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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CM23 (East Hertfordshire)

See if solar pays off for you in East Hertfordshire — 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
£834
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,670
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 1004 kWh/kW — 5 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 1004 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)
1004 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: £834, 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 2007 kWh 803 kWh 1204 kWh £213 £120 £333 £4,069 12.2 yrs £2,600
3 kW 3011 kWh 1204 kWh 1807 kWh £320 £181 £500 £6,104 12.2 yrs £3,901
4 kW 4015 kWh 1606 kWh 2409 kWh £426 £241 £667 £8,138 12.2 yrs £5,201
5 kW 5019 kWh 2007 kWh 3011 kWh £533 £301 £834 £10,173 12.2 yrs £6,501
6 kW 6022 kWh 2409 kWh 3613 kWh £639 £361 £1,000 £12,207 12.2 yrs £7,801
7 kW 7026 kWh 2810 kWh 4216 kWh £746 £422 £1,167 £14,242 12.2 yrs £9,102
8 kW 8030 kWh 3212 kWh 4818 kWh £852 £482 £1,334 £16,276 12.2 yrs £10,402

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: £1,000, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2007 kWh 1204 kWh 803 kWh £320 £80 £400 £6,169 15.4 yrs £1,828
3 kW 3011 kWh 1807 kWh 1204 kWh £479 £120 £600 £8,204 13.7 yrs £3,792
4 kW 4015 kWh 2409 kWh 1606 kWh £639 £161 £800 £10,238 12.8 yrs £5,756
5 kW 5019 kWh 3011 kWh 2007 kWh £799 £201 £1,000 £12,273 12.3 yrs £7,720
6 kW 6022 kWh 3613 kWh 2409 kWh £959 £241 £1,200 £14,307 11.9 yrs £9,683
7 kW 7026 kWh 4216 kWh 2810 kWh £1,118 £281 £1,399 £16,342 11.7 yrs £11,647
8 kW 8030 kWh 4818 kWh 3212 kWh £1,278 £321 £1,599 £18,376 11.5 yrs £13,611

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: £1,083, 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 2007 kWh 1405 kWh 602 kWh £373 £60 £433 £7,569 17.5 yrs £1,091
3 kW 3011 kWh 2108 kWh 903 kWh £559 £90 £650 £9,604 14.8 yrs £3,387
4 kW 4015 kWh 2810 kWh 1204 kWh £746 £120 £866 £11,638 13.4 yrs £5,683
5 kW 5019 kWh 3513 kWh 1506 kWh £932 £151 £1,083 £13,673 12.6 yrs £7,979
6 kW 6022 kWh 4216 kWh 1807 kWh £1,118 £181 £1,299 £15,707 12.1 yrs £10,274
7 kW 7026 kWh 4918 kWh 2108 kWh £1,305 £211 £1,516 £17,742 11.7 yrs £12,570
8 kW 8030 kWh 5621 kWh 2409 kWh £1,491 £241 £1,732 £19,776 11.4 yrs £14,866

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: £1,107, 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 2007 kWh 1465 kWh 542 kWh £389 £54 £443 £9,319 21.0 yrs £-459
3 kW 3011 kWh 2198 kWh 813 kWh £583 £81 £664 £11,354 17.1 yrs £1,936
4 kW 4015 kWh 2931 kWh 1084 kWh £778 £108 £886 £13,388 15.1 yrs £4,331
5 kW 5019 kWh 3664 kWh 1355 kWh £972 £136 £1,107 £15,423 13.9 yrs £6,726
6 kW 6022 kWh 4396 kWh 1626 kWh £1,166 £163 £1,329 £17,457 13.1 yrs £9,122
7 kW 7026 kWh 5129 kWh 1897 kWh £1,361 £190 £1,550 £19,492 12.6 yrs £11,517
8 kW 8030 kWh 5862 kWh 2168 kWh £1,555 £217 £1,772 £21,526 12.1 yrs £13,912

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: £1,124, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2007 kWh 1506 kWh 502 kWh £399 £50 £450 £11,069 24.6 yrs £-2,077
3 kW 3011 kWh 2258 kWh 753 kWh £599 £75 £674 £13,104 19.4 yrs £385
4 kW 4015 kWh 3011 kWh 1004 kWh £799 £100 £899 £15,138 16.8 yrs £2,847
5 kW 5019 kWh 3764 kWh 1255 kWh £999 £125 £1,124 £17,173 15.3 yrs £5,308
6 kW 6022 kWh 4517 kWh 1506 kWh £1,198 £151 £1,349 £19,207 14.2 yrs £7,770
7 kW 7026 kWh 5270 kWh 1757 kWh £1,398 £176 £1,574 £21,242 13.5 yrs £10,232
8 kW 8030 kWh 6022 kWh 2007 kWh £1,598 £201 £1,798 £23,276 12.9 yrs £12,693

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: £1,141, 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 2007 kWh 1546 kWh 462 kWh £410 £46 £456 £13,519 29.6 yrs £-4,394
3 kW 3011 kWh 2319 kWh 693 kWh £615 £69 £684 £15,554 22.7 yrs £-1,866
4 kW 4015 kWh 3091 kWh 923 kWh £820 £92 £913 £17,588 19.3 yrs £662
5 kW 5019 kWh 3864 kWh 1154 kWh £1,025 £115 £1,141 £19,623 17.2 yrs £3,190
6 kW 6022 kWh 4637 kWh 1385 kWh £1,230 £139 £1,369 £21,657 15.8 yrs £5,718
7 kW 7026 kWh 5410 kWh 1616 kWh £1,435 £162 £1,597 £23,692 14.8 yrs £8,246
8 kW 8030 kWh 6183 kWh 1847 kWh £1,640 £185 £1,825 £25,726 14.1 yrs £10,774

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 CM23

Figures below are tailored to CM23 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1500 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #618 of 2997
10.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£958 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1134 of 2997
18.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£958 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1004kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1004 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: 69% • Flats: 25% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 12,900 properties

Coverage

East Hertfordshire (93%)|Uttlesford (7%)

Areas Covered

Bishop's Stortford Central, Bishop's Stortford North, Bishop's Stortford Parsonage, Bishop's Stortford All Saints, Bishop's Stortford Thorley Manor, Bishop's Stortford South, Stort Valley, Stansted South & Birchanger + 4 more

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

CM22 (Uttlesford)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,014 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM23
CM24 (Uttlesford)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,017 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM23
CM21 (East Hertfordshire)
≈6.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,011 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM23
SG10 (East Hertfordshire)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,008 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM23
SG11 (East Hertfordshire)
≈9.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,002 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM23
CM17 (Harlow)
≈10.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,012 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM23

Similar sunshine across the UK

BS20 (North Somerset)
~1,004 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM23
PE10 (South Kesteven)
~1,004 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM23
EX17 (Mid Devon)
~1,004 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM23