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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CT13 (Dover)

See if solar pays off for you in Dover — 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
11.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£922
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£12,873
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 1100 kWh/kW — 71 above the regional median (1029).

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 1100 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)
1100 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: £922, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2199 kWh 880 kWh 1319 kWh £237 £132 £369 £4,069 11.0 yrs £3,306
3 kW 3299 kWh 1319 kWh 1979 kWh £355 £198 £553 £6,104 11.0 yrs £4,958
4 kW 4398 kWh 1759 kWh 2639 kWh £474 £264 £737 £8,138 11.0 yrs £6,611
5 kW 5498 kWh 2199 kWh 3299 kWh £592 £330 £922 £10,173 11.0 yrs £8,264
6 kW 6597 kWh 2639 kWh 3958 kWh £710 £396 £1,106 £12,207 11.0 yrs £9,917
7 kW 7697 kWh 3079 kWh 4618 kWh £829 £462 £1,291 £14,242 11.0 yrs £11,570
8 kW 8796 kWh 3518 kWh 5278 kWh £947 £528 £1,475 £16,276 11.0 yrs £13,222

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: £1,108, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2199 kWh 1319 kWh 880 kWh £355 £88 £443 £6,169 13.9 yrs £2,694
3 kW 3299 kWh 1979 kWh 1319 kWh £533 £132 £665 £8,204 12.3 yrs £5,091
4 kW 4398 kWh 2639 kWh 1759 kWh £710 £176 £886 £10,238 11.6 yrs £7,488
5 kW 5498 kWh 3299 kWh 2199 kWh £888 £220 £1,108 £12,273 11.1 yrs £9,885
6 kW 6597 kWh 3958 kWh 2639 kWh £1,066 £264 £1,329 £14,307 10.8 yrs £12,282
7 kW 7697 kWh 4618 kWh 3079 kWh £1,243 £308 £1,551 £16,342 10.5 yrs £14,679
8 kW 8796 kWh 5278 kWh 3518 kWh £1,421 £352 £1,773 £18,376 10.4 yrs £17,076

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: £1,201, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2199 kWh 1539 kWh 660 kWh £414 £66 £480 £7,569 15.8 yrs £2,038
3 kW 3299 kWh 2309 kWh 990 kWh £622 £99 £721 £9,604 13.3 yrs £4,807
4 kW 4398 kWh 3079 kWh 1319 kWh £829 £132 £961 £11,638 12.1 yrs £7,576
5 kW 5498 kWh 3848 kWh 1649 kWh £1,036 £165 £1,201 £13,673 11.4 yrs £10,345
6 kW 6597 kWh 4618 kWh 1979 kWh £1,243 £198 £1,441 £15,707 10.9 yrs £13,114
7 kW 7697 kWh 5388 kWh 2309 kWh £1,450 £231 £1,681 £17,742 10.6 yrs £15,883
8 kW 8796 kWh 6157 kWh 2639 kWh £1,658 £264 £1,921 £19,776 10.3 yrs £18,652

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: £1,229, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2199 kWh 1605 kWh 594 kWh £432 £59 £492 £9,319 19.0 yrs £511
3 kW 3299 kWh 2408 kWh 891 kWh £648 £89 £737 £11,354 15.4 yrs £3,392
4 kW 4398 kWh 3211 kWh 1187 kWh £864 £119 £983 £13,388 13.6 yrs £6,273
5 kW 5498 kWh 4013 kWh 1484 kWh £1,080 £148 £1,229 £15,423 12.6 yrs £9,153
6 kW 6597 kWh 4816 kWh 1781 kWh £1,296 £178 £1,475 £17,457 11.8 yrs £12,034
7 kW 7697 kWh 5618 kWh 2078 kWh £1,512 £208 £1,720 £19,492 11.3 yrs £14,915
8 kW 8796 kWh 6421 kWh 2375 kWh £1,729 £237 £1,966 £21,526 10.9 yrs £17,795

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: £1,247, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2199 kWh 1649 kWh 550 kWh £444 £55 £499 £11,069 22.2 yrs £-1,090
3 kW 3299 kWh 2474 kWh 825 kWh £666 £82 £748 £13,104 17.5 yrs £1,865
4 kW 4398 kWh 3299 kWh 1100 kWh £888 £110 £998 £15,138 15.2 yrs £4,820
5 kW 5498 kWh 4123 kWh 1374 kWh £1,110 £137 £1,247 £17,173 13.8 yrs £7,775
6 kW 6597 kWh 4948 kWh 1649 kWh £1,332 £165 £1,497 £19,207 12.8 yrs £10,730
7 kW 7697 kWh 5772 kWh 1924 kWh £1,554 £192 £1,746 £21,242 12.2 yrs £13,685
8 kW 8796 kWh 6597 kWh 2199 kWh £1,776 £220 £1,996 £23,276 11.7 yrs £16,641

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: £1,266, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2199 kWh 1693 kWh 506 kWh £456 £51 £506 £13,519 26.7 yrs £-3,391
3 kW 3299 kWh 2540 kWh 759 kWh £684 £76 £760 £15,554 20.5 yrs £-362
4 kW 4398 kWh 3386 kWh 1012 kWh £912 £101 £1,013 £17,588 17.4 yrs £2,668
5 kW 5498 kWh 4233 kWh 1264 kWh £1,140 £126 £1,266 £19,623 15.5 yrs £5,697
6 kW 6597 kWh 5080 kWh 1517 kWh £1,367 £152 £1,519 £21,657 14.3 yrs £8,727
7 kW 7697 kWh 5926 kWh 1770 kWh £1,595 £177 £1,772 £23,692 13.4 yrs £11,756
8 kW 8796 kWh 6773 kWh 2023 kWh £1,823 £202 £2,026 £25,726 12.7 yrs £14,786

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 CT13

Figures below are tailored to CT13 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #969 of 2182
5.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #58 of 2997
9.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,061 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #603 of 2997
16.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,061 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1100kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1100 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: 70% • Flats: 16% • Bungalows: 13% Based on 2,760 properties

Coverage

Dover (100%)

Areas Covered

Sandwich, Eastry Rural, Little Stour & Ashstone, Thanet Villages, North Deal

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

CT14 (Dover)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,086 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CT13
CT12 (Thanet)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,094 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CT13
CT11 (Thanet)
≈8.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,078 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CT13
CT3 (Dover)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,106 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CT13
CT7 (Thanet)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,091 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CT13
CT10 (Thanet)
≈11.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,071 kWh/kWp · -3% vs CT13

Similar sunshine across the UK

CM0 (Maldon)
~1,099 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CT13
TR22 (Isles of Scilly)
~1,099 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CT13
TR23 (Isles of Scilly)
~1,101 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT13