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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CT18 (Folkestone and Hythe)

See if solar pays off for you in Folkestone and Hythe — 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
11.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,095
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,165
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 1088 kWh/kW — 59 above 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 1088 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)
1088 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: £912, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2177 kWh 871 kWh 1306 kWh £234 £131 £365 £4,069 11.1 yrs £3,230
3 kW 3265 kWh 1306 kWh 1959 kWh £352 £196 £547 £6,104 11.1 yrs £4,845
4 kW 4353 kWh 1741 kWh 2612 kWh £469 £261 £730 £8,138 11.1 yrs £6,460
5 kW 5441 kWh 2177 kWh 3265 kWh £586 £326 £912 £10,173 11.1 yrs £8,075
6 kW 6530 kWh 2612 kWh 3918 kWh £703 £392 £1,095 £12,207 11.1 yrs £9,690
7 kW 7618 kWh 3047 kWh 4571 kWh £820 £457 £1,277 £14,242 11.1 yrs £11,306
8 kW 8706 kWh 3482 kWh 5224 kWh £937 £522 £1,460 £16,276 11.1 yrs £12,921

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: £1,097, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2177 kWh 1306 kWh 871 kWh £352 £87 £439 £6,169 14.1 yrs £2,603
3 kW 3265 kWh 1959 kWh 1306 kWh £527 £131 £658 £8,204 12.5 yrs £4,955
4 kW 4353 kWh 2612 kWh 1741 kWh £703 £174 £877 £10,238 11.7 yrs £7,306
5 kW 5441 kWh 3265 kWh 2177 kWh £879 £218 £1,097 £12,273 11.2 yrs £9,658
6 kW 6530 kWh 3918 kWh 2612 kWh £1,055 £261 £1,316 £14,307 10.9 yrs £12,010
7 kW 7618 kWh 4571 kWh 3047 kWh £1,230 £305 £1,535 £16,342 10.6 yrs £14,361
8 kW 8706 kWh 5224 kWh 3482 kWh £1,406 £348 £1,754 £18,376 10.5 yrs £16,713

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: £1,189, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2177 kWh 1524 kWh 653 kWh £410 £65 £475 £7,569 15.9 yrs £1,940
3 kW 3265 kWh 2285 kWh 979 kWh £615 £98 £713 £9,604 13.5 yrs £4,660
4 kW 4353 kWh 3047 kWh 1306 kWh £820 £131 £951 £11,638 12.2 yrs £7,380
5 kW 5441 kWh 3809 kWh 1632 kWh £1,025 £163 £1,189 £13,673 11.5 yrs £10,099
6 kW 6530 kWh 4571 kWh 1959 kWh £1,230 £196 £1,426 £15,707 11.0 yrs £12,819
7 kW 7618 kWh 5332 kWh 2285 kWh £1,436 £229 £1,664 £17,742 10.7 yrs £15,539
8 kW 8706 kWh 6094 kWh 2612 kWh £1,641 £261 £1,902 £19,776 10.4 yrs £18,259

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: £1,216, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2177 kWh 1589 kWh 588 kWh £428 £59 £486 £9,319 19.2 yrs £411
3 kW 3265 kWh 2383 kWh 881 kWh £642 £88 £730 £11,354 15.6 yrs £3,241
4 kW 4353 kWh 3178 kWh 1175 kWh £855 £118 £973 £13,388 13.8 yrs £6,071
5 kW 5441 kWh 3972 kWh 1469 kWh £1,069 £147 £1,216 £15,423 12.7 yrs £8,902
6 kW 6530 kWh 4767 kWh 1763 kWh £1,283 £176 £1,459 £17,457 12.0 yrs £11,732
7 kW 7618 kWh 5561 kWh 2057 kWh £1,497 £206 £1,703 £19,492 11.4 yrs £14,563
8 kW 8706 kWh 6355 kWh 2351 kWh £1,711 £235 £1,946 £21,526 11.1 yrs £17,393

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: £1,235, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2177 kWh 1632 kWh 544 kWh £439 £54 £494 £11,069 22.4 yrs £-1,192
3 kW 3265 kWh 2449 kWh 816 kWh £659 £82 £741 £13,104 17.7 yrs £1,712
4 kW 4353 kWh 3265 kWh 1088 kWh £879 £109 £988 £15,138 15.3 yrs £4,616
5 kW 5441 kWh 4081 kWh 1360 kWh £1,099 £136 £1,235 £17,173 13.9 yrs £7,520
6 kW 6530 kWh 4897 kWh 1632 kWh £1,318 £163 £1,482 £19,207 13.0 yrs £10,424
7 kW 7618 kWh 5713 kWh 1904 kWh £1,538 £190 £1,728 £21,242 12.3 yrs £13,328
8 kW 8706 kWh 6530 kWh 2177 kWh £1,758 £218 £1,975 £23,276 11.8 yrs £16,232

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: £1,253, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2177 kWh 1676 kWh 501 kWh £451 £50 £501 £13,519 27.0 yrs £-3,495
3 kW 3265 kWh 2514 kWh 751 kWh £677 £75 £752 £15,554 20.7 yrs £-517
4 kW 4353 kWh 3352 kWh 1001 kWh £902 £100 £1,002 £17,588 17.5 yrs £2,461
5 kW 5441 kWh 4190 kWh 1251 kWh £1,128 £125 £1,253 £19,623 15.7 yrs £5,438
6 kW 6530 kWh 5028 kWh 1502 kWh £1,353 £150 £1,504 £21,657 14.4 yrs £8,416
7 kW 7618 kWh 5866 kWh 1752 kWh £1,579 £175 £1,754 £23,692 13.5 yrs £11,394
8 kW 8706 kWh 6704 kWh 2002 kWh £1,805 £200 £2,005 £25,726 12.8 yrs £14,371

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 CT18

Figures below are tailored to CT18 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #470 of 2182
5.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #90 of 2997
9.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,261 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #72 of 2997
13.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,261 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1088kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1088 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: 70% • Flats: 8% • Bungalows: 22% Based on 3,767 properties

Coverage

Folkestone and Hythe (86%)|Dover (14%)

Areas Covered

North Downs East, North Downs West, Alkham & Capel-le-Ferne, Folkestone Central, Cheriton, East Folkestone, Folkestone Harbour, Hythe

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

CT19 (Folkestone and Hythe)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,111 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CT18
CT50 (Folkestone and Hythe)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,111 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CT18
CT20 (Folkestone and Hythe)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,111 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CT18
CT21 (Folkestone and Hythe)
≈7.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,090 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT18
CT15 (Dover)
≈9.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,110 kWh/kWp · +2% vs CT18
CT17 (Dover)
≈9.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,089 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT18

Similar sunshine across the UK

PO33 (Isle of Wight)
~1,088 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CT18
BH6 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
~1,089 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT18
BH23 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
~1,089 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT18