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Solar panel cost in Brentwood (CM4)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for CM4 (Brentwood) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

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
9.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£9,767
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,016
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,623
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: The official cost per kW is lower above 4 kW, so a 5–6 kW system can pay back a little faster than a 3–4 kW system on otherwise identical assumptions.
  • 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

Panel costs: Uses March 2026 TIC mean installation costs: £1,827/kW up to 4 kW and £1,628/kW above 4 kW.

Other costs: Battery prices are modelled at £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 26.38p/kWh with a 53.94p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1023 kWh/kW — 14 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 1023 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.4p/kWh
Standing charge
53.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1023 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: £846, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 9.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2045 kWh 818 kWh 1227 kWh £216 £123 £339 £3,256 9.6 yrs £3,515
3 kW 3068 kWh 1227 kWh 1841 kWh £324 £184 £508 £4,883 9.6 yrs £5,273
4 kW 4090 kWh 1636 kWh 2454 kWh £432 £245 £677 £6,511 9.6 yrs £7,030
5 kW 5113 kWh 2045 kWh 3068 kWh £540 £307 £846 £8,139 9.6 yrs £8,788
6 kW 6136 kWh 2454 kWh 3681 kWh £647 £368 £1,016 £9,767 9.6 yrs £10,545
7 kW 7158 kWh 2863 kWh 4295 kWh £755 £430 £1,185 £11,394 9.6 yrs £12,303
8 kW 8181 kWh 3272 kWh 4909 kWh £863 £491 £1,354 £13,022 9.6 yrs £14,060

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,014, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 10.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2045 kWh 1227 kWh 818 kWh £324 £82 £406 £5,356 13.2 yrs £2,755
3 kW 3068 kWh 1841 kWh 1227 kWh £486 £123 £608 £6,983 11.5 yrs £5,183
4 kW 4090 kWh 2454 kWh 1636 kWh £647 £164 £811 £8,611 10.6 yrs £7,610
5 kW 5113 kWh 3068 kWh 2045 kWh £809 £205 £1,014 £10,239 10.1 yrs £10,038
6 kW 6136 kWh 3681 kWh 2454 kWh £971 £245 £1,217 £11,867 9.8 yrs £12,465
7 kW 7158 kWh 4295 kWh 2863 kWh £1,133 £286 £1,419 £13,494 9.5 yrs £14,893
8 kW 8181 kWh 4909 kWh 3272 kWh £1,295 £327 £1,622 £15,122 9.3 yrs £17,320

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,098, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 10.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2045 kWh 1432 kWh 614 kWh £378 £61 £439 £6,756 15.4 yrs £2,025
3 kW 3068 kWh 2148 kWh 920 kWh £567 £92 £659 £8,383 12.7 yrs £4,788
4 kW 4090 kWh 2863 kWh 1227 kWh £755 £123 £878 £10,011 11.4 yrs £7,550
5 kW 5113 kWh 3579 kWh 1534 kWh £944 £153 £1,098 £11,639 10.6 yrs £10,313
6 kW 6136 kWh 4295 kWh 1841 kWh £1,133 £184 £1,317 £13,267 10.1 yrs £13,075
7 kW 7158 kWh 5011 kWh 2148 kWh £1,322 £215 £1,537 £14,894 9.7 yrs £15,838
8 kW 8181 kWh 5727 kWh 2454 kWh £1,511 £245 £1,756 £16,522 9.4 yrs £18,600

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,123, Upfront: £13,389, 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 2045 kWh 1493 kWh 552 kWh £394 £55 £449 £8,506 18.9 yrs £476
3 kW 3068 kWh 2240 kWh 828 kWh £591 £83 £674 £10,133 15.0 yrs £3,339
4 kW 4090 kWh 2986 kWh 1104 kWh £788 £110 £898 £11,761 13.1 yrs £6,202
5 kW 5113 kWh 3733 kWh 1381 kWh £985 £138 £1,123 £13,389 11.9 yrs £9,065
6 kW 6136 kWh 4479 kWh 1657 kWh £1,182 £166 £1,347 £15,017 11.1 yrs £11,928
7 kW 7158 kWh 5226 kWh 1933 kWh £1,379 £193 £1,572 £16,644 10.6 yrs £14,791
8 kW 8181 kWh 5972 kWh 2209 kWh £1,575 £221 £1,796 £18,272 10.2 yrs £17,654

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,139, Upfront: £15,139, 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 2045 kWh 1534 kWh 511 kWh £405 £51 £456 £10,256 22.5 yrs £-1,140
3 kW 3068 kWh 2301 kWh 767 kWh £607 £77 £684 £11,883 17.4 yrs £1,790
4 kW 4090 kWh 3068 kWh 1023 kWh £809 £102 £912 £13,511 14.8 yrs £4,720
5 kW 5113 kWh 3835 kWh 1278 kWh £1,012 £128 £1,139 £15,139 13.3 yrs £7,650
6 kW 6136 kWh 4602 kWh 1534 kWh £1,214 £153 £1,367 £16,767 12.3 yrs £10,580
7 kW 7158 kWh 5369 kWh 1790 kWh £1,416 £179 £1,595 £18,394 11.5 yrs £13,510
8 kW 8181 kWh 6136 kWh 2045 kWh £1,619 £205 £1,823 £20,022 11.0 yrs £16,440

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,156, Upfront: £17,589, 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 2045 kWh 1575 kWh 470 kWh £415 £47 £462 £12,706 27.5 yrs £-3,456
3 kW 3068 kWh 2362 kWh 706 kWh £623 £71 £694 £14,333 20.7 yrs £-459
4 kW 4090 kWh 3150 kWh 941 kWh £831 £94 £925 £15,961 17.3 yrs £2,538
5 kW 5113 kWh 3937 kWh 1176 kWh £1,039 £118 £1,156 £17,589 15.2 yrs £5,535
6 kW 6136 kWh 4725 kWh 1411 kWh £1,246 £141 £1,387 £19,217 13.9 yrs £8,532
7 kW 7158 kWh 5512 kWh 1646 kWh £1,454 £165 £1,619 £20,844 12.9 yrs £11,529
8 kW 8181 kWh 6299 kWh 1882 kWh £1,662 £188 £1,850 £22,472 12.1 yrs £14,526

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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.

Before you request quotes in Brentwood

Use the numbers above to sanity-check installer quotes. The main things to compare are system size, battery assumptions, payback claims, MCS certification, DNO paperwork and export assumptions.

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Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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Insights for CM4

Figures below are tailored to CM4 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #185 of 2182
6.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~13 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #350 of 2996
9.6 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£1,016 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #367 of 2996
19.4% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,016 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −21.6% West −20.0%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in CM4

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 40 Jan 53 Feb 86 Mar 114 Apr 121 May 124 Jun 124 Jul 112 Aug 96 Sep 68 Oct 48 Nov 36 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 50.1% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: Jul / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 43 kWh per month; the average month produces around 85 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 171 kWh in winter, or 341 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.38p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.94p/day
Local Sunshine
1023kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1023 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: 16% • Bungalows: 17% Based on 2,864 properties

Coverage

Brentwood (64%)|Chelmsford (31%)|Epping Forest (4%)|Basildon (1%)

Areas Covered

Ingatestone, Fryerning & Mountnessing, South Hanningfield, Stock and Margaretting, Blackmore & Doddinghurst, Rural East, Chelmsford Rural West, Bicknacre and East and West Hanningfield + 4 more

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q3 2026

Installation costs: DESNZ/MCS data, March 2026 (TIC)

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

CM12 (Basildon)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM4
CM11 (Basildon)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM4
CM13 (Brentwood)
≈6.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,025 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM4
CM15 (Brentwood)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,012 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM4
CM14 (Brentwood)
≈7.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,024 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM4
CM2 (Chelmsford)
≈9.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM4

Similar sunshine across the UK

TR8 (Cornwall)
~1,023 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM4
SO5 (Eastleigh)
~1,022 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM4
ME6 (Tonbridge and Malling)
~1,023 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM4