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 BN9 (Lewes)

See if solar pays off for you in Lewes — 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
10.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£954
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,680
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 1138 kWh/kW — 109 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 1138 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)
1138 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: £954, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2276 kWh 910 kWh 1366 kWh £245 £137 £382 £4,069 10.7 yrs £3,564
3 kW 3414 kWh 1366 kWh 2048 kWh £368 £205 £572 £6,104 10.7 yrs £5,345
4 kW 4552 kWh 1821 kWh 2731 kWh £490 £273 £763 £8,138 10.7 yrs £7,127
5 kW 5690 kWh 2276 kWh 3414 kWh £613 £341 £954 £10,173 10.7 yrs £8,909
6 kW 6828 kWh 2731 kWh 4097 kWh £735 £410 £1,145 £12,207 10.7 yrs £10,691
7 kW 7966 kWh 3186 kWh 4780 kWh £858 £478 £1,336 £14,242 10.7 yrs £12,473
8 kW 9104 kWh 3642 kWh 5462 kWh £980 £546 £1,527 £16,276 10.7 yrs £14,255

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: £1,147, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2276 kWh 1366 kWh 910 kWh £368 £91 £459 £6,169 13.5 yrs £3,004
3 kW 3414 kWh 2048 kWh 1366 kWh £551 £137 £688 £8,204 11.9 yrs £5,556
4 kW 4552 kWh 2731 kWh 1821 kWh £735 £182 £917 £10,238 11.2 yrs £8,108
5 kW 5690 kWh 3414 kWh 2276 kWh £919 £228 £1,147 £12,273 10.7 yrs £10,660
6 kW 6828 kWh 4097 kWh 2731 kWh £1,103 £273 £1,376 £14,307 10.4 yrs £13,212
7 kW 7966 kWh 4780 kWh 3186 kWh £1,287 £319 £1,605 £16,342 10.2 yrs £15,764
8 kW 9104 kWh 5462 kWh 3642 kWh £1,470 £364 £1,835 £18,376 10.0 yrs £18,316

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: £1,243, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2276 kWh 1593 kWh 683 kWh £429 £68 £497 £7,569 15.2 yrs £2,374
3 kW 3414 kWh 2390 kWh 1024 kWh £643 £102 £746 £9,604 12.9 yrs £5,311
4 kW 4552 kWh 3186 kWh 1366 kWh £858 £137 £994 £11,638 11.7 yrs £8,248
5 kW 5690 kWh 3983 kWh 1707 kWh £1,072 £171 £1,243 £13,673 11.0 yrs £11,185
6 kW 6828 kWh 4780 kWh 2048 kWh £1,287 £205 £1,491 £15,707 10.5 yrs £14,123
7 kW 7966 kWh 5576 kWh 2390 kWh £1,501 £239 £1,740 £17,742 10.2 yrs £17,060
8 kW 9104 kWh 6373 kWh 2731 kWh £1,716 £273 £1,989 £19,776 9.9 yrs £19,997

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: £1,272, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2276 kWh 1661 kWh 615 kWh £447 £61 £509 £9,319 18.3 yrs £855
3 kW 3414 kWh 2492 kWh 922 kWh £671 £92 £763 £11,354 14.9 yrs £3,908
4 kW 4552 kWh 3323 kWh 1229 kWh £895 £123 £1,017 £13,388 13.2 yrs £6,960
5 kW 5690 kWh 4154 kWh 1536 kWh £1,118 £154 £1,272 £15,423 12.1 yrs £10,013
6 kW 6828 kWh 4984 kWh 1844 kWh £1,342 £184 £1,526 £17,457 11.4 yrs £13,066
7 kW 7966 kWh 5815 kWh 2151 kWh £1,565 £215 £1,780 £19,492 10.9 yrs £16,118
8 kW 9104 kWh 6646 kWh 2458 kWh £1,789 £246 £2,035 £21,526 10.6 yrs £19,171

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: £1,291, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2276 kWh 1707 kWh 569 kWh £460 £57 £516 £11,069 21.4 yrs £-741
3 kW 3414 kWh 2560 kWh 853 kWh £689 £85 £775 £13,104 16.9 yrs £2,389
4 kW 4552 kWh 3414 kWh 1138 kWh £919 £114 £1,033 £15,138 14.7 yrs £5,519
5 kW 5690 kWh 4267 kWh 1422 kWh £1,149 £142 £1,291 £17,173 13.3 yrs £8,648
6 kW 6828 kWh 5121 kWh 1707 kWh £1,379 £171 £1,549 £19,207 12.4 yrs £11,778
7 kW 7966 kWh 5974 kWh 1991 kWh £1,608 £199 £1,807 £21,242 11.8 yrs £14,908
8 kW 9104 kWh 6828 kWh 2276 kWh £1,838 £228 £2,066 £23,276 11.3 yrs £18,037

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: £1,310, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2276 kWh 1752 kWh 523 kWh £472 £52 £524 £13,519 25.8 yrs £-3,037
3 kW 3414 kWh 2629 kWh 785 kWh £708 £79 £786 £15,554 19.8 yrs £170
4 kW 4552 kWh 3505 kWh 1047 kWh £944 £105 £1,048 £17,588 16.8 yrs £3,377
5 kW 5690 kWh 4381 kWh 1309 kWh £1,179 £131 £1,310 £19,623 15.0 yrs £6,583
6 kW 6828 kWh 5257 kWh 1570 kWh £1,415 £157 £1,572 £21,657 13.8 yrs £9,790
7 kW 7966 kWh 6134 kWh 1832 kWh £1,651 £183 £1,834 £23,692 12.9 yrs £12,997
8 kW 9104 kWh 7010 kWh 2094 kWh £1,887 £209 £2,096 £25,726 12.3 yrs £16,203

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 BN9

Figures below are tailored to BN9 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1236 of 2182
4.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #10 of 2997
9.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,098 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #539 of 2997
15.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,098 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1138kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1138 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: 30% • Bungalows: 11% Based on 4,062 properties

Coverage

Lewes (100%)

Areas Covered

Newhaven South, Newhaven North, Peacehaven West, Peacehaven East, East Saltdean & Telscombe Cliffs, Peacehaven North, Ouse Valley & Ringmer, Kingston

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

BN10 (Lewes)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,123 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BN9
BN25 (Lewes)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,131 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BN9
BN51 (Brighton and Hove)
≈6.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,137 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN9
BN7 (Lewes)
≈9.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,126 kWh/kWp · -1% vs BN9
BN2 (Brighton and Hove)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,120 kWh/kWp · -2% vs BN9
BN8 (Lewes)
≈12.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,067 kWh/kWp · -6% vs BN9

Similar sunshine across the UK

PO19 (Chichester)
~1,138 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN9
PO30 (Isle of Wight)
~1,133 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN9
PO10 (Havant)
~1,133 kWh/kWp · -0% vs BN9