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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in DA1 (Dartford)

See if solar pays off for you in Dartford — 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
12.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£664
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,472
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 London, the current unit rate is 25.63p/kWh with a 46.06p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1022 kWh/kW — 31 above the regional median (991).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1022 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
46.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1022 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: £831, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2044 kWh 818 kWh 1226 kWh £210 £123 £332 £4,069 12.2 yrs £2,575
3 kW 3066 kWh 1226 kWh 1840 kWh £314 £184 £498 £6,104 12.2 yrs £3,862
4 kW 4088 kWh 1635 kWh 2453 kWh £419 £245 £664 £8,138 12.2 yrs £5,150
5 kW 5110 kWh 2044 kWh 3066 kWh £524 £307 £831 £10,173 12.2 yrs £6,437
6 kW 6132 kWh 2453 kWh 3679 kWh £629 £368 £997 £12,207 12.2 yrs £7,725
7 kW 7154 kWh 2862 kWh 4293 kWh £733 £429 £1,163 £14,242 12.2 yrs £9,012
8 kW 8176 kWh 3270 kWh 4906 kWh £838 £491 £1,329 £16,276 12.2 yrs £10,300

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: £990, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2044 kWh 1226 kWh 818 kWh £314 £82 £396 £6,169 15.6 yrs £1,753
3 kW 3066 kWh 1840 kWh 1226 kWh £472 £123 £594 £8,204 13.8 yrs £3,679
4 kW 4088 kWh 2453 kWh 1635 kWh £629 £164 £792 £10,238 12.9 yrs £5,606
5 kW 5110 kWh 3066 kWh 2044 kWh £786 £204 £990 £12,273 12.4 yrs £7,532
6 kW 6132 kWh 3679 kWh 2453 kWh £943 £245 £1,188 £14,307 12.0 yrs £9,459
7 kW 7154 kWh 4293 kWh 2862 kWh £1,100 £286 £1,386 £16,342 11.8 yrs £11,385
8 kW 8176 kWh 4906 kWh 3270 kWh £1,257 £327 £1,584 £18,376 11.6 yrs £13,312

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: £1,070, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2044 kWh 1431 kWh 613 kWh £367 £61 £428 £7,569 17.7 yrs £992
3 kW 3066 kWh 2146 kWh 920 kWh £550 £92 £642 £9,604 15.0 yrs £3,238
4 kW 4088 kWh 2862 kWh 1226 kWh £733 £123 £856 £11,638 13.6 yrs £5,484
5 kW 5110 kWh 3577 kWh 1533 kWh £917 £153 £1,070 £13,673 12.8 yrs £7,730
6 kW 6132 kWh 4293 kWh 1840 kWh £1,100 £184 £1,284 £15,707 12.2 yrs £9,976
7 kW 7154 kWh 5008 kWh 2146 kWh £1,284 £215 £1,498 £17,742 11.8 yrs £12,222
8 kW 8176 kWh 5723 kWh 2453 kWh £1,467 £245 £1,712 £19,776 11.6 yrs £14,468

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: £1,094, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2044 kWh 1492 kWh 552 kWh £382 £55 £438 £9,319 21.3 yrs £-566
3 kW 3066 kWh 2238 kWh 828 kWh £574 £83 £656 £11,354 17.3 yrs £1,775
4 kW 4088 kWh 2984 kWh 1104 kWh £765 £110 £875 £13,388 15.3 yrs £4,117
5 kW 5110 kWh 3730 kWh 1380 kWh £956 £138 £1,094 £15,423 14.1 yrs £6,459
6 kW 6132 kWh 4476 kWh 1656 kWh £1,147 £166 £1,313 £17,457 13.3 yrs £8,801
7 kW 7154 kWh 5223 kWh 1932 kWh £1,339 £193 £1,532 £19,492 12.7 yrs £11,143
8 kW 8176 kWh 5969 kWh 2208 kWh £1,530 £221 £1,751 £21,526 12.3 yrs £13,484

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: £1,110, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2044 kWh 1533 kWh 511 kWh £393 £51 £444 £11,069 24.9 yrs £-2,189
3 kW 3066 kWh 2300 kWh 767 kWh £589 £77 £666 £13,104 19.7 yrs £217
4 kW 4088 kWh 3066 kWh 1022 kWh £786 £102 £888 £15,138 17.0 yrs £2,623
5 kW 5110 kWh 3833 kWh 1278 kWh £982 £128 £1,110 £17,173 15.5 yrs £5,028
6 kW 6132 kWh 4599 kWh 1533 kWh £1,179 £153 £1,332 £19,207 14.4 yrs £7,434
7 kW 7154 kWh 5366 kWh 1789 kWh £1,375 £179 £1,554 £21,242 13.7 yrs £9,840
8 kW 8176 kWh 6132 kWh 2044 kWh £1,572 £204 £1,776 £23,276 13.1 yrs £12,246

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: £1,126, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2044 kWh 1574 kWh 470 kWh £403 £47 £450 £13,519 30.0 yrs £-4,511
3 kW 3066 kWh 2361 kWh 705 kWh £605 £71 £676 £15,554 23.0 yrs £-2,041
4 kW 4088 kWh 3148 kWh 940 kWh £807 £94 £901 £17,588 19.5 yrs £428
5 kW 5110 kWh 3935 kWh 1175 kWh £1,008 £118 £1,126 £19,623 17.4 yrs £2,898
6 kW 6132 kWh 4722 kWh 1410 kWh £1,210 £141 £1,351 £21,657 16.0 yrs £5,368
7 kW 7154 kWh 5509 kWh 1645 kWh £1,412 £165 £1,576 £23,692 15.0 yrs £7,837
8 kW 8176 kWh 6296 kWh 1881 kWh £1,614 £188 £1,802 £25,726 14.3 yrs £10,307

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 DA1

Figures below are tailored to DA1 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #2014 of 2182
4.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #782 of 2997
10.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£760 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1901 of 2997
22.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£168 fixed • ~£760 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.63p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
46.06p/day
Local Sunshine
1022kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1022 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 60% • Flats: 34% • Bungalows: 2% Based on 16,806 properties

Coverage

Dartford (83%)|Bexley (17%)

Areas Covered

West Hill, Crayford, Town, Temple Hill, Princes, Heath, Newtown, Bridge + 5 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 London

DA8 (Bexley)
≈4.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,019 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DA1
DA5 (Bexley)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,020 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DA1
DA6 (Bexley)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,016 kWh/kWp · -1% vs DA1
DA7 (Bexley)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,016 kWh/kWp · -1% vs DA1
DA17 (Bexley)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,014 kWh/kWp · -1% vs DA1
DA16 (Bexley)
≈7.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,016 kWh/kWp · -1% vs DA1

Similar sunshine across the UK

IP30 (Mid Suffolk)
~1,022 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DA1
SO5 (Eastleigh)
~1,022 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DA1
GU6 (Waverley)
~1,021 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DA1