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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CO10 (Babergh)

See if solar pays off for you in Babergh — 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
11.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£855
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,206
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 1030 kWh/kW — 20 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 1030 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)
1030 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: £855, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2059 kWh 824 kWh 1235 kWh £219 £124 £342 £4,069 11.9 yrs £2,772
3 kW 3089 kWh 1235 kWh 1853 kWh £328 £185 £513 £6,104 11.9 yrs £4,158
4 kW 4118 kWh 1647 kWh 2471 kWh £437 £247 £684 £8,138 11.9 yrs £5,544
5 kW 5148 kWh 2059 kWh 3089 kWh £546 £309 £855 £10,173 11.9 yrs £6,930
6 kW 6177 kWh 2471 kWh 3706 kWh £656 £371 £1,026 £12,207 11.9 yrs £8,316
7 kW 7207 kWh 2883 kWh 4324 kWh £765 £432 £1,197 £14,242 11.9 yrs £9,702
8 kW 8236 kWh 3294 kWh 4942 kWh £874 £494 £1,368 £16,276 11.9 yrs £11,088

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: £1,025, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2059 kWh 1235 kWh 824 kWh £328 £82 £410 £6,169 15.0 yrs £2,033
3 kW 3089 kWh 1853 kWh 1235 kWh £492 £124 £615 £8,204 13.3 yrs £4,100
4 kW 4118 kWh 2471 kWh 1647 kWh £656 £165 £820 £10,238 12.5 yrs £6,167
5 kW 5148 kWh 3089 kWh 2059 kWh £819 £206 £1,025 £12,273 12.0 yrs £8,234
6 kW 6177 kWh 3706 kWh 2471 kWh £983 £247 £1,230 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,300
7 kW 7207 kWh 4324 kWh 2883 kWh £1,147 £288 £1,435 £16,342 11.4 yrs £12,367
8 kW 8236 kWh 4942 kWh 3294 kWh £1,311 £329 £1,640 £18,376 11.2 yrs £14,434

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: £1,110, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2059 kWh 1441 kWh 618 kWh £382 £62 £444 £7,569 17.0 yrs £1,314
3 kW 3089 kWh 2162 kWh 927 kWh £574 £93 £666 £9,604 14.4 yrs £3,721
4 kW 4118 kWh 2883 kWh 1235 kWh £765 £124 £888 £11,638 13.1 yrs £6,128
5 kW 5148 kWh 3603 kWh 1544 kWh £956 £154 £1,110 £13,673 12.3 yrs £8,535
6 kW 6177 kWh 4324 kWh 1853 kWh £1,147 £185 £1,332 £15,707 11.8 yrs £10,943
7 kW 7207 kWh 5045 kWh 2162 kWh £1,338 £216 £1,555 £17,742 11.4 yrs £13,350
8 kW 8236 kWh 5765 kWh 2471 kWh £1,530 £247 £1,777 £19,776 11.1 yrs £15,757

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: £1,136, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2059 kWh 1503 kWh 556 kWh £399 £56 £454 £9,319 20.5 yrs £-232
3 kW 3089 kWh 2255 kWh 834 kWh £598 £83 £682 £11,354 16.7 yrs £2,278
4 kW 4118 kWh 3006 kWh 1112 kWh £798 £111 £909 £13,388 14.7 yrs £4,787
5 kW 5148 kWh 3758 kWh 1390 kWh £997 £139 £1,136 £15,423 13.6 yrs £7,296
6 kW 6177 kWh 4509 kWh 1668 kWh £1,196 £167 £1,363 £17,457 12.8 yrs £9,805
7 kW 7207 kWh 5261 kWh 1946 kWh £1,396 £195 £1,590 £19,492 12.3 yrs £12,314
8 kW 8236 kWh 6012 kWh 2224 kWh £1,595 £222 £1,817 £21,526 11.8 yrs £14,824

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: £1,153, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2059 kWh 1544 kWh 515 kWh £410 £51 £461 £11,069 24.0 yrs £-1,845
3 kW 3089 kWh 2316 kWh 772 kWh £615 £77 £692 £13,104 18.9 yrs £732
4 kW 4118 kWh 3089 kWh 1030 kWh £819 £103 £922 £15,138 16.4 yrs £3,309
5 kW 5148 kWh 3861 kWh 1287 kWh £1,024 £129 £1,153 £17,173 14.9 yrs £5,886
6 kW 6177 kWh 4633 kWh 1544 kWh £1,229 £154 £1,384 £19,207 13.9 yrs £8,464
7 kW 7207 kWh 5405 kWh 1802 kWh £1,434 £180 £1,614 £21,242 13.2 yrs £11,041
8 kW 8236 kWh 6177 kWh 2059 kWh £1,639 £206 £1,845 £23,276 12.6 yrs £13,618

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: £1,170, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2059 kWh 1585 kWh 474 kWh £421 £47 £468 £13,519 28.9 yrs £-4,159
3 kW 3089 kWh 2378 kWh 710 kWh £631 £71 £702 £15,554 22.2 yrs £-1,514
4 kW 4118 kWh 3171 kWh 947 kWh £841 £95 £936 £17,588 18.8 yrs £1,131
5 kW 5148 kWh 3964 kWh 1184 kWh £1,052 £118 £1,170 £19,623 16.8 yrs £3,777
6 kW 6177 kWh 4756 kWh 1421 kWh £1,262 £142 £1,404 £21,657 15.4 yrs £6,422
7 kW 7207 kWh 5549 kWh 1658 kWh £1,472 £166 £1,638 £23,692 14.5 yrs £9,067
8 kW 8236 kWh 6342 kWh 1894 kWh £1,683 £189 £1,872 £25,726 13.7 yrs £11,713

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 CO10

Figures below are tailored to CO10 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #923 of 2182
5.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #395 of 2997
10.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£983 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #958 of 2997
17.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£983 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1030kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1030 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: 12% • Bungalows: 14% Based on 13,878 properties

Coverage

Babergh (83%)|West Suffolk (9%)|Braintree (8%)

Areas Covered

Lavenham, Sudbury North West, Sudbury South West, Long Melford, Clare, Hundon & Kedington, Great Cornard, Sudbury South East + 5 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

CO8 (Braintree)
≈8.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CO10
CO9 (Braintree)
≈13.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CO10
CO6 (Colchester)
≈13.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CO10
IP7 (Babergh)
≈15.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,050 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CO10
IP29 (West Suffolk)
≈17.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,013 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CO10
CO3 (Colchester)
≈19.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,047 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CO10

Similar sunshine across the UK

TR7 (Cornwall)
~1,030 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CO10
BH31 (Dorset)
~1,030 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CO10
TR1 (Cornwall)
~1,029 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CO10