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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PO20 (Chichester)

See if solar pays off for you in Chichester — 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
10.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,117
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£15,717
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 Southern, the current unit rate is 26.48p/kWh with a 44.62p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1122 kWh/kW — 121 above the regional median (1001).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1122 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
44.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1122 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: £931, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 10.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2244 kWh 898 kWh 1346 kWh £238 £135 £372 £4,069 10.9 yrs £3,377
3 kW 3366 kWh 1346 kWh 2020 kWh £357 £202 £558 £6,104 10.9 yrs £5,066
4 kW 4488 kWh 1795 kWh 2693 kWh £475 £269 £745 £8,138 10.9 yrs £6,755
5 kW 5610 kWh 2244 kWh 3366 kWh £594 £337 £931 £10,173 10.9 yrs £8,443
6 kW 6732 kWh 2693 kWh 4039 kWh £713 £404 £1,117 £12,207 10.9 yrs £10,132
7 kW 7854 kWh 3142 kWh 4712 kWh £832 £471 £1,303 £14,242 10.9 yrs £11,821
8 kW 8976 kWh 3590 kWh 5386 kWh £951 £539 £1,489 £16,276 10.9 yrs £13,509

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: £1,116, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2244 kWh 1346 kWh 898 kWh £357 £90 £446 £6,169 13.8 yrs £2,757
3 kW 3366 kWh 2020 kWh 1346 kWh £535 £135 £669 £8,204 12.3 yrs £5,185
4 kW 4488 kWh 2693 kWh 1795 kWh £713 £180 £893 £10,238 11.5 yrs £7,613
5 kW 5610 kWh 3366 kWh 2244 kWh £891 £224 £1,116 £12,273 11.0 yrs £10,041
6 kW 6732 kWh 4039 kWh 2693 kWh £1,070 £269 £1,339 £14,307 10.7 yrs £12,470
7 kW 7854 kWh 4712 kWh 3142 kWh £1,248 £314 £1,562 £16,342 10.5 yrs £14,898
8 kW 8976 kWh 5386 kWh 3590 kWh £1,426 £359 £1,785 £18,376 10.3 yrs £17,326

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: £1,208, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2244 kWh 1571 kWh 673 kWh £416 £67 £483 £7,569 15.7 yrs £2,096
3 kW 3366 kWh 2356 kWh 1010 kWh £624 £101 £725 £9,604 13.2 yrs £4,894
4 kW 4488 kWh 3142 kWh 1346 kWh £832 £135 £967 £11,638 12.0 yrs £7,692
5 kW 5610 kWh 3927 kWh 1683 kWh £1,040 £168 £1,208 £13,673 11.3 yrs £10,490
6 kW 6732 kWh 4712 kWh 2020 kWh £1,248 £202 £1,450 £15,707 10.8 yrs £13,288
7 kW 7854 kWh 5498 kWh 2356 kWh £1,456 £236 £1,691 £17,742 10.5 yrs £16,087
8 kW 8976 kWh 6283 kWh 2693 kWh £1,664 £269 £1,933 £19,776 10.2 yrs £18,885

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: £1,236, Upfront: £15,423, 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 2244 kWh 1638 kWh 606 kWh £434 £61 £494 £9,319 18.9 yrs £568
3 kW 3366 kWh 2457 kWh 909 kWh £651 £91 £742 £11,354 15.3 yrs £3,477
4 kW 4488 kWh 3276 kWh 1212 kWh £868 £121 £989 £13,388 13.5 yrs £6,386
5 kW 5610 kWh 4095 kWh 1515 kWh £1,084 £151 £1,236 £15,423 12.5 yrs £9,295
6 kW 6732 kWh 4914 kWh 1818 kWh £1,301 £182 £1,483 £17,457 11.8 yrs £12,204
7 kW 7854 kWh 5733 kWh 2121 kWh £1,518 £212 £1,730 £19,492 11.3 yrs £15,113
8 kW 8976 kWh 6552 kWh 2423 kWh £1,735 £242 £1,977 £21,526 10.9 yrs £18,022

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: £1,254, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2244 kWh 1683 kWh 561 kWh £446 £56 £502 £11,069 22.1 yrs £-1,034
3 kW 3366 kWh 2524 kWh 841 kWh £668 £84 £753 £13,104 17.4 yrs £1,949
4 kW 4488 kWh 3366 kWh 1122 kWh £891 £112 £1,003 £15,138 15.1 yrs £4,932
5 kW 5610 kWh 4207 kWh 1402 kWh £1,114 £140 £1,254 £17,173 13.7 yrs £7,915
6 kW 6732 kWh 5049 kWh 1683 kWh £1,337 £168 £1,505 £19,207 12.8 yrs £10,898
7 kW 7854 kWh 5890 kWh 1963 kWh £1,560 £196 £1,756 £21,242 12.1 yrs £13,881
8 kW 8976 kWh 6732 kWh 2244 kWh £1,783 £224 £2,007 £23,276 11.6 yrs £16,864

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: £1,273, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2244 kWh 1728 kWh 516 kWh £458 £52 £509 £13,519 26.6 yrs £-3,336
3 kW 3366 kWh 2592 kWh 774 kWh £686 £77 £764 £15,554 20.4 yrs £-279
4 kW 4488 kWh 3456 kWh 1032 kWh £915 £103 £1,018 £17,588 17.3 yrs £2,778
5 kW 5610 kWh 4320 kWh 1290 kWh £1,144 £129 £1,273 £19,623 15.4 yrs £5,835
6 kW 6732 kWh 5184 kWh 1548 kWh £1,373 £155 £1,527 £21,657 14.2 yrs £8,892
7 kW 7854 kWh 6047 kWh 1806 kWh £1,601 £181 £1,782 £23,692 13.3 yrs £11,949
8 kW 8976 kWh 6911 kWh 2064 kWh £1,830 £206 £2,037 £25,726 12.6 yrs £15,006

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 PO20

Figures below are tailored to PO20 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #519 of 2182
5.6 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #49 of 2997
9.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,283 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #3 of 2997
12.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£163 fixed • ~£1,283 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.48p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
44.62p/day
Local Sunshine
1122kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1122 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 62% • Flats: 15% • Bungalows: 21% Based on 11,215 properties

Coverage

Chichester (86%)|Arun (14%)

Areas Covered

North Mundham & Tangmere, The Witterings, Selsey South, Barnham, Sidlesham with Selsey North, Chichester Central, Arundel & Walberton, Harbour Villages + 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 Southern

PO19 (Chichester)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,138 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PO20
PO18 (Chichester)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,108 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PO20
PO21 (Arun)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,111 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PO20
PO22 (Arun)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,128 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PO20
PO10 (Havant)
≈11.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,133 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PO20
PO11 (Havant)
≈14.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,096 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PO20

Similar sunshine across the UK

BN10 (Lewes)
~1,123 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PO20
TN29 (Folkestone and Hythe)
~1,123 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PO20
BN12 (Worthing)
~1,123 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PO20