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Solar panel cost in Chelmsford (CM98)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for CM98 (Chelmsford) 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
9.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£858
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,299
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 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 26.4p 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)
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: £858, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 9.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2072 kWh 829 kWh 1243 kWh £219 £124 £343 £3,256 9.5 yrs £3,605
3 kW 3108 kWh 1243 kWh 1865 kWh £328 £187 £515 £4,883 9.5 yrs £5,407
4 kW 4145 kWh 1658 kWh 2487 kWh £437 £249 £686 £6,511 9.5 yrs £7,209
5 kW 5181 kWh 2072 kWh 3108 kWh £547 £311 £858 £8,139 9.5 yrs £9,012
6 kW 6217 kWh 2487 kWh 3730 kWh £656 £373 £1,029 £9,767 9.5 yrs £10,814
7 kW 7253 kWh 2901 kWh 4352 kWh £765 £435 £1,201 £11,394 9.5 yrs £12,616
8 kW 8289 kWh 3316 kWh 4974 kWh £875 £497 £1,372 £13,022 9.5 yrs £14,419

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: £1,027, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 10.0 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 £328 £83 £411 £5,356 13.0 yrs £2,862
3 kW 3108 kWh 1865 kWh 1243 kWh £492 £124 £616 £6,983 11.3 yrs £5,344
4 kW 4145 kWh 2487 kWh 1658 kWh £656 £166 £822 £8,611 10.5 yrs £7,825
5 kW 5181 kWh 3108 kWh 2072 kWh £820 £207 £1,027 £10,239 10.0 yrs £10,306
6 kW 6217 kWh 3730 kWh 2487 kWh £984 £249 £1,233 £11,867 9.6 yrs £12,787
7 kW 7253 kWh 4352 kWh 2901 kWh £1,148 £290 £1,438 £13,494 9.4 yrs £15,269
8 kW 8289 kWh 4974 kWh 3316 kWh £1,312 £332 £1,644 £15,122 9.2 yrs £17,750

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: £1,112, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 10.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2072 kWh 1451 kWh 622 kWh £383 £62 £445 £6,756 15.2 yrs £2,141
3 kW 3108 kWh 2176 kWh 933 kWh £574 £93 £667 £8,383 12.6 yrs £4,962
4 kW 4145 kWh 2901 kWh 1243 kWh £765 £124 £890 £10,011 11.3 yrs £7,783
5 kW 5181 kWh 3627 kWh 1554 kWh £957 £155 £1,112 £11,639 10.5 yrs £10,603
6 kW 6217 kWh 4352 kWh 1865 kWh £1,148 £187 £1,335 £13,267 9.9 yrs £13,424
7 kW 7253 kWh 5077 kWh 2176 kWh £1,339 £218 £1,557 £14,894 9.6 yrs £16,245
8 kW 8289 kWh 5802 kWh 2487 kWh £1,531 £249 £1,779 £16,522 9.3 yrs £19,065

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: £1,138, Upfront: £13,389, 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 1513 kWh 560 kWh £399 £56 £455 £8,506 18.7 yrs £595
3 kW 3108 kWh 2269 kWh 839 kWh £599 £84 £683 £10,133 14.8 yrs £3,518
4 kW 4145 kWh 3026 kWh 1119 kWh £798 £112 £910 £11,761 12.9 yrs £6,440
5 kW 5181 kWh 3782 kWh 1399 kWh £998 £140 £1,138 £13,389 11.8 yrs £9,363
6 kW 6217 kWh 4538 kWh 1679 kWh £1,197 £168 £1,365 £15,017 11.0 yrs £12,285
7 kW 7253 kWh 5295 kWh 1958 kWh £1,397 £196 £1,593 £16,644 10.5 yrs £15,208
8 kW 8289 kWh 6051 kWh 2238 kWh £1,596 £224 £1,820 £18,272 10.0 yrs £18,130

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: £1,155, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 13.1 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 £410 £52 £462 £10,256 22.2 yrs £-1,019
3 kW 3108 kWh 2331 kWh 777 kWh £615 £78 £693 £11,883 17.2 yrs £1,971
4 kW 4145 kWh 3108 kWh 1036 kWh £820 £104 £924 £13,511 14.6 yrs £4,962
5 kW 5181 kWh 3886 kWh 1295 kWh £1,025 £130 £1,155 £15,139 13.1 yrs £7,952
6 kW 6217 kWh 4663 kWh 1554 kWh £1,230 £155 £1,385 £16,767 12.1 yrs £10,942
7 kW 7253 kWh 5440 kWh 1813 kWh £1,435 £181 £1,616 £18,394 11.4 yrs £13,933
8 kW 8289 kWh 6217 kWh 2072 kWh £1,640 £207 £1,847 £20,022 10.8 yrs £16,923

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: £1,172, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 15.0 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 £421 £48 £469 £12,706 27.1 yrs £-3,333
3 kW 3108 kWh 2394 kWh 715 kWh £631 £71 £703 £14,333 20.4 yrs £-275
4 kW 4145 kWh 3191 kWh 953 kWh £842 £95 £937 £15,961 17.0 yrs £2,783
5 kW 5181 kWh 3989 kWh 1192 kWh £1,052 £119 £1,172 £17,589 15.0 yrs £5,841
6 kW 6217 kWh 4787 kWh 1430 kWh £1,263 £143 £1,406 £19,217 13.7 yrs £8,900
7 kW 7253 kWh 5585 kWh 1668 kWh £1,473 £167 £1,640 £20,844 12.7 yrs £11,958
8 kW 8289 kWh 6383 kWh 1907 kWh £1,684 £191 £1,874 £22,472 12.0 yrs £15,016

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 Chelmsford

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 CM98

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

Solar Payback Index Rank #275 of 2996
9.5 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£857 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1010 of 2996
23.0% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£857 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −21.9% West −20.3%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in CM98

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 40 Jan 54 Feb 88 Mar 117 Apr 123 May 125 Jun 125 Jul 113 Aug 98 Sep 70 Oct 48 Nov 36 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 50.0% 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 86 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 173 kWh in winter, or 345 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.38p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.94p/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, 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

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