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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CR8 (Croydon)

See if solar pays off for you in Croydon — 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
12.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£977
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,212
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 South East, the current unit rate is 26.92p/kWh with a 47.60p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 971 kWh/kW — 58 below the regional median (1029).

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 971 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.9p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.9p/kWh
Standing charge
47.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
971 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: £814, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1942 kWh 777 kWh 1165 kWh £209 £117 £326 £4,069 12.5 yrs £2,443
3 kW 2913 kWh 1165 kWh 1748 kWh £314 £175 £488 £6,104 12.5 yrs £3,664
4 kW 3883 kWh 1553 kWh 2330 kWh £418 £233 £651 £8,138 12.5 yrs £4,885
5 kW 4854 kWh 1942 kWh 2913 kWh £523 £291 £814 £10,173 12.5 yrs £6,106
6 kW 5825 kWh 2330 kWh 3495 kWh £627 £350 £977 £12,207 12.5 yrs £7,328
7 kW 6796 kWh 2718 kWh 4078 kWh £732 £408 £1,140 £14,242 12.5 yrs £8,549
8 kW 7767 kWh 3107 kWh 4660 kWh £836 £466 £1,302 £16,276 12.5 yrs £9,770

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: £978, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1942 kWh 1165 kWh 777 kWh £314 £78 £391 £6,169 15.8 yrs £1,657
3 kW 2913 kWh 1748 kWh 1165 kWh £470 £117 £587 £8,204 14.0 yrs £3,535
4 kW 3883 kWh 2330 kWh 1553 kWh £627 £155 £783 £10,238 13.1 yrs £5,413
5 kW 4854 kWh 2913 kWh 1942 kWh £784 £194 £978 £12,273 12.5 yrs £7,292
6 kW 5825 kWh 3495 kWh 2330 kWh £941 £233 £1,174 £14,307 12.2 yrs £9,170
7 kW 6796 kWh 4078 kWh 2718 kWh £1,098 £272 £1,370 £16,342 11.9 yrs £11,049
8 kW 7767 kWh 4660 kWh 3107 kWh £1,254 £311 £1,565 £18,376 11.7 yrs £12,927

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: £1,060, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1942 kWh 1359 kWh 583 kWh £366 £58 £424 £7,569 17.8 yrs £914
3 kW 2913 kWh 2039 kWh 874 kWh £549 £87 £636 £9,604 15.1 yrs £3,121
4 kW 3883 kWh 2718 kWh 1165 kWh £732 £117 £848 £11,638 13.7 yrs £5,328
5 kW 4854 kWh 3398 kWh 1456 kWh £915 £146 £1,060 £13,673 12.9 yrs £7,534
6 kW 5825 kWh 4078 kWh 1748 kWh £1,098 £175 £1,272 £15,707 12.3 yrs £9,741
7 kW 6796 kWh 4757 kWh 2039 kWh £1,281 £204 £1,484 £17,742 12.0 yrs £11,948
8 kW 7767 kWh 5437 kWh 2330 kWh £1,464 £233 £1,697 £19,776 11.7 yrs £14,155

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: £1,085, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1942 kWh 1417 kWh 524 kWh £382 £52 £434 £9,319 21.5 yrs £-639
3 kW 2913 kWh 2126 kWh 786 kWh £572 £79 £651 £11,354 17.4 yrs £1,666
4 kW 3883 kWh 2835 kWh 1049 kWh £763 £105 £868 £13,388 15.4 yrs £3,972
5 kW 4854 kWh 3544 kWh 1311 kWh £954 £131 £1,085 £15,423 14.2 yrs £6,277
6 kW 5825 kWh 4252 kWh 1573 kWh £1,145 £157 £1,302 £17,457 13.4 yrs £8,583
7 kW 6796 kWh 4961 kWh 1835 kWh £1,335 £183 £1,519 £19,492 12.8 yrs £10,888
8 kW 7767 kWh 5670 kWh 2097 kWh £1,526 £210 £1,736 £21,526 12.4 yrs £13,194

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: £1,101, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1942 kWh 1456 kWh 485 kWh £392 £49 £441 £11,069 25.1 yrs £-2,258
3 kW 2913 kWh 2184 kWh 728 kWh £588 £73 £661 £13,104 19.8 yrs £113
4 kW 3883 kWh 2913 kWh 971 kWh £784 £97 £881 £15,138 17.2 yrs £2,485
5 kW 4854 kWh 3641 kWh 1214 kWh £980 £121 £1,101 £17,173 15.6 yrs £4,856
6 kW 5825 kWh 4369 kWh 1456 kWh £1,176 £146 £1,322 £19,207 14.5 yrs £7,227
7 kW 6796 kWh 5097 kWh 1699 kWh £1,372 £170 £1,542 £21,242 13.8 yrs £9,598
8 kW 7767 kWh 5825 kWh 1942 kWh £1,568 £194 £1,762 £23,276 13.2 yrs £11,969

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: £1,118, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1942 kWh 1495 kWh 447 kWh £402 £45 £447 £13,519 30.2 yrs £-4,576
3 kW 2913 kWh 2243 kWh 670 kWh £604 £67 £671 £15,554 23.2 yrs £-2,139
4 kW 3883 kWh 2990 kWh 893 kWh £805 £89 £894 £17,588 19.7 yrs £297
5 kW 4854 kWh 3738 kWh 1116 kWh £1,006 £112 £1,118 £19,623 17.6 yrs £2,734
6 kW 5825 kWh 4485 kWh 1340 kWh £1,207 £134 £1,341 £21,657 16.1 yrs £5,171
7 kW 6796 kWh 5233 kWh 1563 kWh £1,409 £156 £1,565 £23,692 15.1 yrs £7,608
8 kW 7767 kWh 5980 kWh 1786 kWh £1,610 £179 £1,789 £25,726 14.4 yrs £10,045

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 CR8

Figures below are tailored to CR8 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1145 of 2182
4.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1114 of 2997
10.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,125 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #456 of 2997
15.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,125 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
971kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~971 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: 44% • Flats: 49% • Bungalows: 4% Based on 9,533 properties

Coverage

Croydon (96%)|Sutton (2%)|Tandridge (1%)

Areas Covered

Purley & Woodcote, Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown, Kenley, Addiscombe West, South Beddington & Roundshaw, Coulsdon Town, Portley & Queens Park, Whyteleafe + 3 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 South East

CR2 (Croydon)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CR8
CR5 (Croydon)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~983 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CR8
SM6 (Sutton)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~995 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CR8
CR9 (Croydon)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · +3% vs CR8
CR0 (Croydon)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · +3% vs CR8
CR90 (Croydon)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CR8

Similar sunshine across the UK

YO15 (East Riding of Yorkshire)
~971 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CR8
HP27 (Buckinghamshire)
~971 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CR8
HP17 (Buckinghamshire)
~971 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CR8