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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in IP8 (Babergh)

See if solar pays off for you in Babergh — 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
11.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£866
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,470
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 1042 kWh/kW — 33 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 1042 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)
1042 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: £866, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2084 kWh 834 kWh 1251 kWh £221 £125 £346 £4,069 11.8 yrs £2,856
3 kW 3127 kWh 1251 kWh 1876 kWh £332 £188 £519 £6,104 11.8 yrs £4,285
4 kW 4169 kWh 1668 kWh 2501 kWh £442 £250 £693 £8,138 11.8 yrs £5,713
5 kW 5211 kWh 2084 kWh 3127 kWh £553 £313 £866 £10,173 11.8 yrs £7,141
6 kW 6253 kWh 2501 kWh 3752 kWh £664 £375 £1,039 £12,207 11.8 yrs £8,569
7 kW 7296 kWh 2918 kWh 4377 kWh £774 £438 £1,212 £14,242 11.8 yrs £9,998
8 kW 8338 kWh 3335 kWh 5003 kWh £885 £500 £1,385 £16,276 11.8 yrs £11,426

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: £1,038, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2084 kWh 1251 kWh 834 kWh £332 £83 £415 £6,169 14.9 yrs £2,135
3 kW 3127 kWh 1876 kWh 1251 kWh £498 £125 £623 £8,204 13.2 yrs £4,252
4 kW 4169 kWh 2501 kWh 1668 kWh £664 £167 £830 £10,238 12.3 yrs £6,369
5 kW 5211 kWh 3127 kWh 2084 kWh £830 £208 £1,038 £12,273 11.8 yrs £8,487
6 kW 6253 kWh 3752 kWh 2501 kWh £995 £250 £1,246 £14,307 11.5 yrs £10,604
7 kW 7296 kWh 4377 kWh 2918 kWh £1,161 £292 £1,453 £16,342 11.2 yrs £12,722
8 kW 8338 kWh 5003 kWh 3335 kWh £1,327 £334 £1,661 £18,376 11.1 yrs £14,839

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: £1,124, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2084 kWh 1459 kWh 625 kWh £387 £63 £450 £7,569 16.8 yrs £1,424
3 kW 3127 kWh 2189 kWh 938 kWh £581 £94 £674 £9,604 14.2 yrs £3,886
4 kW 4169 kWh 2918 kWh 1251 kWh £774 £125 £899 £11,638 12.9 yrs £6,348
5 kW 5211 kWh 3648 kWh 1563 kWh £968 £156 £1,124 £13,673 12.2 yrs £8,810
6 kW 6253 kWh 4377 kWh 1876 kWh £1,161 £188 £1,349 £15,707 11.6 yrs £11,272
7 kW 7296 kWh 5107 kWh 2189 kWh £1,355 £219 £1,574 £17,742 11.3 yrs £13,733
8 kW 8338 kWh 5837 kWh 2501 kWh £1,548 £250 £1,799 £19,776 11.0 yrs £16,195

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: £1,150, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2084 kWh 1522 kWh 563 kWh £404 £56 £460 £9,319 20.3 yrs £-119
3 kW 3127 kWh 2283 kWh 844 kWh £606 £84 £690 £11,354 16.5 yrs £2,446
4 kW 4169 kWh 3043 kWh 1126 kWh £807 £113 £920 £13,388 14.6 yrs £5,011
5 kW 5211 kWh 3804 kWh 1407 kWh £1,009 £141 £1,150 £15,423 13.4 yrs £7,576
6 kW 6253 kWh 4565 kWh 1688 kWh £1,211 £169 £1,380 £17,457 12.7 yrs £10,142
7 kW 7296 kWh 5326 kWh 1970 kWh £1,413 £197 £1,610 £19,492 12.1 yrs £12,707
8 kW 8338 kWh 6087 kWh 2251 kWh £1,615 £225 £1,840 £21,526 11.7 yrs £15,272

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: £1,167, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2084 kWh 1563 kWh 521 kWh £415 £52 £467 £11,069 23.7 yrs £-1,732
3 kW 3127 kWh 2345 kWh 782 kWh £622 £78 £700 £13,104 18.7 yrs £903
4 kW 4169 kWh 3127 kWh 1042 kWh £830 £104 £934 £15,138 16.2 yrs £3,537
5 kW 5211 kWh 3908 kWh 1303 kWh £1,037 £130 £1,167 £17,173 14.7 yrs £6,171
6 kW 6253 kWh 4690 kWh 1563 kWh £1,244 £156 £1,401 £19,207 13.7 yrs £8,805
7 kW 7296 kWh 5472 kWh 1824 kWh £1,452 £182 £1,634 £21,242 13.0 yrs £11,439
8 kW 8338 kWh 6253 kWh 2084 kWh £1,659 £208 £1,867 £23,276 12.5 yrs £14,074

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: £1,184, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2084 kWh 1605 kWh 479 kWh £426 £48 £474 £13,519 28.5 yrs £-4,044
3 kW 3127 kWh 2408 kWh 719 kWh £639 £72 £711 £15,554 21.9 yrs £-1,341
4 kW 4169 kWh 3210 kWh 959 kWh £852 £96 £948 £17,588 18.6 yrs £1,362
5 kW 5211 kWh 4013 kWh 1199 kWh £1,065 £120 £1,184 £19,623 16.6 yrs £4,066
6 kW 6253 kWh 4815 kWh 1438 kWh £1,277 £144 £1,421 £21,657 15.2 yrs £6,769
7 kW 7296 kWh 5618 kWh 1678 kWh £1,490 £168 £1,658 £23,692 14.3 yrs £9,472
8 kW 8338 kWh 6420 kWh 1918 kWh £1,703 £192 £1,895 £25,726 13.6 yrs £12,175

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 IP8

Figures below are tailored to IP8 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #727 of 2182
5.3 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #274 of 2997
10.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£995 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #905 of 2997
17.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£995 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1042kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1042 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: 75% • Flats: 5% • Bungalows: 19% Based on 3,290 properties

Coverage

Babergh (52%)|Mid Suffolk (43%)|Ipswich (6%)

Areas Covered

Sproughton & Pinewood, Bramford, Copdock & Washbrook, Blakenham, Battisford & Ringshall, Alexandra, Orwell, Whitehouse + 1 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

IP2 (Ipswich)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,041 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IP8
IP1 (Ipswich)
≈3.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,042 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IP8
IP4 (Ipswich)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,050 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IP8
IP3 (Ipswich)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,059 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IP8
IP6 (Mid Suffolk)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,036 kWh/kWp · -1% vs IP8
IP9 (Babergh)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,054 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IP8

Similar sunshine across the UK

TQ2 (Torbay)
~1,043 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP8
PL6 (Plymouth)
~1,042 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IP8
CF61 (Vale of Glamorgan)
~1,043 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IP8