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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in IP29 (West Suffolk)

See if solar pays off for you in West Suffolk — 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
12.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,010
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,042
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 1013 kWh/kW — 4 above the regional median (1009).

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 1013 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)
1013 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: £842, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2027 kWh 811 kWh 1216 kWh £215 £122 £337 £4,069 12.1 yrs £2,664
3 kW 3040 kWh 1216 kWh 1824 kWh £323 £182 £505 £6,104 12.1 yrs £3,996
4 kW 4053 kWh 1621 kWh 2432 kWh £430 £243 £673 £8,138 12.1 yrs £5,328
5 kW 5066 kWh 2027 kWh 3040 kWh £538 £304 £842 £10,173 12.1 yrs £6,660
6 kW 6080 kWh 2432 kWh 3648 kWh £645 £365 £1,010 £12,207 12.1 yrs £7,992
7 kW 7093 kWh 2837 kWh 4256 kWh £753 £426 £1,178 £14,242 12.1 yrs £9,324
8 kW 8106 kWh 3243 kWh 4864 kWh £860 £486 £1,347 £16,276 12.1 yrs £10,656

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: £1,009, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2027 kWh 1216 kWh 811 kWh £323 £81 £404 £6,169 15.3 yrs £1,904
3 kW 3040 kWh 1824 kWh 1216 kWh £484 £122 £605 £8,204 13.5 yrs £3,906
4 kW 4053 kWh 2432 kWh 1621 kWh £645 £162 £807 £10,238 12.7 yrs £5,908
5 kW 5066 kWh 3040 kWh 2027 kWh £806 £203 £1,009 £12,273 12.2 yrs £7,910
6 kW 6080 kWh 3648 kWh 2432 kWh £968 £243 £1,211 £14,307 11.8 yrs £9,912
7 kW 7093 kWh 4256 kWh 2837 kWh £1,129 £284 £1,413 £16,342 11.6 yrs £11,914
8 kW 8106 kWh 4864 kWh 3243 kWh £1,290 £324 £1,615 £18,376 11.4 yrs £13,916

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: £1,093, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2027 kWh 1419 kWh 608 kWh £376 £61 £437 £7,569 17.3 yrs £1,174
3 kW 3040 kWh 2128 kWh 912 kWh £565 £91 £656 £9,604 14.6 yrs £3,511
4 kW 4053 kWh 2837 kWh 1216 kWh £753 £122 £874 £11,638 13.3 yrs £5,848
5 kW 5066 kWh 3547 kWh 1520 kWh £941 £152 £1,093 £13,673 12.5 yrs £8,185
6 kW 6080 kWh 4256 kWh 1824 kWh £1,129 £182 £1,311 £15,707 12.0 yrs £10,522
7 kW 7093 kWh 4965 kWh 2128 kWh £1,317 £213 £1,530 £17,742 11.6 yrs £12,859
8 kW 8106 kWh 5674 kWh 2432 kWh £1,505 £243 £1,749 £19,776 11.3 yrs £15,196

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: £1,118, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2027 kWh 1479 kWh 547 kWh £392 £55 £447 £9,319 20.8 yrs £-375
3 kW 3040 kWh 2219 kWh 821 kWh £589 £82 £671 £11,354 16.9 yrs £2,063
4 kW 4053 kWh 2959 kWh 1094 kWh £785 £109 £894 £13,388 15.0 yrs £4,500
5 kW 5066 kWh 3699 kWh 1368 kWh £981 £137 £1,118 £15,423 13.8 yrs £6,938
6 kW 6080 kWh 4438 kWh 1642 kWh £1,177 £164 £1,342 £17,457 13.0 yrs £9,375
7 kW 7093 kWh 5178 kWh 1915 kWh £1,374 £192 £1,565 £19,492 12.5 yrs £11,813
8 kW 8106 kWh 5918 kWh 2189 kWh £1,570 £219 £1,789 £21,526 12.0 yrs £14,250

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: £1,135, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2027 kWh 1520 kWh 507 kWh £403 £51 £454 £11,069 24.4 yrs £-1,991
3 kW 3040 kWh 2280 kWh 760 kWh £605 £76 £681 £13,104 19.2 yrs £514
4 kW 4053 kWh 3040 kWh 1013 kWh £806 £101 £908 £15,138 16.7 yrs £3,018
5 kW 5066 kWh 3800 kWh 1267 kWh £1,008 £127 £1,135 £17,173 15.1 yrs £5,523
6 kW 6080 kWh 4560 kWh 1520 kWh £1,210 £152 £1,362 £19,207 14.1 yrs £8,027
7 kW 7093 kWh 5320 kWh 1773 kWh £1,411 £177 £1,589 £21,242 13.4 yrs £10,532
8 kW 8106 kWh 6080 kWh 2027 kWh £1,613 £203 £1,816 £23,276 12.8 yrs £13,036

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: £1,152, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2027 kWh 1560 kWh 466 kWh £414 £47 £461 £13,519 29.4 yrs £-4,307
3 kW 3040 kWh 2341 kWh 699 kWh £621 £70 £691 £15,554 22.5 yrs £-1,735
4 kW 4053 kWh 3121 kWh 932 kWh £828 £93 £921 £17,588 19.1 yrs £836
5 kW 5066 kWh 3901 kWh 1165 kWh £1,035 £117 £1,152 £19,623 17.0 yrs £3,408
6 kW 6080 kWh 4681 kWh 1398 kWh £1,242 £140 £1,382 £21,657 15.7 yrs £5,979
7 kW 7093 kWh 5462 kWh 1631 kWh £1,449 £163 £1,612 £23,692 14.7 yrs £8,551
8 kW 8106 kWh 6242 kWh 1864 kWh £1,656 £186 £1,842 £25,726 14.0 yrs £11,122

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 IP29

Figures below are tailored to IP29 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #82 of 2182
6.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~14 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #523 of 2997
10.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,161 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #385 of 2997
15.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,161 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1013kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1013 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: 67% • Flats: 3% • Bungalows: 30% Based on 2,227 properties

Coverage

West Suffolk (76%)|Babergh (24%)

Areas Covered

Chadacre, Chedburgh & Chevington, Barrow, Horringer, Whepstead & Wickhambrook, Abbeygate, Rougham, Moreton Hall + 2 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

IP33 (West Suffolk)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,015 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP29
IP32 (West Suffolk)
≈6.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,013 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IP29
IP30 (Mid Suffolk)
≈12.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,022 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IP29
IP31 (West Suffolk)
≈14.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,016 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP29
CO10 (Babergh)
≈17.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,030 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IP29
CB8 (West Suffolk)
≈18.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,011 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IP29

Similar sunshine across the UK

GU31 (East Hampshire)
~1,013 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP29
CF4 (Cardiff)
~1,013 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP29
PL28 (Cornwall)
~1,013 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IP29