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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in IP33 (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
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£843
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,901
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 1015 kWh/kW — 6 above 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 1015 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)
1015 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: £843, 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 2030 kWh 812 kWh 1218 kWh £215 £122 £337 £4,069 12.1 yrs £2,675
3 kW 3045 kWh 1218 kWh 1827 kWh £323 £183 £506 £6,104 12.1 yrs £4,012
4 kW 4060 kWh 1624 kWh 2436 kWh £431 £244 £674 £8,138 12.1 yrs £5,349
5 kW 5074 kWh 2030 kWh 3045 kWh £538 £304 £843 £10,173 12.1 yrs £6,687
6 kW 6089 kWh 2436 kWh 3654 kWh £646 £365 £1,012 £12,207 12.1 yrs £8,024
7 kW 7104 kWh 2842 kWh 4262 kWh £754 £426 £1,180 £14,242 12.1 yrs £9,361
8 kW 8119 kWh 3248 kWh 4871 kWh £862 £487 £1,349 £16,276 12.1 yrs £10,699

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: £1,011, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2030 kWh 1218 kWh 812 kWh £323 £81 £404 £6,169 15.3 yrs £1,917
3 kW 3045 kWh 1827 kWh 1218 kWh £485 £122 £606 £8,204 13.5 yrs £3,925
4 kW 4060 kWh 2436 kWh 1624 kWh £646 £162 £809 £10,238 12.7 yrs £5,933
5 kW 5074 kWh 3045 kWh 2030 kWh £808 £203 £1,011 £12,273 12.1 yrs £7,942
6 kW 6089 kWh 3654 kWh 2436 kWh £969 £244 £1,213 £14,307 11.8 yrs £9,950
7 kW 7104 kWh 4262 kWh 2842 kWh £1,131 £284 £1,415 £16,342 11.5 yrs £11,959
8 kW 8119 kWh 4871 kWh 3248 kWh £1,292 £325 £1,617 £18,376 11.4 yrs £13,967

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: £1,095, 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 2030 kWh 1421 kWh 609 kWh £377 £61 £438 £7,569 17.3 yrs £1,188
3 kW 3045 kWh 2131 kWh 913 kWh £565 £91 £657 £9,604 14.6 yrs £3,532
4 kW 4060 kWh 2842 kWh 1218 kWh £754 £122 £876 £11,638 13.3 yrs £5,876
5 kW 5074 kWh 3552 kWh 1522 kWh £942 £152 £1,095 £13,673 12.5 yrs £8,219
6 kW 6089 kWh 4262 kWh 1827 kWh £1,131 £183 £1,314 £15,707 12.0 yrs £10,563
7 kW 7104 kWh 4973 kWh 2131 kWh £1,319 £213 £1,532 £17,742 11.6 yrs £12,907
8 kW 8119 kWh 5683 kWh 2436 kWh £1,508 £244 £1,751 £19,776 11.3 yrs £15,251

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: £1,120, 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 2030 kWh 1482 kWh 548 kWh £393 £55 £448 £9,319 20.8 yrs £-361
3 kW 3045 kWh 2223 kWh 822 kWh £590 £82 £672 £11,354 16.9 yrs £2,084
4 kW 4060 kWh 2963 kWh 1096 kWh £786 £110 £896 £13,388 14.9 yrs £4,528
5 kW 5074 kWh 3704 kWh 1370 kWh £983 £137 £1,120 £15,423 13.8 yrs £6,973
6 kW 6089 kWh 4445 kWh 1644 kWh £1,179 £164 £1,344 £17,457 13.0 yrs £9,417
7 kW 7104 kWh 5186 kWh 1918 kWh £1,376 £192 £1,568 £19,492 12.4 yrs £11,862
8 kW 8119 kWh 5927 kWh 2192 kWh £1,572 £219 £1,792 £21,526 12.0 yrs £14,306

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: £1,137, 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 2030 kWh 1522 kWh 507 kWh £404 £51 £455 £11,069 24.3 yrs £-1,977
3 kW 3045 kWh 2283 kWh 761 kWh £606 £76 £682 £13,104 19.2 yrs £535
4 kW 4060 kWh 3045 kWh 1015 kWh £808 £101 £909 £15,138 16.6 yrs £3,047
5 kW 5074 kWh 3806 kWh 1269 kWh £1,010 £127 £1,137 £17,173 15.1 yrs £5,558
6 kW 6089 kWh 4567 kWh 1522 kWh £1,212 £152 £1,364 £19,207 14.1 yrs £8,070
7 kW 7104 kWh 5328 kWh 1776 kWh £1,414 £178 £1,591 £21,242 13.3 yrs £10,582
8 kW 8119 kWh 6089 kWh 2030 kWh £1,615 £203 £1,818 £23,276 12.8 yrs £13,093

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: £1,153, 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 2030 kWh 1563 kWh 467 kWh £415 £47 £461 £13,519 29.3 yrs £-4,293
3 kW 3045 kWh 2344 kWh 700 kWh £622 £70 £692 £15,554 22.5 yrs £-1,714
4 kW 4060 kWh 3126 kWh 934 kWh £829 £93 £923 £17,588 19.1 yrs £865
5 kW 5074 kWh 3907 kWh 1167 kWh £1,037 £117 £1,153 £19,623 17.0 yrs £3,444
6 kW 6089 kWh 4689 kWh 1401 kWh £1,244 £140 £1,384 £21,657 15.6 yrs £6,022
7 kW 7104 kWh 5470 kWh 1634 kWh £1,451 £163 £1,615 £23,692 14.7 yrs £8,601
8 kW 8119 kWh 6252 kWh 1867 kWh £1,659 £187 £1,845 £25,726 13.9 yrs £11,180

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 IP33

Figures below are tailored to IP33 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1543 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #526 of 2997
10.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£969 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1066 of 2997
18.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£969 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1015kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1015 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: 56% • Flats: 34% • Bungalows: 8% Based on 7,729 properties

Coverage

West Suffolk (100%)

Areas Covered

Abbeygate, Minden, Moreton Hall, Westgate, Southgate, Eastgate, Tollgate, Barrow

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

IP32 (West Suffolk)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,013 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IP33
IP29 (West Suffolk)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,013 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IP33
IP31 (West Suffolk)
≈8.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,016 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP33
IP30 (Mid Suffolk)
≈9.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,022 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IP33
IP28 (West Suffolk)
≈17.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,007 kWh/kWp · -1% vs IP33
IP24 (Breckland)
≈19.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~995 kWh/kWp · -2% vs IP33

Similar sunshine across the UK

EX4 (Exeter)
~1,015 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP33
DA4 (Sevenoaks)
~1,015 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP33
SO24 (Winchester)
~1,015 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP33