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Solar Panels in CM9 (Maldon)

See if solar pays off for you in Maldon — 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
11.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£876
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,717
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 1054 kWh/kW — 45 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 1054 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)
1054 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: £876, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2108 kWh 843 kWh 1265 kWh £224 £126 £350 £4,069 11.6 yrs £2,936
3 kW 3162 kWh 1265 kWh 1897 kWh £336 £190 £525 £6,104 11.6 yrs £4,403
4 kW 4217 kWh 1687 kWh 2530 kWh £447 £253 £700 £8,138 11.6 yrs £5,871
5 kW 5271 kWh 2108 kWh 3162 kWh £559 £316 £876 £10,173 11.6 yrs £7,339
6 kW 6325 kWh 2530 kWh 3795 kWh £671 £379 £1,051 £12,207 11.6 yrs £8,807
7 kW 7379 kWh 2952 kWh 4427 kWh £783 £443 £1,226 £14,242 11.6 yrs £10,275
8 kW 8433 kWh 3373 kWh 5060 kWh £895 £506 £1,401 £16,276 11.6 yrs £11,743

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: £1,050, 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 2108 kWh 1265 kWh 843 kWh £336 £84 £420 £6,169 14.7 yrs £2,230
3 kW 3162 kWh 1897 kWh 1265 kWh £503 £126 £630 £8,204 13.0 yrs £4,395
4 kW 4217 kWh 2530 kWh 1687 kWh £671 £169 £840 £10,238 12.2 yrs £6,559
5 kW 5271 kWh 3162 kWh 2108 kWh £839 £211 £1,050 £12,273 11.7 yrs £8,724
6 kW 6325 kWh 3795 kWh 2530 kWh £1,007 £253 £1,260 £14,307 11.4 yrs £10,889
7 kW 7379 kWh 4427 kWh 2952 kWh £1,175 £295 £1,470 £16,342 11.1 yrs £13,054
8 kW 8433 kWh 5060 kWh 3373 kWh £1,342 £337 £1,680 £18,376 10.9 yrs £15,219

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: £1,137, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2108 kWh 1476 kWh 632 kWh £392 £63 £455 £7,569 16.6 yrs £1,527
3 kW 3162 kWh 2214 kWh 949 kWh £587 £95 £682 £9,604 14.1 yrs £4,040
4 kW 4217 kWh 2952 kWh 1265 kWh £783 £126 £910 £11,638 12.8 yrs £6,553
5 kW 5271 kWh 3690 kWh 1581 kWh £979 £158 £1,137 £13,673 12.0 yrs £9,067
6 kW 6325 kWh 4427 kWh 1897 kWh £1,175 £190 £1,364 £15,707 11.5 yrs £11,580
7 kW 7379 kWh 5165 kWh 2214 kWh £1,370 £221 £1,592 £17,742 11.1 yrs £14,093
8 kW 8433 kWh 5903 kWh 2530 kWh £1,566 £253 £1,819 £19,776 10.9 yrs £16,607

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: £1,163, 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 2108 kWh 1539 kWh 569 kWh £408 £57 £465 £9,319 20.0 yrs £-14
3 kW 3162 kWh 2309 kWh 854 kWh £612 £85 £698 £11,354 16.3 yrs £2,604
4 kW 4217 kWh 3078 kWh 1138 kWh £817 £114 £930 £13,388 14.4 yrs £5,222
5 kW 5271 kWh 3848 kWh 1423 kWh £1,021 £142 £1,163 £15,423 13.3 yrs £7,839
6 kW 6325 kWh 4617 kWh 1708 kWh £1,225 £171 £1,396 £17,457 12.5 yrs £10,457
7 kW 7379 kWh 5387 kWh 1992 kWh £1,429 £199 £1,628 £19,492 12.0 yrs £13,075
8 kW 8433 kWh 6156 kWh 2277 kWh £1,633 £228 £1,861 £21,526 11.6 yrs £15,693

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: £1,181, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2108 kWh 1581 kWh 527 kWh £420 £53 £472 £11,069 23.4 yrs £-1,625
3 kW 3162 kWh 2372 kWh 791 kWh £629 £79 £708 £13,104 18.5 yrs £1,063
4 kW 4217 kWh 3162 kWh 1054 kWh £839 £105 £944 £15,138 16.0 yrs £3,750
5 kW 5271 kWh 3953 kWh 1318 kWh £1,049 £132 £1,181 £17,173 14.5 yrs £6,438
6 kW 6325 kWh 4744 kWh 1581 kWh £1,259 £158 £1,417 £19,207 13.6 yrs £9,126
7 kW 7379 kWh 5534 kWh 1845 kWh £1,468 £184 £1,653 £21,242 12.9 yrs £11,813
8 kW 8433 kWh 6325 kWh 2108 kWh £1,678 £211 £1,889 £23,276 12.3 yrs £14,501

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: £1,198, 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 2108 kWh 1623 kWh 485 kWh £431 £48 £479 £13,519 28.2 yrs £-3,935
3 kW 3162 kWh 2435 kWh 727 kWh £646 £73 £719 £15,554 21.6 yrs £-1,178
4 kW 4217 kWh 3247 kWh 970 kWh £861 £97 £958 £17,588 18.4 yrs £1,579
5 kW 5271 kWh 4059 kWh 1212 kWh £1,077 £121 £1,198 £19,623 16.4 yrs £4,337
6 kW 6325 kWh 4870 kWh 1455 kWh £1,292 £145 £1,438 £21,657 15.1 yrs £7,094
7 kW 7379 kWh 5682 kWh 1697 kWh £1,507 £170 £1,677 £23,692 14.1 yrs £9,851
8 kW 8433 kWh 6494 kWh 1940 kWh £1,723 £194 £1,917 £25,726 13.4 yrs £12,608

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 CM9

Figures below are tailored to CM9 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1007 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #212 of 2997
10.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,006 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #886 of 2997
17.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,006 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1054kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1054 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: 71% • Flats: 14% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 9,607 properties

Coverage

Maldon (99%)|Colchester (1%)

Areas Covered

Maldon North, Heybridge East, Heybridge West, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Great Totham, Maldon West, Maldon East, Wickham Bishops and Woodham + 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

CM3 (Chelmsford)
≈6.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,035 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CM9
CM8 (Braintree)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,050 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM9
CO5 (Colchester)
≈10.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,054 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM9
CM98 (Chelmsford)
≈11.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,036 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CM9
CM99 (Chelmsford)
≈12.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CM9
CM0 (Maldon)
≈13.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,099 kWh/kWp · +4% vs CM9

Similar sunshine across the UK

TN22 (Wealden)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM9
BH22 (Dorset)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM9
DT11 (Dorset)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM9