Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in CT7 (Thanet)

See if solar pays off for you in Thanet — 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
£1,098
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,233
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 1091 kWh/kW — 62 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 1091 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)
1091 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: £915, 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 2182 kWh 873 kWh 1309 kWh £235 £131 £366 £4,069 11.1 yrs £3,248
3 kW 3273 kWh 1309 kWh 1964 kWh £352 £196 £549 £6,104 11.1 yrs £4,872
4 kW 4364 kWh 1746 kWh 2618 kWh £470 £262 £732 £8,138 11.1 yrs £6,496
5 kW 5455 kWh 2182 kWh 3273 kWh £587 £327 £915 £10,173 11.1 yrs £8,120
6 kW 6546 kWh 2618 kWh 3927 kWh £705 £393 £1,098 £12,207 11.1 yrs £9,745
7 kW 7637 kWh 3055 kWh 4582 kWh £822 £458 £1,281 £14,242 11.1 yrs £11,369
8 kW 8728 kWh 3491 kWh 5237 kWh £940 £524 £1,463 £16,276 11.1 yrs £12,993

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: £1,099, 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 2182 kWh 1309 kWh 873 kWh £352 £87 £440 £6,169 14.0 yrs £2,625
3 kW 3273 kWh 1964 kWh 1309 kWh £529 £131 £660 £8,204 12.4 yrs £4,987
4 kW 4364 kWh 2618 kWh 1746 kWh £705 £175 £879 £10,238 11.6 yrs £7,350
5 kW 5455 kWh 3273 kWh 2182 kWh £881 £218 £1,099 £12,273 11.2 yrs £9,712
6 kW 6546 kWh 3927 kWh 2618 kWh £1,057 £262 £1,319 £14,307 10.8 yrs £12,075
7 kW 7637 kWh 4582 kWh 3055 kWh £1,233 £305 £1,539 £16,342 10.6 yrs £14,437
8 kW 8728 kWh 5237 kWh 3491 kWh £1,410 £349 £1,759 £18,376 10.4 yrs £16,800

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: £1,192, 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 2182 kWh 1527 kWh 655 kWh £411 £65 £477 £7,569 15.9 yrs £1,963
3 kW 3273 kWh 2291 kWh 982 kWh £617 £98 £715 £9,604 13.4 yrs £4,695
4 kW 4364 kWh 3055 kWh 1309 kWh £822 £131 £953 £11,638 12.2 yrs £7,427
5 kW 5455 kWh 3818 kWh 1636 kWh £1,028 £164 £1,192 £13,673 11.5 yrs £10,158
6 kW 6546 kWh 4582 kWh 1964 kWh £1,233 £196 £1,430 £15,707 11.0 yrs £12,890
7 kW 7637 kWh 5346 kWh 2291 kWh £1,439 £229 £1,668 £17,742 10.6 yrs £15,621
8 kW 8728 kWh 6109 kWh 2618 kWh £1,645 £262 £1,906 £19,776 10.4 yrs £18,353

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: £1,219, 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 2182 kWh 1593 kWh 589 kWh £429 £59 £488 £9,319 19.1 yrs £435
3 kW 3273 kWh 2389 kWh 884 kWh £643 £88 £732 £11,354 15.5 yrs £3,277
4 kW 4364 kWh 3186 kWh 1178 kWh £858 £118 £975 £13,388 13.7 yrs £6,120
5 kW 5455 kWh 3982 kWh 1473 kWh £1,072 £147 £1,219 £15,423 12.6 yrs £8,962
6 kW 6546 kWh 4778 kWh 1767 kWh £1,286 £177 £1,463 £17,457 11.9 yrs £11,804
7 kW 7637 kWh 5575 kWh 2062 kWh £1,501 £206 £1,707 £19,492 11.4 yrs £14,647
8 kW 8728 kWh 6371 kWh 2356 kWh £1,715 £236 £1,951 £21,526 11.0 yrs £17,489

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: £1,238, 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 2182 kWh 1636 kWh 545 kWh £441 £55 £495 £11,069 22.4 yrs £-1,168
3 kW 3273 kWh 2455 kWh 818 kWh £661 £82 £743 £13,104 17.6 yrs £1,749
4 kW 4364 kWh 3273 kWh 1091 kWh £881 £109 £990 £15,138 15.3 yrs £4,665
5 kW 5455 kWh 4091 kWh 1364 kWh £1,101 £136 £1,238 £17,173 13.9 yrs £7,581
6 kW 6546 kWh 4909 kWh 1636 kWh £1,322 £164 £1,485 £19,207 12.9 yrs £10,497
7 kW 7637 kWh 5727 kWh 1909 kWh £1,542 £191 £1,733 £21,242 12.3 yrs £13,414
8 kW 8728 kWh 6546 kWh 2182 kWh £1,762 £218 £1,980 £23,276 11.8 yrs £16,330

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: £1,256, Upfront: £19,623, 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 2182 kWh 1680 kWh 502 kWh £452 £50 £502 £13,519 26.9 yrs £-3,470
3 kW 3273 kWh 2520 kWh 753 kWh £678 £75 £754 £15,554 20.6 yrs £-480
4 kW 4364 kWh 3360 kWh 1004 kWh £905 £100 £1,005 £17,588 17.5 yrs £2,510
5 kW 5455 kWh 4200 kWh 1255 kWh £1,131 £125 £1,256 £19,623 15.6 yrs £5,500
6 kW 6546 kWh 5040 kWh 1506 kWh £1,357 £151 £1,507 £21,657 14.4 yrs £8,490
7 kW 7637 kWh 5880 kWh 1756 kWh £1,583 £176 £1,759 £23,692 13.5 yrs £11,480
8 kW 8728 kWh 6720 kWh 2007 kWh £1,809 £201 £2,010 £25,726 12.8 yrs £14,470

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 CT7

Figures below are tailored to CT7 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #693 of 2182
5.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #94 of 2997
9.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,264 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #67 of 2997
13.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,264 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1091kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1091 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: 47% • Flats: 24% • Bungalows: 27% Based on 3,682 properties

Coverage

Thanet (100%)

Areas Covered

Birchington South, Birchington North, Thanet Villages, Cliftonville West, Cliftonville East, Westbrook, Westgate-on-Sea, Reculver

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

CT8 (Thanet)
≈2.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,092 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT7
CT9 (Thanet)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,086 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CT7
CT12 (Thanet)
≈6.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,094 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT7
CT11 (Thanet)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,078 kWh/kWp · -1% vs CT7
CT10 (Thanet)
≈9.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,071 kWh/kWp · -2% vs CT7
CT13 (Dover)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,100 kWh/kWp · +1% vs CT7

Similar sunshine across the UK

TR25 (Isles of Scilly)
~1,092 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT7
BH8 (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole)
~1,092 kWh/kWp · +0% vs CT7
PO6 (Portsmouth)
~1,090 kWh/kWp · -0% vs CT7