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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CM12 (Basildon)

See if solar pays off for you in Basildon — 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
11.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,030
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,540
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 Eastern, the current unit rate is 26.53p/kWh with a 48.25p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1033 kWh/kW — 24 above the regional median (1009).

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 1033 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
48.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1033 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: £858, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2067 kWh 827 kWh 1240 kWh £219 £124 £343 £4,069 11.9 yrs £2,797
3 kW 3100 kWh 1240 kWh 1860 kWh £329 £186 £515 £6,104 11.9 yrs £4,195
4 kW 4133 kWh 1653 kWh 2480 kWh £439 £248 £687 £8,138 11.9 yrs £5,594
5 kW 5166 kWh 2067 kWh 3100 kWh £548 £310 £858 £10,173 11.9 yrs £6,992
6 kW 6200 kWh 2480 kWh 3720 kWh £658 £372 £1,030 £12,207 11.9 yrs £8,391
7 kW 7233 kWh 2893 kWh 4340 kWh £768 £434 £1,202 £14,242 11.9 yrs £9,789
8 kW 8266 kWh 3306 kWh 4960 kWh £877 £496 £1,373 £16,276 11.9 yrs £11,188

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: £1,029, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2067 kWh 1240 kWh 827 kWh £329 £83 £412 £6,169 15.0 yrs £2,063
3 kW 3100 kWh 1860 kWh 1240 kWh £493 £124 £617 £8,204 13.3 yrs £4,145
4 kW 4133 kWh 2480 kWh 1653 kWh £658 £165 £823 £10,238 12.4 yrs £6,227
5 kW 5166 kWh 3100 kWh 2067 kWh £822 £207 £1,029 £12,273 11.9 yrs £8,308
6 kW 6200 kWh 3720 kWh 2480 kWh £987 £248 £1,235 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,390
7 kW 7233 kWh 4340 kWh 2893 kWh £1,151 £289 £1,441 £16,342 11.3 yrs £12,472
8 kW 8266 kWh 4960 kWh 3306 kWh £1,316 £331 £1,646 £18,376 11.2 yrs £14,553

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: £1,114, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2067 kWh 1447 kWh 620 kWh £384 £62 £446 £7,569 17.0 yrs £1,347
3 kW 3100 kWh 2170 kWh 930 kWh £576 £93 £669 £9,604 14.4 yrs £3,770
4 kW 4133 kWh 2893 kWh 1240 kWh £768 £124 £892 £11,638 13.1 yrs £6,193
5 kW 5166 kWh 3616 kWh 1550 kWh £959 £155 £1,114 £13,673 12.3 yrs £8,616
6 kW 6200 kWh 4340 kWh 1860 kWh £1,151 £186 £1,337 £15,707 11.7 yrs £11,040
7 kW 7233 kWh 5063 kWh 2170 kWh £1,343 £217 £1,560 £17,742 11.4 yrs £13,463
8 kW 8266 kWh 5786 kWh 2480 kWh £1,535 £248 £1,783 £19,776 11.1 yrs £15,886

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: £1,140, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2067 kWh 1509 kWh 558 kWh £400 £56 £456 £9,319 20.4 yrs £-199
3 kW 3100 kWh 2263 kWh 837 kWh £600 £84 £684 £11,354 16.6 yrs £2,327
4 kW 4133 kWh 3017 kWh 1116 kWh £800 £112 £912 £13,388 14.7 yrs £4,853
5 kW 5166 kWh 3771 kWh 1395 kWh £1,001 £139 £1,140 £15,423 13.5 yrs £7,379
6 kW 6200 kWh 4526 kWh 1674 kWh £1,201 £167 £1,368 £17,457 12.8 yrs £9,904
7 kW 7233 kWh 5280 kWh 1953 kWh £1,401 £195 £1,596 £19,492 12.2 yrs £12,430
8 kW 8266 kWh 6034 kWh 2232 kWh £1,601 £223 £1,824 £21,526 11.8 yrs £14,956

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: £1,157, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2067 kWh 1550 kWh 517 kWh £411 £52 £463 £11,069 23.9 yrs £-1,812
3 kW 3100 kWh 2325 kWh 775 kWh £617 £77 £694 £13,104 18.9 yrs £782
4 kW 4133 kWh 3100 kWh 1033 kWh £822 £103 £926 £15,138 16.4 yrs £3,376
5 kW 5166 kWh 3875 kWh 1292 kWh £1,028 £129 £1,157 £17,173 14.8 yrs £5,970
6 kW 6200 kWh 4650 kWh 1550 kWh £1,234 £155 £1,389 £19,207 13.8 yrs £8,564
7 kW 7233 kWh 5425 kWh 1808 kWh £1,439 £181 £1,620 £21,242 13.1 yrs £11,158
8 kW 8266 kWh 6200 kWh 2067 kWh £1,645 £207 £1,851 £23,276 12.6 yrs £13,753

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: £1,174, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2067 kWh 1591 kWh 475 kWh £422 £48 £470 £13,519 28.8 yrs £-4,125
3 kW 3100 kWh 2387 kWh 713 kWh £633 £71 £705 £15,554 22.1 yrs £-1,463
4 kW 4133 kWh 3183 kWh 951 kWh £844 £95 £939 £17,588 18.7 yrs £1,200
5 kW 5166 kWh 3978 kWh 1188 kWh £1,055 £119 £1,174 £19,623 16.7 yrs £3,862
6 kW 6200 kWh 4774 kWh 1426 kWh £1,266 £143 £1,409 £21,657 15.4 yrs £6,524
7 kW 7233 kWh 5569 kWh 1664 kWh £1,478 £166 £1,644 £23,692 14.4 yrs £9,187
8 kW 8266 kWh 6365 kWh 1901 kWh £1,689 £190 £1,879 £25,726 13.7 yrs £11,849

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 CM12

Figures below are tailored to CM12 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #750 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #308 of 2997
10.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,184 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #236 of 2997
14.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,184 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1033kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1033 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: 66% • Flats: 19% • Bungalows: 12% Based on 4,757 properties

Coverage

Basildon (100%)

Areas Covered

Billericay East, Billericay West, Burstead, Herongate, Ingrave & West Horndon, Ingatestone, Fryerning & Mountnessing

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 Eastern

CM11 (Basildon)
≈1.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM12
CM13 (Brentwood)
≈5.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,025 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM12
SS15 (Basildon)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,035 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM12
CM4 (Brentwood)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,023 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM12
SS14 (Basildon)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM12
SS16 (Basildon)
≈7.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM12

Similar sunshine across the UK

CF33 (Bridgend)
~1,033 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM12
RH17 (Mid Sussex)
~1,033 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM12
TN10 (Tonbridge and Malling)
~1,034 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM12