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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CM8 (Braintree)

See if solar pays off for you in Braintree — 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
11.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£872
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,635
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 1050 kWh/kW — 41 above 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 1050 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)
1050 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: £872, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2100 kWh 840 kWh 1260 kWh £223 £126 £349 £4,069 11.7 yrs £2,909
3 kW 3151 kWh 1260 kWh 1890 kWh £334 £189 £523 £6,104 11.7 yrs £4,364
4 kW 4201 kWh 1680 kWh 2520 kWh £446 £252 £698 £8,138 11.7 yrs £5,819
5 kW 5251 kWh 2100 kWh 3151 kWh £557 £315 £872 £10,173 11.7 yrs £7,273
6 kW 6301 kWh 2520 kWh 3781 kWh £669 £378 £1,047 £12,207 11.7 yrs £8,728
7 kW 7351 kWh 2941 kWh 4411 kWh £780 £441 £1,221 £14,242 11.7 yrs £10,183
8 kW 8402 kWh 3361 kWh 5041 kWh £892 £504 £1,396 £16,276 11.7 yrs £11,637

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: £1,046, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2100 kWh 1260 kWh 840 kWh £334 £84 £418 £6,169 14.7 yrs £2,198
3 kW 3151 kWh 1890 kWh 1260 kWh £502 £126 £628 £8,204 13.1 yrs £4,347
4 kW 4201 kWh 2520 kWh 1680 kWh £669 £168 £837 £10,238 12.2 yrs £6,496
5 kW 5251 kWh 3151 kWh 2100 kWh £836 £210 £1,046 £12,273 11.7 yrs £8,645
6 kW 6301 kWh 3781 kWh 2520 kWh £1,003 £252 £1,255 £14,307 11.4 yrs £10,794
7 kW 7351 kWh 4411 kWh 2941 kWh £1,170 £294 £1,464 £16,342 11.2 yrs £12,943
8 kW 8402 kWh 5041 kWh 3361 kWh £1,337 £336 £1,673 £18,376 11.0 yrs £15,093

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: £1,133, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2100 kWh 1470 kWh 630 kWh £390 £63 £453 £7,569 16.7 yrs £1,493
3 kW 3151 kWh 2205 kWh 945 kWh £585 £95 £680 £9,604 14.1 yrs £3,989
4 kW 4201 kWh 2941 kWh 1260 kWh £780 £126 £906 £11,638 12.8 yrs £6,485
5 kW 5251 kWh 3676 kWh 1575 kWh £975 £158 £1,133 £13,673 12.1 yrs £8,981
6 kW 6301 kWh 4411 kWh 1890 kWh £1,170 £189 £1,359 £15,707 11.6 yrs £11,478
7 kW 7351 kWh 5146 kWh 2205 kWh £1,365 £221 £1,586 £17,742 11.2 yrs £13,974
8 kW 8402 kWh 5881 kWh 2520 kWh £1,560 £252 £1,812 £19,776 10.9 yrs £16,470

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: £1,159, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2100 kWh 1533 kWh 567 kWh £407 £57 £463 £9,319 20.1 yrs £-49
3 kW 3151 kWh 2300 kWh 851 kWh £610 £85 £695 £11,354 16.3 yrs £2,551
4 kW 4201 kWh 3067 kWh 1134 kWh £814 £113 £927 £13,388 14.4 yrs £5,152
5 kW 5251 kWh 3833 kWh 1418 kWh £1,017 £142 £1,159 £15,423 13.3 yrs £7,752
6 kW 6301 kWh 4600 kWh 1701 kWh £1,220 £170 £1,390 £17,457 12.6 yrs £10,353
7 kW 7351 kWh 5367 kWh 1985 kWh £1,424 £198 £1,622 £19,492 12.0 yrs £12,953
8 kW 8402 kWh 6133 kWh 2268 kWh £1,627 £227 £1,854 £21,526 11.6 yrs £15,553

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: £1,176, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2100 kWh 1575 kWh 525 kWh £418 £53 £470 £11,069 23.5 yrs £-1,660
3 kW 3151 kWh 2363 kWh 788 kWh £627 £79 £706 £13,104 18.6 yrs £1,010
4 kW 4201 kWh 3151 kWh 1050 kWh £836 £105 £941 £15,138 16.1 yrs £3,679
5 kW 5251 kWh 3938 kWh 1313 kWh £1,045 £131 £1,176 £17,173 14.6 yrs £6,349
6 kW 6301 kWh 4726 kWh 1575 kWh £1,254 £158 £1,411 £19,207 13.6 yrs £9,019
7 kW 7351 kWh 5514 kWh 1838 kWh £1,463 £184 £1,647 £21,242 12.9 yrs £11,689
8 kW 8402 kWh 6301 kWh 2100 kWh £1,672 £210 £1,882 £23,276 12.4 yrs £14,359

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: £1,193, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2100 kWh 1617 kWh 483 kWh £429 £48 £477 £13,519 28.3 yrs £-3,971
3 kW 3151 kWh 2426 kWh 725 kWh £644 £72 £716 £15,554 21.7 yrs £-1,232
4 kW 4201 kWh 3235 kWh 966 kWh £858 £97 £955 £17,588 18.4 yrs £1,507
5 kW 5251 kWh 4043 kWh 1208 kWh £1,073 £121 £1,193 £19,623 16.4 yrs £4,247
6 kW 6301 kWh 4852 kWh 1449 kWh £1,287 £145 £1,432 £21,657 15.1 yrs £6,986
7 kW 7351 kWh 5661 kWh 1691 kWh £1,502 £169 £1,671 £23,692 14.2 yrs £9,725
8 kW 8402 kWh 6469 kWh 1932 kWh £1,716 £193 £1,910 £25,726 13.5 yrs £12,464

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 CM8

Figures below are tailored to CM8 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1443 of 2182
4.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #211 of 2997
10.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,002 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #902 of 2997
17.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,002 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1050kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1050 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: 67% • Flats: 22% • Bungalows: 9% Based on 9,502 properties

Coverage

Braintree (92%)|Maldon (8%)

Areas Covered

Witham Central, Witham North, Silver End & Cressing, Witham South, Witham West, Wickham Bishops and Woodham, Hatfield Peverel & Terling, Great Totham + 2 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

CM9 (Maldon)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,054 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM8
CO5 (Colchester)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,054 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM8
CM77 (Braintree)
≈9.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CM8
CM98 (Chelmsford)
≈9.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,036 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM8
CM7 (Braintree)
≈10.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,034 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CM8
CM3 (Chelmsford)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,035 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM8

Similar sunshine across the UK

SO1 (Southampton)
~1,050 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM8
SO9 (Southampton)
~1,050 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM8
GU28 (Chichester)
~1,051 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM8