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Solar Panels in CM98 (Chelmsford)

See if solar pays off for you in Chelmsford — 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
11.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£861
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,343
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 1036 kWh/kW — 27 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 1036 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)
1036 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: £861, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2072 kWh 829 kWh 1243 kWh £220 £124 £344 £4,069 11.8 yrs £2,816
3 kW 3108 kWh 1243 kWh 1865 kWh £330 £187 £516 £6,104 11.8 yrs £4,224
4 kW 4145 kWh 1658 kWh 2487 kWh £440 £249 £689 £8,138 11.8 yrs £5,632
5 kW 5181 kWh 2072 kWh 3108 kWh £550 £311 £861 £10,173 11.8 yrs £7,040
6 kW 6217 kWh 2487 kWh 3730 kWh £660 £373 £1,033 £12,207 11.8 yrs £8,448
7 kW 7253 kWh 2901 kWh 4352 kWh £770 £435 £1,205 £14,242 11.8 yrs £9,856
8 kW 8289 kWh 3316 kWh 4974 kWh £880 £497 £1,377 £16,276 11.8 yrs £11,264

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: £1,032, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2072 kWh 1243 kWh 829 kWh £330 £83 £413 £6,169 14.9 yrs £2,086
3 kW 3108 kWh 1865 kWh 1243 kWh £495 £124 £619 £8,204 13.2 yrs £4,179
4 kW 4145 kWh 2487 kWh 1658 kWh £660 £166 £826 £10,238 12.4 yrs £6,273
5 kW 5181 kWh 3108 kWh 2072 kWh £825 £207 £1,032 £12,273 11.9 yrs £8,366
6 kW 6217 kWh 3730 kWh 2487 kWh £990 £249 £1,238 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,459
7 kW 7253 kWh 4352 kWh 2901 kWh £1,155 £290 £1,445 £16,342 11.3 yrs £12,552
8 kW 8289 kWh 4974 kWh 3316 kWh £1,319 £332 £1,651 £18,376 11.1 yrs £14,645

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: £1,118, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2072 kWh 1451 kWh 622 kWh £385 £62 £447 £7,569 16.9 yrs £1,371
3 kW 3108 kWh 2176 kWh 933 kWh £577 £93 £671 £9,604 14.3 yrs £3,807
4 kW 4145 kWh 2901 kWh 1243 kWh £770 £124 £894 £11,638 13.0 yrs £6,243
5 kW 5181 kWh 3627 kWh 1554 kWh £962 £155 £1,118 £13,673 12.2 yrs £8,678
6 kW 6217 kWh 4352 kWh 1865 kWh £1,155 £187 £1,341 £15,707 11.7 yrs £11,114
7 kW 7253 kWh 5077 kWh 2176 kWh £1,347 £218 £1,565 £17,742 11.3 yrs £13,550
8 kW 8289 kWh 5802 kWh 2487 kWh £1,539 £249 £1,788 £19,776 11.1 yrs £15,986

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: £1,143, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2072 kWh 1513 kWh 560 kWh £401 £56 £457 £9,319 20.4 yrs £-173
3 kW 3108 kWh 2269 kWh 839 kWh £602 £84 £686 £11,354 16.6 yrs £2,365
4 kW 4145 kWh 3026 kWh 1119 kWh £803 £112 £915 £13,388 14.6 yrs £4,904
5 kW 5181 kWh 3782 kWh 1399 kWh £1,003 £140 £1,143 £15,423 13.5 yrs £7,442
6 kW 6217 kWh 4538 kWh 1679 kWh £1,204 £168 £1,372 £17,457 12.7 yrs £9,981
7 kW 7253 kWh 5295 kWh 1958 kWh £1,405 £196 £1,601 £19,492 12.2 yrs £12,519
8 kW 8289 kWh 6051 kWh 2238 kWh £1,605 £224 £1,829 £21,526 11.8 yrs £15,058

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: £1,160, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2072 kWh 1554 kWh 518 kWh £412 £52 £464 £11,069 23.8 yrs £-1,786
3 kW 3108 kWh 2331 kWh 777 kWh £619 £78 £696 £13,104 18.8 yrs £821
4 kW 4145 kWh 3108 kWh 1036 kWh £825 £104 £928 £15,138 16.3 yrs £3,428
5 kW 5181 kWh 3886 kWh 1295 kWh £1,031 £130 £1,160 £17,173 14.8 yrs £6,035
6 kW 6217 kWh 4663 kWh 1554 kWh £1,237 £155 £1,392 £19,207 13.8 yrs £8,642
7 kW 7253 kWh 5440 kWh 1813 kWh £1,443 £181 £1,625 £21,242 13.1 yrs £11,249
8 kW 8289 kWh 6217 kWh 2072 kWh £1,649 £207 £1,857 £23,276 12.5 yrs £13,856

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: £1,177, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2072 kWh 1596 kWh 477 kWh £423 £48 £471 £13,519 28.7 yrs £-4,099
3 kW 3108 kWh 2394 kWh 715 kWh £635 £71 £706 £15,554 22.0 yrs £-1,424
4 kW 4145 kWh 3191 kWh 953 kWh £847 £95 £942 £17,588 18.7 yrs £1,252
5 kW 5181 kWh 3989 kWh 1192 kWh £1,058 £119 £1,177 £19,623 16.7 yrs £3,927
6 kW 6217 kWh 4787 kWh 1430 kWh £1,270 £143 £1,413 £21,657 15.3 yrs £6,603
7 kW 7253 kWh 5585 kWh 1668 kWh £1,482 £167 £1,648 £23,692 14.4 yrs £9,278
8 kW 8289 kWh 6383 kWh 1907 kWh £1,693 £191 £1,884 £25,726 13.7 yrs £11,954

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 CM98

Figures below are tailored to CM98 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #312 of 2997
10.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£989 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #918 of 2997
17.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£989 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1036kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1036 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Chelmsford (100%)

Areas Covered

Chelmer Village and Beaulieu Park

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

CM99 (Chelmsford)
≈1.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CM98
CM1 (Chelmsford)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM98
CM2 (Chelmsford)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM98
CM3 (Chelmsford)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,035 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM98
CM8 (Braintree)
≈9.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,050 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CM98
CM9 (Maldon)
≈11.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,054 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CM98

Similar sunshine across the UK

EX8 (East Devon)
~1,036 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM98
CF62 (Vale of Glamorgan)
~1,036 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM98
SO43 (New Forest)
~1,036 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CM98