £545 £6,104 11.2 yrs £4,789
4 kW 4331 kWh 1732 kWh 2598 kWh £466 £260 £726 £8,138 11.2 yrs £6,385
5 kW 5413 kWh 2165 kWh 3248 kWh £583 £325 £908 £10,173 11.2 yrs £7,981
6 kW 6496 kWh 2598 kWh 3897 kWh £699 £390 £1,089 £12,207 11.2 yrs £9,577
7 kW 7578 kWh 3031 kWh 4547 kWh £816 £455 £1,271 £14,242 11.2 yrs £11,173
8 kW 8661 kWh 3464 kWh 5197 kWh £933 £520 £1,452 £16,276 11.2 yrs £12,770

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: £1,091, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2165 kWh 1299 kWh 866 kWh £350 £87 £436 £6,169 14.1 yrs £2,558
3 kW 3248 kWh 1949 kWh 1299 kWh £525 £130 £655 £8,204 12.5 yrs £4,887
4 kW 4331 kWh 2598 kWh 1732 kWh £699 £173 £873 £10,238 11.7 yrs £7,216
5 kW 5413 kWh 3248 kWh 2165 kWh £874 £217 £1,091 £12,273 11.3 yrs £9,545
6 kW 6496 kWh 3897 kWh 2598 kWh £1,049 £260 £1,309 £14,307 10.9 yrs £11,874
7 kW 7578 kWh 4547 kWh 3031 kWh £1,224 £303 £1,527 £16,342 10.7 yrs £14,202
8 kW 8661 kWh 5197 kWh 3464 kWh £1,399 £346 £1,745 £18,376 10.5 yrs £16,531

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: £1,182, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2165 kWh 1516 kWh 650 kWh £408 £65 £473 £7,569 16.0 yrs £1,891
3 kW 3248 kWh 2274 kWh 974 kWh £612 £97 £709 £9,604 13.5 yrs £4,586
4 kW 4331 kWh 3031 kWh 1299 kWh £816 £130 £946 £11,638 12.3 yrs £7,281
5 kW 5413 kWh 3789 kWh 1624 kWh £1,020 £162 £1,182 £13,673 11.6 yrs £9,976
6 kW 6496 kWh 4547 kWh 1949 kWh £1,224 £195 £1,419 £15,707 11.1 yrs £12,672
7 kW 7578 kWh 5305 kWh 2274 kWh £1,428 £227 £1,655 £17,742 10.7 yrs £15,367
8 kW 8661 kWh 6063 kWh 2598 kWh £1,632 £260 £1,892 £19,776 10.5 yrs £18,062

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: £1,210, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2165 kWh 1581 kWh 585 kWh £426 £58 £484 £9,319 19.3 yrs £360
3 kW 3248 kWh 2371 kWh 877 kWh £638 £88 £726 £11,354 15.6 yrs £3,166
4 kW 4331 kWh 3161 kWh 1169 kWh £851 £117 £968 £13,388 13.8 yrs £5,971
5 kW 5413 kWh 3952 kWh 1462 kWh £1,064 £146 £1,210 £15,423 12.7 yrs £8,776
6 kW 6496 kWh 4742 kWh 1754 kWh £1,277 £175 £1,452 £17,457 12.0 yrs £11,581
7 kW 7578 kWh 5532 kWh 2046 kWh £1,489 £205 £1,694 £19,492 11.5 yrs £14,386
8 kW 8661 kWh 6323 kWh 2338 kWh £1,702 £234 £1,936 £21,526 11.1 yrs £17,192

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: £1,228, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2165 kWh 1624 kWh 541 kWh £437 £54 £491 £11,069 22.5 yrs £-1,243
3 kW 3248 kWh 2436 kWh 812 kWh £656 £81 £737 £13,104 17.8 yrs £1,635
4 kW 4331 kWh 3248 kWh 1083 kWh £874 £108 £983 £15,138 15.4 yrs £4,514
5 kW 5413 kWh 4060 kWh 1353 kWh £1,093 £135 £1,228 £17,173 14.0 yrs £7,392
6 kW 6496 kWh 4872 kWh 1624 kWh £1,311 £162 £1,474 £19,207 13.0 yrs £10,271
7 kW 7578 kWh 5684 kWh 1895 kWh £1,530 £189 £1,720 £21,242 12.4 yrs £13,149
8 kW 8661 kWh 6496 kWh 2165 kWh £1,749 £217 £1,965 £23,276 11.8 yrs £16,028

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: £1,247, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2165 kWh 1667 kWh 498 kWh £449 £50 £499 £13,519 27.1 yrs £-3,547
3 kW 3248 kWh 2501 kWh 747 kWh £673 £75 £748 £15,554 20.8 yrs £-595
4 kW 4331 kWh 3335 kWh 996 kWh £898 £100 £997 £17,588 17.6 yrs £2,357
5 kW 5413 kWh 4168 kWh 1245 kWh £1,122 £125 £1,247 £19,623 15.7 yrs £5,309
6 kW 6496 kWh 5002 kWh 1494 kWh £1,346 £149 £1,496 £21,657 14.5 yrs £8,260
7 kW 7578 kWh 5835 kWh 1743 kWh £1,571 £174 £1,745 £23,692 13.6 yrs £11,212
8 kW 8661 kWh 6669 kWh 1992 kWh £1,795 £199 £1,994 £25,726 12.9 yrs £14,164

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 BN5

Figures below are tailored to BN5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #396 of 2182
5.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #81 of 2997
9.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,254 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #82 of 2997
13.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,254 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1083kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1083 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: 64% • Flats: 17% • Bungalows: 19% Based on 2,124 properties

Coverage

Horsham (96%)|Mid Sussex (4%)

Areas Covered

Henfield, Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote, Downland Villages, Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead

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

BN44 (Horsham)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,086 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN5
BN45 (Mid Sussex)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,068 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BN5
BN6 (Mid Sussex)
≈8.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,084 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN5
BN4 (Adur)
≈9.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · +3% vs BN5
RH15 (Mid Sussex)
≈9.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,060 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BN5
BN43 (Adur)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,109 kWh/kWp · +2% vs BN5

Similar sunshine across the UK

SS5 (Rochford)
~1,083 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN5
TR19 (Cornwall)
~1,083 kWh/kWp · +0% vs BN5
TR13 (Cornwall)
~1,082 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN5