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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CM14 (Brentwood)

See if solar pays off for you in Brentwood — 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
12.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£6,104
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£511
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,659
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 1024 kWh/kW — 15 above the regional median (1009).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1024 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)
1024 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: £851, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2049 kWh 819 kWh 1229 kWh £217 £123 £340 £4,069 12.0 yrs £2,738
3 kW 3073 kWh 1229 kWh 1844 kWh £326 £184 £511 £6,104 12.0 yrs £4,107
4 kW 4097 kWh 1639 kWh 2458 kWh £435 £246 £681 £8,138 12.0 yrs £5,475
5 kW 5122 kWh 2049 kWh 3073 kWh £544 £307 £851 £10,173 12.0 yrs £6,844
6 kW 6146 kWh 2458 kWh 3688 kWh £652 £369 £1,021 £12,207 12.0 yrs £8,213
7 kW 7171 kWh 2868 kWh 4302 kWh £761 £430 £1,191 £14,242 12.0 yrs £9,582
8 kW 8195 kWh 3278 kWh 4917 kWh £870 £492 £1,361 £16,276 12.0 yrs £10,951

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: £1,020, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2049 kWh 1229 kWh 819 kWh £326 £82 £408 £6,169 15.1 yrs £1,992
3 kW 3073 kWh 1844 kWh 1229 kWh £489 £123 £612 £8,204 13.4 yrs £4,039
4 kW 4097 kWh 2458 kWh 1639 kWh £652 £164 £816 £10,238 12.5 yrs £6,085
5 kW 5122 kWh 3073 kWh 2049 kWh £815 £205 £1,020 £12,273 12.0 yrs £8,131
6 kW 6146 kWh 3688 kWh 2458 kWh £978 £246 £1,224 £14,307 11.7 yrs £10,177
7 kW 7171 kWh 4302 kWh 2868 kWh £1,141 £287 £1,428 £16,342 11.4 yrs £12,223
8 kW 8195 kWh 4917 kWh 3278 kWh £1,304 £328 £1,632 £18,376 11.3 yrs £14,269

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: £1,105, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2049 kWh 1434 kWh 615 kWh £380 £61 £442 £7,569 17.1 yrs £1,270
3 kW 3073 kWh 2151 kWh 922 kWh £571 £92 £663 £9,604 14.5 yrs £3,654
4 kW 4097 kWh 2868 kWh 1229 kWh £761 £123 £884 £11,638 13.2 yrs £6,039
5 kW 5122 kWh 3585 kWh 1537 kWh £951 £154 £1,105 £13,673 12.4 yrs £8,424
6 kW 6146 kWh 4302 kWh 1844 kWh £1,141 £184 £1,326 £15,707 11.8 yrs £10,809
7 kW 7171 kWh 5019 kWh 2151 kWh £1,332 £215 £1,547 £17,742 11.5 yrs £13,194
8 kW 8195 kWh 5736 kWh 2458 kWh £1,522 £246 £1,768 £19,776 11.2 yrs £15,579

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: £1,130, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2049 kWh 1496 kWh 553 kWh £397 £55 £452 £9,319 20.6 yrs £-277
3 kW 3073 kWh 2243 kWh 830 kWh £595 £83 £678 £11,354 16.7 yrs £2,209
4 kW 4097 kWh 2991 kWh 1106 kWh £794 £111 £904 £13,388 14.8 yrs £4,696
5 kW 5122 kWh 3739 kWh 1383 kWh £992 £138 £1,130 £15,423 13.6 yrs £7,182
6 kW 6146 kWh 4487 kWh 1659 kWh £1,190 £166 £1,356 £17,457 12.9 yrs £9,669
7 kW 7171 kWh 5235 kWh 1936 kWh £1,389 £194 £1,582 £19,492 12.3 yrs £12,155
8 kW 8195 kWh 5982 kWh 2213 kWh £1,587 £221 £1,808 £21,526 11.9 yrs £14,641

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: £1,147, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2049 kWh 1537 kWh 512 kWh £408 £51 £459 £11,069 24.1 yrs £-1,892
3 kW 3073 kWh 2305 kWh 768 kWh £611 £77 £688 £13,104 19.0 yrs £662
4 kW 4097 kWh 3073 kWh 1024 kWh £815 £102 £918 £15,138 16.5 yrs £3,217
5 kW 5122 kWh 3841 kWh 1280 kWh £1,019 £128 £1,147 £17,173 15.0 yrs £5,771
6 kW 6146 kWh 4610 kWh 1537 kWh £1,223 £154 £1,377 £19,207 14.0 yrs £8,325
7 kW 7171 kWh 5378 kWh 1793 kWh £1,427 £179 £1,606 £21,242 13.2 yrs £10,879
8 kW 8195 kWh 6146 kWh 2049 kWh £1,631 £205 £1,835 £23,276 12.7 yrs £13,433

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: £1,164, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2049 kWh 1578 kWh 471 kWh £419 £47 £466 £13,519 29.0 yrs £-4,206
3 kW 3073 kWh 2366 kWh 707 kWh £628 £71 £698 £15,554 22.3 yrs £-1,584
4 kW 4097 kWh 3155 kWh 942 kWh £837 £94 £931 £17,588 18.9 yrs £1,038
5 kW 5122 kWh 3944 kWh 1178 kWh £1,046 £118 £1,164 £19,623 16.9 yrs £3,659
6 kW 6146 kWh 4733 kWh 1414 kWh £1,256 £141 £1,397 £21,657 15.5 yrs £6,281
7 kW 7171 kWh 5521 kWh 1649 kWh £1,465 £165 £1,630 £23,692 14.5 yrs £8,903
8 kW 8195 kWh 6310 kWh 1885 kWh £1,674 £188 £1,863 £25,726 13.8 yrs £11,525

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 CM14

Figures below are tailored to CM14 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #2025 of 2182
4.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #391 of 2997
10.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£978 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1005 of 2997
18.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£978 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1024kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1024 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

⚠️ This area is predominantly flats. Many residents require freeholder approval for solar installations. System size shown reflects houses and bungalows only.

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 42% • Flats: 51% • Bungalows: 3% Based on 6,939 properties

Coverage

Brentwood (100%)

Areas Covered

Brentwood South, Brentwood West, Brizes, Stondon Massey & South Weald, Warley, Brentwood North, Pilgrims Hatch, Gooshays

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

CM15 (Brentwood)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,012 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM14
CM13 (Brentwood)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,025 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM14
RM3 (Havering)
≈5.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,019 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM14
CM4 (Brentwood)
≈7.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,023 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM14
CM12 (Basildon)
≈8.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM14
RM2 (Havering)
≈8.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,014 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM14

Similar sunshine across the UK

TA5 (Somerset)
~1,024 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM14
DA2 (Dartford)
~1,024 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM14
RH13 (Horsham)
~1,024 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM14