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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CT20 (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
10.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£6,104
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£559
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,867
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 1111 kWh/kW — 82 above the regional median (1029).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1111 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)
1111 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: £931, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 10.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2222 kWh 889 kWh 1333 kWh £239 £133 £373 £4,069 10.9 yrs £3,382
3 kW 3333 kWh 1333 kWh 2000 kWh £359 £200 £559 £6,104 10.9 yrs £5,073
4 kW 4444 kWh 1777 kWh 2666 kWh £478 £267 £745 £8,138 10.9 yrs £6,764
5 kW 5554 kWh 2222 kWh 3333 kWh £598 £333 £931 £10,173 10.9 yrs £8,455
6 kW 6665 kWh 2666 kWh 3999 kWh £718 £400 £1,118 £12,207 10.9 yrs £10,146
7 kW 7776 kWh 3111 kWh 4666 kWh £837 £467 £1,304 £14,242 10.9 yrs £11,837
8 kW 8887 kWh 3555 kWh 5332 kWh £957 £533 £1,490 £16,276 10.9 yrs £13,528

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: £1,119, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2222 kWh 1333 kWh 889 kWh £359 £89 £448 £6,169 13.8 yrs £2,786
3 kW 3333 kWh 2000 kWh 1333 kWh £538 £133 £672 £8,204 12.2 yrs £5,229
4 kW 4444 kWh 2666 kWh 1777 kWh £718 £178 £895 £10,238 11.4 yrs £7,671
5 kW 5554 kWh 3333 kWh 2222 kWh £897 £222 £1,119 £12,273 11.0 yrs £10,114
6 kW 6665 kWh 3999 kWh 2666 kWh £1,077 £267 £1,343 £14,307 10.7 yrs £12,557
7 kW 7776 kWh 4666 kWh 3111 kWh £1,256 £311 £1,567 £16,342 10.4 yrs £15,000
8 kW 8887 kWh 5332 kWh 3555 kWh £1,435 £355 £1,791 £18,376 10.3 yrs £17,443

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: £1,213, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2222 kWh 1555 kWh 667 kWh £419 £67 £485 £7,569 15.6 yrs £2,138
3 kW 3333 kWh 2333 kWh 1000 kWh £628 £100 £728 £9,604 13.2 yrs £4,956
4 kW 4444 kWh 3111 kWh 1333 kWh £837 £133 £971 £11,638 12.0 yrs £7,775
5 kW 5554 kWh 3888 kWh 1666 kWh £1,047 £167 £1,213 £13,673 11.3 yrs £10,594
6 kW 6665 kWh 4666 kWh 2000 kWh £1,256 £200 £1,456 £15,707 10.8 yrs £13,413
7 kW 7776 kWh 5443 kWh 2333 kWh £1,465 £233 £1,699 £17,742 10.4 yrs £16,232
8 kW 8887 kWh 6221 kWh 2666 kWh £1,675 £267 £1,941 £19,776 10.2 yrs £19,050

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: £1,242, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2222 kWh 1622 kWh 600 kWh £437 £60 £497 £9,319 18.8 yrs £613
3 kW 3333 kWh 2433 kWh 900 kWh £655 £90 £745 £11,354 15.2 yrs £3,545
4 kW 4444 kWh 3244 kWh 1200 kWh £873 £120 £993 £13,388 13.5 yrs £6,476
5 kW 5554 kWh 4055 kWh 1500 kWh £1,092 £150 £1,242 £15,423 12.4 yrs £9,408
6 kW 6665 kWh 4866 kWh 1800 kWh £1,310 £180 £1,490 £17,457 11.7 yrs £12,339
7 kW 7776 kWh 5677 kWh 2100 kWh £1,528 £210 £1,738 £19,492 11.2 yrs £15,271
8 kW 8887 kWh 6488 kWh 2400 kWh £1,746 £240 £1,986 £21,526 10.8 yrs £18,203

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: £1,260, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2222 kWh 1666 kWh 555 kWh £449 £56 £504 £11,069 22.0 yrs £-986
3 kW 3333 kWh 2500 kWh 833 kWh £673 £83 £756 £13,104 17.3 yrs £2,020
4 kW 4444 kWh 3333 kWh 1111 kWh £897 £111 £1,008 £15,138 15.0 yrs £5,027
5 kW 5554 kWh 4166 kWh 1389 kWh £1,121 £139 £1,260 £17,173 13.6 yrs £8,034
6 kW 6665 kWh 4999 kWh 1666 kWh £1,346 £167 £1,512 £19,207 12.7 yrs £11,041
7 kW 7776 kWh 5832 kWh 1944 kWh £1,570 £194 £1,764 £21,242 12.0 yrs £14,047
8 kW 8887 kWh 6665 kWh 2222 kWh £1,794 £222 £2,017 £23,276 11.5 yrs £17,054

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: £1,279, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2222 kWh 1711 kWh 511 kWh £461 £51 £512 £13,519 26.4 yrs £-3,286
3 kW 3333 kWh 2566 kWh 767 kWh £691 £77 £767 £15,554 20.3 yrs £-204
4 kW 4444 kWh 3422 kWh 1022 kWh £921 £102 £1,023 £17,588 17.2 yrs £2,878
5 kW 5554 kWh 4277 kWh 1278 kWh £1,151 £128 £1,279 £19,623 15.3 yrs £5,960
6 kW 6665 kWh 5132 kWh 1533 kWh £1,382 £153 £1,535 £21,657 14.1 yrs £9,042
7 kW 7776 kWh 5988 kWh 1789 kWh £1,612 £179 £1,791 £23,692 13.2 yrs £12,124
8 kW 8887 kWh 6843 kWh 2044 kWh £1,842 £204 £2,047 £25,726 12.6 yrs £15,206

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 CT20

Figures below are tailored to CT20 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1984 of 2182
4.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #46 of 2997
9.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,072 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #586 of 2997
16.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,072 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1111kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1111 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

⚠️ This area is predominantly flats. Many residents require freeholder approval for solar installations. System size shown reflects houses and bungalows only.

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 31% • Flats: 61% • Bungalows: 2% Based on 10,110 properties

Coverage

Folkestone and Hythe (100%)

Areas Covered

Folkestone Central, Sandgate & West Folkestone, Cheriton, Folkestone Harbour, Hythe, East Folkestone, Hythe Rural, North Downs East + 1 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

CT19 (Folkestone and Hythe)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,111 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT20
CT50 (Folkestone and Hythe)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,111 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT20
CT18 (Folkestone and Hythe)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,088 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CT20
CT21 (Folkestone and Hythe)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,090 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CT20
CT17 (Dover)
≈10.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,089 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CT20
CT16 (Dover)
≈11.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,089 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CT20

Similar sunshine across the UK

PO35 (Isle of Wight)
~1,111 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT20
PO21 (Arun)
~1,111 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT20
PO36 (Isle of Wight)
~1,110 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CT20