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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in E11 (Waltham Forest)

See if solar pays off for you in Waltham Forest — 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
12.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£6,104
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£490
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,149
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 1005 kWh/kW — 15 above the regional median (991).

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 1005 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)
1005 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: £817, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2010 kWh 804 kWh 1206 kWh £206 £121 £327 £4,069 12.5 yrs £2,465
3 kW 3016 kWh 1206 kWh 1809 kWh £309 £181 £490 £6,104 12.5 yrs £3,698
4 kW 4021 kWh 1608 kWh 2412 kWh £412 £241 £653 £8,138 12.5 yrs £4,931
5 kW 5026 kWh 2010 kWh 3016 kWh £515 £302 £817 £10,173 12.5 yrs £6,164
6 kW 6031 kWh 2412 kWh 3619 kWh £618 £362 £980 £12,207 12.5 yrs £7,396
7 kW 7036 kWh 2815 kWh 4222 kWh £721 £422 £1,144 £14,242 12.5 yrs £8,629
8 kW 8041 kWh 3217 kWh 4825 kWh £824 £482 £1,307 £16,276 12.5 yrs £9,862

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: £974, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2010 kWh 1206 kWh 804 kWh £309 £80 £390 £6,169 15.8 yrs £1,622
3 kW 3016 kWh 1809 kWh 1206 kWh £464 £121 £584 £8,204 14.0 yrs £3,483
4 kW 4021 kWh 2412 kWh 1608 kWh £618 £161 £779 £10,238 13.1 yrs £5,345
5 kW 5026 kWh 3016 kWh 2010 kWh £773 £201 £974 £12,273 12.6 yrs £7,206
6 kW 6031 kWh 3619 kWh 2412 kWh £927 £241 £1,169 £14,307 12.2 yrs £9,067
7 kW 7036 kWh 4222 kWh 2815 kWh £1,082 £281 £1,363 £16,342 12.0 yrs £10,928
8 kW 8041 kWh 4825 kWh 3217 kWh £1,237 £322 £1,558 £18,376 11.8 yrs £12,789

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: £1,052, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2010 kWh 1407 kWh 603 kWh £361 £60 £421 £7,569 18.0 yrs £851
3 kW 3016 kWh 2111 kWh 905 kWh £541 £90 £631 £9,604 15.2 yrs £3,026
4 kW 4021 kWh 2815 kWh 1206 kWh £721 £121 £842 £11,638 13.8 yrs £5,202
5 kW 5026 kWh 3518 kWh 1508 kWh £902 £151 £1,052 £13,673 13.0 yrs £7,377
6 kW 6031 kWh 4222 kWh 1809 kWh £1,082 £181 £1,263 £15,707 12.4 yrs £9,552
7 kW 7036 kWh 4925 kWh 2111 kWh £1,262 £211 £1,473 £17,742 12.0 yrs £11,728
8 kW 8041 kWh 5629 kWh 2412 kWh £1,443 £241 £1,684 £19,776 11.7 yrs £13,903

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: £1,076, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2010 kWh 1468 kWh 543 kWh £376 £54 £430 £9,319 21.7 yrs £-711
3 kW 3016 kWh 2201 kWh 814 kWh £564 £81 £646 £11,354 17.6 yrs £1,559
4 kW 4021 kWh 2935 kWh 1086 kWh £752 £109 £861 £13,388 15.6 yrs £3,829
5 kW 5026 kWh 3669 kWh 1357 kWh £940 £136 £1,076 £15,423 14.3 yrs £6,098
6 kW 6031 kWh 4403 kWh 1628 kWh £1,128 £163 £1,291 £17,457 13.5 yrs £8,368
7 kW 7036 kWh 5136 kWh 1900 kWh £1,316 £190 £1,506 £19,492 12.9 yrs £10,638
8 kW 8041 kWh 5870 kWh 2171 kWh £1,505 £217 £1,722 £21,526 12.5 yrs £12,907

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: £1,092, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2010 kWh 1508 kWh 503 kWh £386 £50 £437 £11,069 25.3 yrs £-2,335
3 kW 3016 kWh 2262 kWh 754 kWh £580 £75 £655 £13,104 20.0 yrs £-3
4 kW 4021 kWh 3016 kWh 1005 kWh £773 £101 £873 £15,138 17.3 yrs £2,330
5 kW 5026 kWh 3769 kWh 1256 kWh £966 £126 £1,092 £17,173 15.7 yrs £4,662
6 kW 6031 kWh 4523 kWh 1508 kWh £1,159 £151 £1,310 £19,207 14.7 yrs £6,995
7 kW 7036 kWh 5277 kWh 1759 kWh £1,353 £176 £1,528 £21,242 13.9 yrs £9,327
8 kW 8041 kWh 6031 kWh 2010 kWh £1,546 £201 £1,747 £23,276 13.3 yrs £11,660

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: £1,107, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2010 kWh 1548 kWh 462 kWh £397 £46 £443 £13,519 30.5 yrs £-4,659
3 kW 3016 kWh 2322 kWh 694 kWh £595 £69 £664 £15,554 23.4 yrs £-2,264
4 kW 4021 kWh 3096 kWh 925 kWh £793 £92 £886 £17,588 19.9 yrs £131
5 kW 5026 kWh 3870 kWh 1156 kWh £992 £116 £1,107 £19,623 17.7 yrs £2,527
6 kW 6031 kWh 4644 kWh 1387 kWh £1,190 £139 £1,329 £21,657 16.3 yrs £4,922
7 kW 7036 kWh 5418 kWh 1618 kWh £1,389 £162 £1,550 £23,692 15.3 yrs £7,317
8 kW 8041 kWh 6192 kWh 1850 kWh £1,587 £185 £1,772 £25,726 14.5 yrs £9,713

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 E11

Figures below are tailored to E11 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #2130 of 2182
3.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~8 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1115 of 2997
10.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£935 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #987 of 2997
18.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£168 fixed • ~£935 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.63p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
46.06p/day
Local Sunshine
1005kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1005 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: 34% • Flats: 60% • Bungalows: 1% Based on 16,324 properties

Coverage

Waltham Forest (77%)|Redbridge (23%)

Areas Covered

Leytonstone, Wanstead Village, Cann Hall, Cathall, Forest, Wanstead Park, Grove Green, South Woodford + 3 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

E10 (Waltham Forest)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · -1% vs E11
E7 (Newham)
≈2.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,005 kWh/kWp · -0% vs E11
E20 (Newham)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · -1% vs E11
E12 (Newham)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,005 kWh/kWp · -0% vs E11
E17 (Waltham Forest)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~992 kWh/kWp · -1% vs E11
E15 (Newham)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,004 kWh/kWp · -0% vs E11

Similar sunshine across the UK

PE7 (Fenland)
~1,005 kWh/kWp · -0% vs E11
RH10 (Crawley)
~1,005 kWh/kWp · -0% vs E11
RH6 (Reigate and Banstead)
~1,005 kWh/kWp · +0% vs E11