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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in IG7 (Epping Forest)

See if solar pays off for you in Epping 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
12.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£819
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,301
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 1008 kWh/kW — 17 above the regional median (991).

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 1008 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)
1008 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: £819, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2016 kWh 806 kWh 1209 kWh £207 £121 £328 £4,069 12.4 yrs £2,482
3 kW 3023 kWh 1209 kWh 1814 kWh £310 £181 £491 £6,104 12.4 yrs £3,724
4 kW 4031 kWh 1612 kWh 2419 kWh £413 £242 £655 £8,138 12.4 yrs £4,965
5 kW 5039 kWh 2016 kWh 3023 kWh £517 £302 £819 £10,173 12.4 yrs £6,206
6 kW 6047 kWh 2419 kWh 3628 kWh £620 £363 £983 £12,207 12.4 yrs £7,447
7 kW 7055 kWh 2822 kWh 4233 kWh £723 £423 £1,147 £14,242 12.4 yrs £8,688
8 kW 8062 kWh 3225 kWh 4837 kWh £827 £484 £1,310 £16,276 12.4 yrs £9,930

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: £976, 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 2016 kWh 1209 kWh 806 kWh £310 £81 £391 £6,169 15.8 yrs £1,643
3 kW 3023 kWh 1814 kWh 1209 kWh £465 £121 £586 £8,204 14.0 yrs £3,514
4 kW 4031 kWh 2419 kWh 1612 kWh £620 £161 £781 £10,238 13.1 yrs £5,385
5 kW 5039 kWh 3023 kWh 2016 kWh £775 £202 £976 £12,273 12.6 yrs £7,256
6 kW 6047 kWh 3628 kWh 2419 kWh £930 £242 £1,172 £14,307 12.2 yrs £9,128
7 kW 7055 kWh 4233 kWh 2822 kWh £1,085 £282 £1,367 £16,342 12.0 yrs £10,999
8 kW 8062 kWh 4837 kWh 3225 kWh £1,240 £322 £1,562 £18,376 11.8 yrs £12,870

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: £1,055, 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 2016 kWh 1411 kWh 605 kWh £362 £60 £422 £7,569 17.9 yrs £873
3 kW 3023 kWh 2116 kWh 907 kWh £542 £91 £633 £9,604 15.2 yrs £3,059
4 kW 4031 kWh 2822 kWh 1209 kWh £723 £121 £844 £11,638 13.8 yrs £5,245
5 kW 5039 kWh 3527 kWh 1512 kWh £904 £151 £1,055 £13,673 13.0 yrs £7,432
6 kW 6047 kWh 4233 kWh 1814 kWh £1,085 £181 £1,266 £15,707 12.4 yrs £9,618
7 kW 7055 kWh 4938 kWh 2116 kWh £1,266 £212 £1,477 £17,742 12.0 yrs £11,804
8 kW 8062 kWh 5644 kWh 2419 kWh £1,446 £242 £1,688 £19,776 11.7 yrs £13,991

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: £1,079, 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 2016 kWh 1471 kWh 544 kWh £377 £54 £432 £9,319 21.6 yrs £-688
3 kW 3023 kWh 2207 kWh 816 kWh £566 £82 £647 £11,354 17.5 yrs £1,592
4 kW 4031 kWh 2943 kWh 1088 kWh £754 £109 £863 £13,388 15.5 yrs £3,873
5 kW 5039 kWh 3678 kWh 1361 kWh £943 £136 £1,079 £15,423 14.3 yrs £6,154
6 kW 6047 kWh 4414 kWh 1633 kWh £1,131 £163 £1,295 £17,457 13.5 yrs £8,435
7 kW 7055 kWh 5150 kWh 1905 kWh £1,320 £190 £1,510 £19,492 12.9 yrs £10,716
8 kW 8062 kWh 5885 kWh 2177 kWh £1,508 £218 £1,726 £21,526 12.5 yrs £12,997

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: £1,095, 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 2016 kWh 1512 kWh 504 kWh £387 £50 £438 £11,069 25.3 yrs £-2,312
3 kW 3023 kWh 2268 kWh 756 kWh £581 £76 £657 £13,104 20.0 yrs £32
4 kW 4031 kWh 3023 kWh 1008 kWh £775 £101 £876 £15,138 17.3 yrs £2,375
5 kW 5039 kWh 3779 kWh 1260 kWh £969 £126 £1,095 £17,173 15.7 yrs £4,719
6 kW 6047 kWh 4535 kWh 1512 kWh £1,162 £151 £1,314 £19,207 14.6 yrs £7,063
7 kW 7055 kWh 5291 kWh 1764 kWh £1,356 £176 £1,532 £21,242 13.9 yrs £9,407
8 kW 8062 kWh 6047 kWh 2016 kWh £1,550 £202 £1,751 £23,276 13.3 yrs £11,751

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: £1,110, 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 2016 kWh 1552 kWh 464 kWh £398 £46 £444 £13,519 30.4 yrs £-4,636
3 kW 3023 kWh 2328 kWh 695 kWh £597 £70 £666 £15,554 23.3 yrs £-2,229
4 kW 4031 kWh 3104 kWh 927 kWh £796 £93 £888 £17,588 19.8 yrs £177
5 kW 5039 kWh 3880 kWh 1159 kWh £994 £116 £1,110 £19,623 17.7 yrs £2,584
6 kW 6047 kWh 4656 kWh 1391 kWh £1,193 £139 £1,332 £21,657 16.3 yrs £4,991
7 kW 7055 kWh 5432 kWh 1623 kWh £1,392 £162 £1,554 £23,692 15.2 yrs £7,398
8 kW 8062 kWh 6208 kWh 1854 kWh £1,591 £185 £1,777 £25,726 14.5 yrs £9,805

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 IG7

Figures below are tailored to IG7 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1069 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #1137 of 2997
10.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£937 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #977 of 2997
17.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£168 fixed • ~£937 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.63p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
46.06p/day
Local Sunshine
1008kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1008 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: 64% • Flats: 27% • Bungalows: 3% Based on 5,329 properties

Coverage

Epping Forest (59%)|Redbridge (41%)

Areas Covered

Hainault, Chigwell with Lambourne, Grange Hill, Monkhams, Loughton Roding, Fairlop

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

IG6 (Redbridge)
≈2.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,010 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IG7
IG5 (Redbridge)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,011 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IG7
IG9 (Epping Forest)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · -1% vs IG7
IG2 (Redbridge)
≈4.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,010 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IG7
IG8 (Redbridge)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,002 kWh/kWp · -1% vs IG7
IG4 (Redbridge)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,010 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IG7

Similar sunshine across the UK

RH1 (Reigate and Banstead)
~1,008 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IG7
SG10 (East Hertfordshire)
~1,008 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IG7
OX13 (Vale of White Horse)
~1,008 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IG7