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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CM19 (Harlow)

See if solar pays off for you in Harlow — 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
12.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£836
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,717
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 1006 kWh/kW — 3 below the regional median (1009).

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 1006 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)
1006 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: £836, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2012 kWh 805 kWh 1207 kWh £214 £121 £334 £4,069 12.2 yrs £2,616
3 kW 3018 kWh 1207 kWh 1811 kWh £320 £181 £501 £6,104 12.2 yrs £3,924
4 kW 4024 kWh 1610 kWh 2414 kWh £427 £241 £668 £8,138 12.2 yrs £5,232
5 kW 5030 kWh 2012 kWh 3018 kWh £534 £302 £836 £10,173 12.2 yrs £6,539
6 kW 6036 kWh 2414 kWh 3622 kWh £641 £362 £1,003 £12,207 12.2 yrs £7,847
7 kW 7042 kWh 2817 kWh 4225 kWh £747 £423 £1,170 £14,242 12.2 yrs £9,155
8 kW 8048 kWh 3219 kWh 4829 kWh £854 £483 £1,337 £16,276 12.2 yrs £10,463

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: £1,002, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2012 kWh 1207 kWh 805 kWh £320 £80 £401 £6,169 15.4 yrs £1,846
3 kW 3018 kWh 1811 kWh 1207 kWh £480 £121 £601 £8,204 13.6 yrs £3,819
4 kW 4024 kWh 2414 kWh 1610 kWh £641 £161 £802 £10,238 12.8 yrs £5,792
5 kW 5030 kWh 3018 kWh 2012 kWh £801 £201 £1,002 £12,273 12.2 yrs £7,765
6 kW 6036 kWh 3622 kWh 2414 kWh £961 £241 £1,202 £14,307 11.9 yrs £9,738
7 kW 7042 kWh 4225 kWh 2817 kWh £1,121 £282 £1,403 £16,342 11.7 yrs £11,711
8 kW 8048 kWh 4829 kWh 3219 kWh £1,281 £322 £1,603 £18,376 11.5 yrs £13,685

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: £1,085, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2012 kWh 1408 kWh 604 kWh £374 £60 £434 £7,569 17.4 yrs £1,111
3 kW 3018 kWh 2113 kWh 905 kWh £560 £91 £651 £9,604 14.8 yrs £3,417
4 kW 4024 kWh 2817 kWh 1207 kWh £747 £121 £868 £11,638 13.4 yrs £5,723
5 kW 5030 kWh 3521 kWh 1509 kWh £934 £151 £1,085 £13,673 12.6 yrs £8,028
6 kW 6036 kWh 4225 kWh 1811 kWh £1,121 £181 £1,302 £15,707 12.1 yrs £10,334
7 kW 7042 kWh 4929 kWh 2113 kWh £1,308 £211 £1,519 £17,742 11.7 yrs £12,640
8 kW 8048 kWh 5634 kWh 2414 kWh £1,495 £241 £1,736 £19,776 11.4 yrs £14,945

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: £1,110, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2012 kWh 1469 kWh 543 kWh £390 £54 £444 £9,319 21.0 yrs £-439
3 kW 3018 kWh 2203 kWh 815 kWh £585 £81 £666 £11,354 17.0 yrs £1,966
4 kW 4024 kWh 2938 kWh 1087 kWh £779 £109 £888 £13,388 15.1 yrs £4,372
5 kW 5030 kWh 3672 kWh 1358 kWh £974 £136 £1,110 £15,423 13.9 yrs £6,777
6 kW 6036 kWh 4406 kWh 1630 kWh £1,169 £163 £1,332 £17,457 13.1 yrs £9,183
7 kW 7042 kWh 5141 kWh 1901 kWh £1,364 £190 £1,554 £19,492 12.5 yrs £11,588
8 kW 8048 kWh 5875 kWh 2173 kWh £1,559 £217 £1,776 £21,526 12.1 yrs £13,994

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: £1,127, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2012 kWh 1509 kWh 503 kWh £400 £50 £451 £11,069 24.6 yrs £-2,056
3 kW 3018 kWh 2264 kWh 755 kWh £601 £75 £676 £13,104 19.4 yrs £416
4 kW 4024 kWh 3018 kWh 1006 kWh £801 £101 £901 £15,138 16.8 yrs £2,888
5 kW 5030 kWh 3773 kWh 1258 kWh £1,001 £126 £1,127 £17,173 15.2 yrs £5,360
6 kW 6036 kWh 4527 kWh 1509 kWh £1,201 £151 £1,352 £19,207 14.2 yrs £7,832
7 kW 7042 kWh 5282 kWh 1761 kWh £1,401 £176 £1,577 £21,242 13.5 yrs £10,304
8 kW 8048 kWh 6036 kWh 2012 kWh £1,601 £201 £1,803 £23,276 12.9 yrs £12,776

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: £1,143, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2012 kWh 1549 kWh 463 kWh £411 £46 £457 £13,519 29.6 yrs £-4,373
3 kW 3018 kWh 2324 kWh 694 kWh £617 £69 £686 £15,554 22.7 yrs £-1,835
4 kW 4024 kWh 3099 kWh 926 kWh £822 £93 £915 £17,588 19.2 yrs £704
5 kW 5030 kWh 3873 kWh 1157 kWh £1,028 £116 £1,143 £19,623 17.2 yrs £3,242
6 kW 6036 kWh 4648 kWh 1388 kWh £1,233 £139 £1,372 £21,657 15.8 yrs £5,781
7 kW 7042 kWh 5422 kWh 1620 kWh £1,439 £162 £1,601 £23,692 14.8 yrs £8,319
8 kW 8048 kWh 6197 kWh 1851 kWh £1,644 £185 £1,829 £25,726 14.1 yrs £10,858

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 CM19

Figures below are tailored to CM19 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1751 of 2182
4.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #616 of 2997
10.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£960 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1102 of 2997
18.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£960 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1006kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1006 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: 60% • Flats: 32% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 4,958 properties

Coverage

Harlow (83%)|Epping Forest (17%)

Areas Covered

Great Parndon, Roydon & Lower Nazeing, Sumners & Kingsmoor, Little Parndon & Town Centre, Passmores, Great Amwell & Stansteads, Epping West & Rural

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

CM20 (Harlow)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,006 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM19
CM92 (Harlow)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,006 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM19
CM18 (Harlow)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,012 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM19
CM17 (Harlow)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,012 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM19
EN11 (Broxbourne)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~994 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM19
CM21 (East Hertfordshire)
≈7.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,011 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM19

Similar sunshine across the UK

SA12 (Neath Port Talbot)
~1,006 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM19
RG26 (Basingstoke and Deane)
~1,006 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM19
CF11 (Cardiff)
~1,006 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM19