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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in ME2 (Medway)

See if solar pays off for you in Medway — 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
11.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,138
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£681
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,893
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 South East, the current unit rate is 26.92p/kWh with a 47.60p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1016 kWh/kW — 13 below the regional median (1029).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1016 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.9p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.9p/kWh
Standing charge
47.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1016 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: £852, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2031 kWh 813 kWh 1219 kWh £219 £122 £341 £4,069 11.9 yrs £2,743
3 kW 3047 kWh 1219 kWh 1828 kWh £328 £183 £511 £6,104 11.9 yrs £4,115
4 kW 4063 kWh 1625 kWh 2438 kWh £437 £244 £681 £8,138 11.9 yrs £5,487
5 kW 5078 kWh 2031 kWh 3047 kWh £547 £305 £852 £10,173 11.9 yrs £6,858
6 kW 6094 kWh 2438 kWh 3656 kWh £656 £366 £1,022 £12,207 11.9 yrs £8,230
7 kW 7110 kWh 2844 kWh 4266 kWh £766 £427 £1,192 £14,242 11.9 yrs £9,602
8 kW 8125 kWh 3250 kWh 4875 kWh £875 £488 £1,362 £16,276 11.9 yrs £10,973

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: £1,023, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2031 kWh 1219 kWh 813 kWh £328 £81 £409 £6,169 15.1 yrs £2,018
3 kW 3047 kWh 1828 kWh 1219 kWh £492 £122 £614 £8,204 13.4 yrs £4,077
4 kW 4063 kWh 2438 kWh 1625 kWh £656 £163 £819 £10,238 12.5 yrs £6,136
5 kW 5078 kWh 3047 kWh 2031 kWh £820 £203 £1,023 £12,273 12.0 yrs £8,195
6 kW 6094 kWh 3656 kWh 2438 kWh £984 £244 £1,228 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,255
7 kW 7110 kWh 4266 kWh 2844 kWh £1,148 £284 £1,433 £16,342 11.4 yrs £12,314
8 kW 8125 kWh 4875 kWh 3250 kWh £1,312 £325 £1,637 £18,376 11.2 yrs £14,373

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: £1,109, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2031 kWh 1422 kWh 609 kWh £383 £61 £444 £7,569 17.1 yrs £1,306
3 kW 3047 kWh 2133 kWh 914 kWh £574 £91 £666 £9,604 14.4 yrs £3,708
4 kW 4063 kWh 2844 kWh 1219 kWh £766 £122 £887 £11,638 13.1 yrs £6,111
5 kW 5078 kWh 3555 kWh 1524 kWh £957 £152 £1,109 £13,673 12.3 yrs £8,514
6 kW 6094 kWh 4266 kWh 1828 kWh £1,148 £183 £1,331 £15,707 11.8 yrs £10,917
7 kW 7110 kWh 4977 kWh 2133 kWh £1,340 £213 £1,553 £17,742 11.4 yrs £13,320
8 kW 8125 kWh 5688 kWh 2438 kWh £1,531 £244 £1,775 £19,776 11.1 yrs £15,722

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: £1,135, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2031 kWh 1483 kWh 548 kWh £399 £55 £454 £9,319 20.5 yrs £-238
3 kW 3047 kWh 2224 kWh 823 kWh £599 £82 £681 £11,354 16.7 yrs £2,268
4 kW 4063 kWh 2966 kWh 1097 kWh £798 £110 £908 £13,388 14.7 yrs £4,774
5 kW 5078 kWh 3707 kWh 1371 kWh £998 £137 £1,135 £15,423 13.6 yrs £7,280
6 kW 6094 kWh 4449 kWh 1645 kWh £1,198 £165 £1,362 £17,457 12.8 yrs £9,785
7 kW 7110 kWh 5190 kWh 1920 kWh £1,397 £192 £1,589 £19,492 12.3 yrs £12,291
8 kW 8125 kWh 5932 kWh 2194 kWh £1,597 £219 £1,816 £21,526 11.9 yrs £14,797

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: £1,152, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2031 kWh 1524 kWh 508 kWh £410 £51 £461 £11,069 24.0 yrs £-1,851
3 kW 3047 kWh 2285 kWh 762 kWh £615 £76 £691 £13,104 19.0 yrs £724
4 kW 4063 kWh 3047 kWh 1016 kWh £820 £102 £922 £15,138 16.4 yrs £3,299
5 kW 5078 kWh 3809 kWh 1270 kWh £1,025 £127 £1,152 £17,173 14.9 yrs £5,873
6 kW 6094 kWh 4571 kWh 1524 kWh £1,230 £152 £1,383 £19,207 13.9 yrs £8,448
7 kW 7110 kWh 5332 kWh 1777 kWh £1,435 £178 £1,613 £21,242 13.2 yrs £11,023
8 kW 8125 kWh 6094 kWh 2031 kWh £1,641 £203 £1,844 £23,276 12.6 yrs £13,597

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: £1,169, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2031 kWh 1564 kWh 467 kWh £421 £47 £468 £13,519 28.9 yrs £-4,163
3 kW 3047 kWh 2346 kWh 701 kWh £632 £70 £702 £15,554 22.2 yrs £-1,520
4 kW 4063 kWh 3128 kWh 934 kWh £842 £93 £936 £17,588 18.8 yrs £1,124
5 kW 5078 kWh 3910 kWh 1168 kWh £1,053 £117 £1,169 £19,623 16.8 yrs £3,767
6 kW 6094 kWh 4692 kWh 1402 kWh £1,263 £140 £1,403 £21,657 15.4 yrs £6,410
7 kW 7110 kWh 5475 kWh 1635 kWh £1,474 £164 £1,637 £23,692 14.5 yrs £9,054
8 kW 8125 kWh 6257 kWh 1869 kWh £1,684 £187 £1,871 £25,726 13.7 yrs £11,697

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 ME2

Figures below are tailored to ME2 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1604 of 2182
4.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #414 of 2997
10.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£784 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1951 of 2997
22.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£784 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1016kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1016 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
4.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 75% • Flats: 18% • Bungalows: 6% Based on 10,358 properties

Coverage

Medway (99%)|Gravesham (1%)

Areas Covered

Strood North & Frindsbury, Strood West, Cuxton, Halling & Riverside, Strood Rural, Rochester West & Borstal, Higham & Shorne, Istead Rise + 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 South East

ME1 (Medway)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,018 kWh/kWp · +0% vs ME2
ME4 (Medway)
≈3.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,040 kWh/kWp · +2% vs ME2
ME7 (Medway)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,018 kWh/kWp · +0% vs ME2
ME3 (Medway)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,058 kWh/kWp · +4% vs ME2
ME5 (Medway)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,017 kWh/kWp · +0% vs ME2
ME8 (Medway)
≈8.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,034 kWh/kWp · +2% vs ME2

Similar sunshine across the UK

PE21 (Boston)
~1,016 kWh/kWp · -0% vs ME2
SO22 (Winchester)
~1,016 kWh/kWp · -0% vs ME2
TQ1 (Torbay)
~1,016 kWh/kWp · +0% vs ME2