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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CO5 (Colchester)

See if solar pays off for you in Colchester — 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
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,050
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,055
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 6.0 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: £875, 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 £2,934
3 kW 3162 kWh 1265 kWh 1897 kWh £336 £190 £525 £6,104 11.6 yrs £4,401
4 kW 4216 kWh 1686 kWh 2529 kWh £447 £253 £700 £8,138 11.6 yrs £5,868
5 kW 5270 kWh 2108 kWh 3162 kWh £559 £316 £875 £10,173 11.6 yrs £7,335
6 kW 6324 kWh 2529 kWh 3794 kWh £671 £379 £1,050 £12,207 11.6 yrs £8,802
7 kW 7377 kWh 2951 kWh 4426 kWh £783 £443 £1,226 £14,242 11.6 yrs £10,269
8 kW 8431 kWh 3373 kWh 5059 kWh £895 £506 £1,401 £16,276 11.6 yrs £11,736

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 £2,228
3 kW 3162 kWh 1897 kWh 1265 kWh £503 £126 £630 £8,204 13.0 yrs £4,392
4 kW 4216 kWh 2529 kWh 1686 kWh £671 £169 £840 £10,238 12.2 yrs £6,556
5 kW 5270 kWh 3162 kWh 2108 kWh £839 £211 £1,050 £12,273 11.7 yrs £8,719
6 kW 6324 kWh 3794 kWh 2529 kWh £1,007 £253 £1,260 £14,307 11.4 yrs £10,883
7 kW 7377 kWh 4426 kWh 2951 kWh £1,174 £295 £1,469 £16,342 11.1 yrs £13,047
8 kW 8431 kWh 5059 kWh 3373 kWh £1,342 £337 £1,679 £18,376 10.9 yrs £15,211

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 1475 kWh 632 kWh £391 £63 £455 £7,569 16.6 yrs £1,525
3 kW 3162 kWh 2213 kWh 949 kWh £587 £95 £682 £9,604 14.1 yrs £4,037
4 kW 4216 kWh 2951 kWh 1265 kWh £783 £126 £909 £11,638 12.8 yrs £6,549
5 kW 5270 kWh 3689 kWh 1581 kWh £979 £158 £1,137 £13,673 12.0 yrs £9,062
6 kW 6324 kWh 4426 kWh 1897 kWh £1,174 £190 £1,364 £15,707 11.5 yrs £11,574
7 kW 7377 kWh 5164 kWh 2213 kWh £1,370 £221 £1,591 £17,742 11.1 yrs £14,086
8 kW 8431 kWh 5902 kWh 2529 kWh £1,566 £253 £1,819 £19,776 10.9 yrs £16,598

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 £-16
3 kW 3162 kWh 2308 kWh 854 kWh £612 £85 £698 £11,354 16.3 yrs £2,601
4 kW 4216 kWh 3077 kWh 1138 kWh £816 £114 £930 £13,388 14.4 yrs £5,217
5 kW 5270 kWh 3847 kWh 1423 kWh £1,021 £142 £1,163 £15,423 13.3 yrs £7,834
6 kW 6324 kWh 4616 kWh 1707 kWh £1,225 £171 £1,395 £17,457 12.5 yrs £10,451
7 kW 7377 kWh 5386 kWh 1992 kWh £1,429 £199 £1,628 £19,492 12.0 yrs £13,068
8 kW 8431 kWh 6155 kWh 2276 kWh £1,633 £228 £1,861 £21,526 11.6 yrs £15,685

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: £1,180, 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 £419 £53 £472 £11,069 23.4 yrs £-1,627
3 kW 3162 kWh 2371 kWh 790 kWh £629 £79 £708 £13,104 18.5 yrs £1,060
4 kW 4216 kWh 3162 kWh 1054 kWh £839 £105 £944 £15,138 16.0 yrs £3,746
5 kW 5270 kWh 3952 kWh 1317 kWh £1,049 £132 £1,180 £17,173 14.5 yrs £6,433
6 kW 6324 kWh 4743 kWh 1581 kWh £1,258 £158 £1,416 £19,207 13.6 yrs £9,119
7 kW 7377 kWh 5533 kWh 1844 kWh £1,468 £184 £1,652 £21,242 12.9 yrs £11,806
8 kW 8431 kWh 6324 kWh 2108 kWh £1,678 £211 £1,888 £23,276 12.3 yrs £14,492

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 £-3,938
3 kW 3162 kWh 2435 kWh 727 kWh £646 £73 £719 £15,554 21.6 yrs £-1,181
4 kW 4216 kWh 3246 kWh 970 kWh £861 £97 £958 £17,588 18.4 yrs £1,575
5 kW 5270 kWh 4058 kWh 1212 kWh £1,076 £121 £1,198 £19,623 16.4 yrs £4,331
6 kW 6324 kWh 4869 kWh 1454 kWh £1,292 £145 £1,437 £21,657 15.1 yrs £7,087
7 kW 7377 kWh 5681 kWh 1697 kWh £1,507 £170 £1,677 £23,692 14.1 yrs £9,843
8 kW 8431 kWh 6492 kWh 1939 kWh £1,722 £194 £1,916 £25,726 13.4 yrs £12,600

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 CO5

Figures below are tailored to CO5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #523 of 2182
5.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #214 of 2997
10.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,207 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #192 of 2997
14.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,207 /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
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 66% • Flats: 14% • Bungalows: 18% Based on 7,789 properties

Coverage

Colchester (81%)|Braintree (18%)|Maldon (2%)

Areas Covered

Mersea and Pyefleet, Tiptree, Kelvedon & Feering, Marks Tey and Layer, Old Heath and The Hythe, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Castle, Great Totham

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

CM8 (Braintree)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,050 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CO5
CO3 (Colchester)
≈9.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,047 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CO5
CM9 (Maldon)
≈10.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,054 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CO5
CO2 (Colchester)
≈11.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,062 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CO5
CO6 (Colchester)
≈12.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CO5
CO1 (Colchester)
≈12.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,062 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CO5

Similar sunshine across the UK

TN22 (Wealden)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CO5
BH22 (Dorset)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CO5
DT11 (Dorset)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CO5