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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in NR33 (East Suffolk)

See if solar pays off for you in East 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
11.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£853
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,150
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 1027 kWh/kW — 18 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 1027 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)
1027 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: £853, 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 2054 kWh 821 kWh 1232 kWh £218 £123 £341 £4,069 11.9 yrs £2,754
3 kW 3081 kWh 1232 kWh 1848 kWh £327 £185 £512 £6,104 11.9 yrs £4,131
4 kW 4107 kWh 1643 kWh 2464 kWh £436 £246 £682 £8,138 11.9 yrs £5,509
5 kW 5134 kWh 2054 kWh 3081 kWh £545 £308 £853 £10,173 11.9 yrs £6,886
6 kW 6161 kWh 2464 kWh 3697 kWh £654 £370 £1,023 £12,207 11.9 yrs £8,263
7 kW 7188 kWh 2875 kWh 4313 kWh £763 £431 £1,194 £14,242 11.9 yrs £9,640
8 kW 8215 kWh 3286 kWh 4929 kWh £872 £493 £1,365 £16,276 11.9 yrs £11,017

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 2054 kWh 1232 kWh 821 kWh £327 £82 £409 £6,169 15.1 yrs £2,012
3 kW 3081 kWh 1848 kWh 1232 kWh £490 £123 £614 £8,204 13.4 yrs £4,068
4 kW 4107 kWh 2464 kWh 1643 kWh £654 £164 £818 £10,238 12.5 yrs £6,124
5 kW 5134 kWh 3081 kWh 2054 kWh £817 £205 £1,023 £12,273 12.0 yrs £8,180
6 kW 6161 kWh 3697 kWh 2464 kWh £981 £246 £1,227 £14,307 11.7 yrs £10,237
7 kW 7188 kWh 4313 kWh 2875 kWh £1,144 £288 £1,432 £16,342 11.4 yrs £12,293
8 kW 8215 kWh 4929 kWh 3286 kWh £1,308 £329 £1,636 £18,376 11.2 yrs £14,349

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: £1,108, 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 2054 kWh 1438 kWh 616 kWh £381 £62 £443 £7,569 17.1 yrs £1,291
3 kW 3081 kWh 2156 kWh 924 kWh £572 £92 £665 £9,604 14.5 yrs £3,687
4 kW 4107 kWh 2875 kWh 1232 kWh £763 £123 £886 £11,638 13.1 yrs £6,082
5 kW 5134 kWh 3594 kWh 1540 kWh £953 £154 £1,108 £13,673 12.3 yrs £8,478
6 kW 6161 kWh 4313 kWh 1848 kWh £1,144 £185 £1,329 £15,707 11.8 yrs £10,873
7 kW 7188 kWh 5032 kWh 2156 kWh £1,335 £216 £1,551 £17,742 11.4 yrs £13,269
8 kW 8215 kWh 5750 kWh 2464 kWh £1,526 £246 £1,772 £19,776 11.2 yrs £15,665

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: £1,133, 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 2054 kWh 1499 kWh 555 kWh £398 £55 £453 £9,319 20.6 yrs £-255
3 kW 3081 kWh 2249 kWh 832 kWh £597 £83 £680 £11,354 16.7 yrs £2,242
4 kW 4107 kWh 2998 kWh 1109 kWh £795 £111 £906 £13,388 14.8 yrs £4,740
5 kW 5134 kWh 3748 kWh 1386 kWh £994 £139 £1,133 £15,423 13.6 yrs £7,237
6 kW 6161 kWh 4498 kWh 1664 kWh £1,193 £166 £1,360 £17,457 12.8 yrs £9,734
7 kW 7188 kWh 5247 kWh 1941 kWh £1,392 £194 £1,586 £19,492 12.3 yrs £12,232
8 kW 8215 kWh 5997 kWh 2218 kWh £1,591 £222 £1,813 £21,526 11.9 yrs £14,729

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: £1,150, 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 2054 kWh 1540 kWh 513 kWh £409 £51 £460 £11,069 24.1 yrs £-1,869
3 kW 3081 kWh 2310 kWh 770 kWh £613 £77 £690 £13,104 19.0 yrs £696
4 kW 4107 kWh 3081 kWh 1027 kWh £817 £103 £920 £15,138 16.5 yrs £3,261
5 kW 5134 kWh 3851 kWh 1284 kWh £1,022 £128 £1,150 £17,173 14.9 yrs £5,827
6 kW 6161 kWh 4621 kWh 1540 kWh £1,226 £154 £1,380 £19,207 13.9 yrs £8,392
7 kW 7188 kWh 5391 kWh 1797 kWh £1,430 £180 £1,610 £21,242 13.2 yrs £10,957
8 kW 8215 kWh 6161 kWh 2054 kWh £1,635 £205 £1,840 £23,276 12.7 yrs £13,522

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: £1,167, 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 2054 kWh 1581 kWh 472 kWh £420 £47 £467 £13,519 29.0 yrs £-4,184
3 kW 3081 kWh 2372 kWh 709 kWh £629 £71 £700 £15,554 22.2 yrs £-1,550
4 kW 4107 kWh 3163 kWh 945 kWh £839 £94 £934 £17,588 18.8 yrs £1,083
5 kW 5134 kWh 3953 kWh 1181 kWh £1,049 £118 £1,167 £19,623 16.8 yrs £3,716
6 kW 6161 kWh 4744 kWh 1417 kWh £1,259 £142 £1,400 £21,657 15.5 yrs £6,349
7 kW 7188 kWh 5535 kWh 1653 kWh £1,468 £165 £1,634 £23,692 14.5 yrs £8,982
8 kW 8215 kWh 6325 kWh 1889 kWh £1,678 £189 £1,867 £25,726 13.8 yrs £11,616

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 NR33

Figures below are tailored to NR33 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1377 of 2182
4.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #423 of 2997
10.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£980 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1007 of 2997
18.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£980 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1027kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1027 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: 18% • Bungalows: 24% Based on 11,145 properties

Coverage

East Suffolk (100%)

Areas Covered

Kirkley & Pakefield, Carlton & Whitton, Carlton Colville, Kessingland, Harbour & Normanston, Oulton Broad, Wrentham, Wangford & Westleton

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

NR32 (East Suffolk)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NR33
NR34 (East Suffolk)
≈10.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,062 kWh/kWp · +3% vs NR33
NR31 (Great Yarmouth)
≈13.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,028 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NR33
IP18 (East Suffolk)
≈14.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,041 kWh/kWp · +1% vs NR33
NR30 (Great Yarmouth)
≈17.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,028 kWh/kWp · +0% vs NR33
NR35 (East Suffolk)
≈19.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,032 kWh/kWp · +1% vs NR33

Similar sunshine across the UK

BS24 (North Somerset)
~1,027 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR33
TR10 (Cornwall)
~1,027 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR33
ME16 (Maidstone)
~1,027 kWh/kWp · -0% vs NR33