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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in E4 (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
12.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£833
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,651
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 Eastern, the current unit rate is 26.53p/kWh with a 48.25p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1003 kWh/kW — 6 below the regional median (1009).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1003 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.5p/kWh
Standing charge
48.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1003 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: £833, 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 2006 kWh 802 kWh 1203 kWh £213 £120 £333 £4,069 12.2 yrs £2,595
3 kW 3009 kWh 1203 kWh 1805 kWh £319 £181 £500 £6,104 12.2 yrs £3,892
4 kW 4011 kWh 1605 kWh 2407 kWh £426 £241 £666 £8,138 12.2 yrs £5,189
5 kW 5014 kWh 2006 kWh 3009 kWh £532 £301 £833 £10,173 12.2 yrs £6,487
6 kW 6017 kWh 2407 kWh 3610 kWh £639 £361 £1,000 £12,207 12.2 yrs £7,784
7 kW 7020 kWh 2808 kWh 4212 kWh £745 £421 £1,166 £14,242 12.2 yrs £9,081
8 kW 8023 kWh 3209 kWh 4814 kWh £851 £481 £1,333 £16,276 12.2 yrs £10,379

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: £999, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2006 kWh 1203 kWh 802 kWh £319 £80 £399 £6,169 15.4 yrs £1,821
3 kW 3009 kWh 1805 kWh 1203 kWh £479 £120 £599 £8,204 13.7 yrs £3,781
4 kW 4011 kWh 2407 kWh 1605 kWh £639 £160 £799 £10,238 12.8 yrs £5,742
5 kW 5014 kWh 3009 kWh 2006 kWh £798 £201 £999 £12,273 12.3 yrs £7,702
6 kW 6017 kWh 3610 kWh 2407 kWh £958 £241 £1,198 £14,307 11.9 yrs £9,662
7 kW 7020 kWh 4212 kWh 2808 kWh £1,117 £281 £1,398 £16,342 11.7 yrs £11,623
8 kW 8023 kWh 4814 kWh 3209 kWh £1,277 £321 £1,598 £18,376 11.5 yrs £13,583

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: £1,082, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2006 kWh 1404 kWh 602 kWh £372 £60 £433 £7,569 17.5 yrs £1,084
3 kW 3009 kWh 2106 kWh 903 kWh £559 £90 £649 £9,604 14.8 yrs £3,376
4 kW 4011 kWh 2808 kWh 1203 kWh £745 £120 £865 £11,638 13.4 yrs £5,668
5 kW 5014 kWh 3510 kWh 1504 kWh £931 £150 £1,082 £13,673 12.6 yrs £7,960
6 kW 6017 kWh 4212 kWh 1805 kWh £1,117 £181 £1,298 £15,707 12.1 yrs £10,252
7 kW 7020 kWh 4914 kWh 2106 kWh £1,304 £211 £1,514 £17,742 11.7 yrs £12,544
8 kW 8023 kWh 5616 kWh 2407 kWh £1,490 £241 £1,731 £19,776 11.4 yrs £14,836

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: £1,106, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2006 kWh 1464 kWh 542 kWh £388 £54 £443 £9,319 21.1 yrs £-467
3 kW 3009 kWh 2196 kWh 812 kWh £583 £81 £664 £11,354 17.1 yrs £1,924
4 kW 4011 kWh 2928 kWh 1083 kWh £777 £108 £885 £13,388 15.1 yrs £4,316
5 kW 5014 kWh 3660 kWh 1354 kWh £971 £135 £1,106 £15,423 13.9 yrs £6,707
6 kW 6017 kWh 4392 kWh 1625 kWh £1,165 £162 £1,328 £17,457 13.1 yrs £9,098
7 kW 7020 kWh 5125 kWh 1895 kWh £1,360 £190 £1,549 £19,492 12.6 yrs £11,490
8 kW 8023 kWh 5857 kWh 2166 kWh £1,554 £217 £1,770 £21,526 12.2 yrs £13,881

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: £1,123, Upfront: £17,173, 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 2006 kWh 1504 kWh 501 kWh £399 £50 £449 £11,069 24.6 yrs £-2,085
3 kW 3009 kWh 2256 kWh 752 kWh £599 £75 £674 £13,104 19.4 yrs £373
4 kW 4011 kWh 3009 kWh 1003 kWh £798 £100 £898 £15,138 16.8 yrs £2,831
5 kW 5014 kWh 3761 kWh 1254 kWh £998 £125 £1,123 £17,173 15.3 yrs £5,289
6 kW 6017 kWh 4513 kWh 1504 kWh £1,197 £150 £1,348 £19,207 14.3 yrs £7,746
7 kW 7020 kWh 5265 kWh 1755 kWh £1,397 £175 £1,572 £21,242 13.5 yrs £10,204
8 kW 8023 kWh 6017 kWh 2006 kWh £1,596 £201 £1,797 £23,276 13.0 yrs £12,662

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: £1,140, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2006 kWh 1544 kWh 461 kWh £410 £46 £456 £13,519 29.7 yrs £-4,402
3 kW 3009 kWh 2317 kWh 692 kWh £615 £69 £684 £15,554 22.7 yrs £-1,878
4 kW 4011 kWh 3089 kWh 923 kWh £819 £92 £912 £17,588 19.3 yrs £646
5 kW 5014 kWh 3861 kWh 1153 kWh £1,024 £115 £1,140 £19,623 17.2 yrs £3,170
6 kW 6017 kWh 4633 kWh 1384 kWh £1,229 £138 £1,368 £21,657 15.8 yrs £5,694
7 kW 7020 kWh 5405 kWh 1615 kWh £1,434 £161 £1,595 £23,692 14.8 yrs £8,218
8 kW 8023 kWh 6177 kWh 1845 kWh £1,639 £185 £1,823 £25,726 14.1 yrs £10,742

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 E4

Figures below are tailored to E4 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1667 of 2182
4.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #627 of 2997
10.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£957 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1135 of 2997
18.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£957 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1003kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1003 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 53% • Flats: 40% • Bungalows: 3% Based on 16,015 properties

Coverage

Waltham Forest (98%)|Epping Forest (2%)

Areas Covered

Chingford Green, Valley, Larkswood, Hatch Lane & Highams Park North, Endlebury, Hale End & Highams Park South, Waltham Abbey South & Rural, St Katharine's & Wapping + 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 Eastern

N9 (Enfield)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -1% vs E4
EN3 (Enfield)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -1% vs E4
N18 (Enfield)
≈4.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -1% vs E4
EN1 (Enfield)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~989 kWh/kWp · -1% vs E4
N17 (Haringey)
≈6.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -1% vs E4
EN9 (Epping Forest)
≈6.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~985 kWh/kWp · -2% vs E4

Similar sunshine across the UK

RH9 (Tandridge)
~1,003 kWh/kWp · +0% vs E4
NG34 (North Kesteven)
~1,002 kWh/kWp · -0% vs E4
RG28 (Basingstoke and Deane)
~1,003 kWh/kWp · +0% vs E4