Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in ME6 (Tonbridge and Malling)

See if solar pays off for you in Tonbridge and Malling — 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
£686
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,015
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 1023 kWh/kW — 6 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 1023 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)
1023 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: £858, 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 2046 kWh 818 kWh 1228 kWh £220 £123 £343 £4,069 11.9 yrs £2,792
3 kW 3069 kWh 1228 kWh 1841 kWh £330 £184 £515 £6,104 11.9 yrs £4,188
4 kW 4092 kWh 1637 kWh 2455 kWh £441 £246 £686 £8,138 11.9 yrs £5,584
5 kW 5115 kWh 2046 kWh 3069 kWh £551 £307 £858 £10,173 11.9 yrs £6,980
6 kW 6138 kWh 2455 kWh 3683 kWh £661 £368 £1,029 £12,207 11.9 yrs £8,376
7 kW 7161 kWh 2864 kWh 4296 kWh £771 £430 £1,201 £14,242 11.9 yrs £9,772
8 kW 8184 kWh 3273 kWh 4910 kWh £881 £491 £1,372 £16,276 11.9 yrs £11,168

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: £1,031, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2046 kWh 1228 kWh 818 kWh £330 £82 £412 £6,169 15.0 yrs £2,077
3 kW 3069 kWh 1841 kWh 1228 kWh £496 £123 £618 £8,204 13.3 yrs £4,165
4 kW 4092 kWh 2455 kWh 1637 kWh £661 £164 £825 £10,238 12.4 yrs £6,254
5 kW 5115 kWh 3069 kWh 2046 kWh £826 £205 £1,031 £12,273 11.9 yrs £8,342
6 kW 6138 kWh 3683 kWh 2455 kWh £991 £246 £1,237 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,430
7 kW 7161 kWh 4296 kWh 2864 kWh £1,157 £286 £1,443 £16,342 11.3 yrs £12,519
8 kW 8184 kWh 4910 kWh 3273 kWh £1,322 £327 £1,649 £18,376 11.1 yrs £14,607

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: £1,117, 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 2046 kWh 1432 kWh 614 kWh £386 £61 £447 £7,569 16.9 yrs £1,369
3 kW 3069 kWh 2148 kWh 921 kWh £578 £92 £670 £9,604 14.3 yrs £3,804
4 kW 4092 kWh 2864 kWh 1228 kWh £771 £123 £894 £11,638 13.0 yrs £6,238
5 kW 5115 kWh 3580 kWh 1534 kWh £964 £153 £1,117 £13,673 12.2 yrs £8,673
6 kW 6138 kWh 4296 kWh 1841 kWh £1,157 £184 £1,341 £15,707 11.7 yrs £11,107
7 kW 7161 kWh 5012 kWh 2148 kWh £1,349 £215 £1,564 £17,742 11.3 yrs £13,542
8 kW 8184 kWh 5729 kWh 2455 kWh £1,542 £246 £1,788 £19,776 11.1 yrs £15,976

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: £1,143, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2046 kWh 1494 kWh 552 kWh £402 £55 £457 £9,319 20.4 yrs £-173
3 kW 3069 kWh 2240 kWh 829 kWh £603 £83 £686 £11,354 16.6 yrs £2,365
4 kW 4092 kWh 2987 kWh 1105 kWh £804 £110 £915 £13,388 14.6 yrs £4,904
5 kW 5115 kWh 3734 kWh 1381 kWh £1,005 £138 £1,143 £15,423 13.5 yrs £7,442
6 kW 6138 kWh 4481 kWh 1657 kWh £1,206 £166 £1,372 £17,457 12.7 yrs £9,980
7 kW 7161 kWh 5227 kWh 1933 kWh £1,407 £193 £1,601 £19,492 12.2 yrs £12,519
8 kW 8184 kWh 5974 kWh 2210 kWh £1,608 £221 £1,829 £21,526 11.8 yrs £15,057

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: £1,161, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2046 kWh 1534 kWh 511 kWh £413 £51 £464 £11,069 23.8 yrs £-1,785
3 kW 3069 kWh 2302 kWh 767 kWh £620 £77 £696 £13,104 18.8 yrs £823
4 kW 4092 kWh 3069 kWh 1023 kWh £826 £102 £928 £15,138 16.3 yrs £3,431
5 kW 5115 kWh 3836 kWh 1279 kWh £1,033 £128 £1,161 £17,173 14.8 yrs £6,038
6 kW 6138 kWh 4603 kWh 1534 kWh £1,239 £153 £1,393 £19,207 13.8 yrs £8,646
7 kW 7161 kWh 5370 kWh 1790 kWh £1,446 £179 £1,625 £21,242 13.1 yrs £11,253
8 kW 8184 kWh 6138 kWh 2046 kWh £1,652 £205 £1,857 £23,276 12.5 yrs £13,861

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: £1,178, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2046 kWh 1575 kWh 471 kWh £424 £47 £471 £13,519 28.7 yrs £-4,096
3 kW 3069 kWh 2363 kWh 706 kWh £636 £71 £707 £15,554 22.0 yrs £-1,419
4 kW 4092 kWh 3151 kWh 941 kWh £848 £94 £942 £17,588 18.7 yrs £1,257
5 kW 5115 kWh 3938 kWh 1176 kWh £1,060 £118 £1,178 £19,623 16.7 yrs £3,934
6 kW 6138 kWh 4726 kWh 1412 kWh £1,272 £141 £1,413 £21,657 15.3 yrs £6,611
7 kW 7161 kWh 5514 kWh 1647 kWh £1,484 £165 £1,649 £23,692 14.4 yrs £9,288
8 kW 8184 kWh 6301 kWh 1882 kWh £1,696 £188 £1,885 £25,726 13.7 yrs £11,965

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 ME6

Figures below are tailored to ME6 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1675 of 2182
4.5 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #334 of 2997
10.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£790 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1877 of 2997
22.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£790 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1023kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1023 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: 70% • Flats: 22% • Bungalows: 5% Based on 3,121 properties

Coverage

Tonbridge and Malling (100%)

Areas Covered

Snodland East & Ham Hill, Snodland West & Holborough Lakes, Kings Hill, Birling, Leybourne & Ryarsh

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

ME20 (Tonbridge and Malling)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,030 kWh/kWp · +1% vs ME6
ME19 (Tonbridge and Malling)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,032 kWh/kWp · +1% vs ME6
ME5 (Medway)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,017 kWh/kWp · -1% vs ME6
ME16 (Maidstone)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,027 kWh/kWp · +0% vs ME6
ME99 (Maidstone)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,017 kWh/kWp · -1% vs ME6
ME1 (Medway)
≈7.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,018 kWh/kWp · -0% vs ME6

Similar sunshine across the UK

TR8 (Cornwall)
~1,023 kWh/kWp · -0% vs ME6
RM20 (Thurrock)
~1,023 kWh/kWp · +0% vs ME6
CM4 (Brentwood)
~1,023 kWh/kWp · -0% vs ME6