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 RH13 (Horsham)

See if solar pays off for you in Horsham — 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
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,030
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,553
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 1024 kWh/kW — 5 below the regional median (1029).

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 1024 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)
1024 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: £859, 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 2048 kWh 819 kWh 1229 kWh £221 £123 £343 £4,069 11.8 yrs £2,800
3 kW 3073 kWh 1229 kWh 1844 kWh £331 £184 £515 £6,104 11.8 yrs £4,200
4 kW 4097 kWh 1639 kWh 2458 kWh £441 £246 £687 £8,138 11.8 yrs £5,601
5 kW 5121 kWh 2048 kWh 3073 kWh £551 £307 £859 £10,173 11.8 yrs £7,001
6 kW 6145 kWh 2458 kWh 3687 kWh £662 £369 £1,030 £12,207 11.8 yrs £8,401
7 kW 7169 kWh 2868 kWh 4302 kWh £772 £430 £1,202 £14,242 11.8 yrs £9,801
8 kW 8193 kWh 3277 kWh 4916 kWh £882 £492 £1,374 £16,276 11.8 yrs £11,201

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: £1,032, 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 2048 kWh 1229 kWh 819 kWh £331 £82 £413 £6,169 14.9 yrs £2,087
3 kW 3073 kWh 1844 kWh 1229 kWh £496 £123 £619 £8,204 13.2 yrs £4,180
4 kW 4097 kWh 2458 kWh 1639 kWh £662 £164 £826 £10,238 12.4 yrs £6,273
5 kW 5121 kWh 3073 kWh 2048 kWh £827 £205 £1,032 £12,273 11.9 yrs £8,367
6 kW 6145 kWh 3687 kWh 2458 kWh £993 £246 £1,238 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,460
7 kW 7169 kWh 4302 kWh 2868 kWh £1,158 £287 £1,445 £16,342 11.3 yrs £12,553
8 kW 8193 kWh 4916 kWh 3277 kWh £1,323 £328 £1,651 £18,376 11.1 yrs £14,646

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: £1,119, 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 2048 kWh 1434 kWh 615 kWh £386 £61 £447 £7,569 16.9 yrs £1,380
3 kW 3073 kWh 2151 kWh 922 kWh £579 £92 £671 £9,604 14.3 yrs £3,820
4 kW 4097 kWh 2868 kWh 1229 kWh £772 £123 £895 £11,638 13.0 yrs £6,260
5 kW 5121 kWh 3585 kWh 1536 kWh £965 £154 £1,119 £13,673 12.2 yrs £8,699
6 kW 6145 kWh 4302 kWh 1844 kWh £1,158 £184 £1,342 £15,707 11.7 yrs £11,139
7 kW 7169 kWh 5018 kWh 2151 kWh £1,351 £215 £1,566 £17,742 11.3 yrs £13,579
8 kW 8193 kWh 5735 kWh 2458 kWh £1,544 £246 £1,790 £19,776 11.0 yrs £16,019

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: £1,145, 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 2048 kWh 1495 kWh 553 kWh £403 £55 £458 £9,319 20.4 yrs £-162
3 kW 3073 kWh 2243 kWh 830 kWh £604 £83 £687 £11,354 16.5 yrs £2,382
4 kW 4097 kWh 2991 kWh 1106 kWh £805 £111 £916 £13,388 14.6 yrs £4,925
5 kW 5121 kWh 3738 kWh 1383 kWh £1,006 £138 £1,145 £15,423 13.5 yrs £7,469
6 kW 6145 kWh 4486 kWh 1659 kWh £1,208 £166 £1,374 £17,457 12.7 yrs £10,013
7 kW 7169 kWh 5234 kWh 1936 kWh £1,409 £194 £1,602 £19,492 12.2 yrs £12,557
8 kW 8193 kWh 5981 kWh 2212 kWh £1,610 £221 £1,831 £21,526 11.8 yrs £15,101

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: £1,162, 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 2048 kWh 1536 kWh 512 kWh £414 £51 £465 £11,069 23.8 yrs £-1,774
3 kW 3073 kWh 2304 kWh 768 kWh £620 £77 £697 £13,104 18.8 yrs £840
4 kW 4097 kWh 3073 kWh 1024 kWh £827 £102 £930 £15,138 16.3 yrs £3,453
5 kW 5121 kWh 3841 kWh 1280 kWh £1,034 £128 £1,162 £17,173 14.8 yrs £6,066
6 kW 6145 kWh 4609 kWh 1536 kWh £1,241 £154 £1,394 £19,207 13.8 yrs £8,679
7 kW 7169 kWh 5377 kWh 1792 kWh £1,447 £179 £1,627 £21,242 13.1 yrs £11,292
8 kW 8193 kWh 6145 kWh 2048 kWh £1,654 £205 £1,859 £23,276 12.5 yrs £13,905

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: £1,179, 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 2048 kWh 1577 kWh 471 kWh £425 £47 £472 £13,519 28.7 yrs £-4,085
3 kW 3073 kWh 2366 kWh 707 kWh £637 £71 £708 £15,554 22.0 yrs £-1,403
4 kW 4097 kWh 3154 kWh 942 kWh £849 £94 £943 £17,588 18.6 yrs £1,280
5 kW 5121 kWh 3943 kWh 1178 kWh £1,061 £118 £1,179 £19,623 16.6 yrs £3,962
6 kW 6145 kWh 4732 kWh 1413 kWh £1,274 £141 £1,415 £21,657 15.3 yrs £6,645
7 kW 7169 kWh 5520 kWh 1649 kWh £1,486 £165 £1,651 £23,692 14.4 yrs £9,327
8 kW 8193 kWh 6309 kWh 1884 kWh £1,698 £188 £1,887 £25,726 13.6 yrs £12,010

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 RH13

Figures below are tailored to RH13 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #849 of 2182
5.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #341 of 2997
10.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,186 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #202 of 2997
14.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,186 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1024kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1024 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: 63% • Flats: 24% • Bungalows: 9% Based on 9,736 properties

Coverage

Horsham (100%)

Areas Covered

Southwater South & Shipley, Forest, Southwater North, Holbrook West, Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham, Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead + 7 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

RH12 (Horsham)
≈2.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,006 kWh/kWp · -2% vs RH13
RH11 (Crawley)
≈11.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,008 kWh/kWp · -2% vs RH13
RH10 (Crawley)
≈12.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,005 kWh/kWp · -2% vs RH13
BN5 (Horsham)
≈13.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,083 kWh/kWp · +6% vs RH13
RH17 (Mid Sussex)
≈14.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · +1% vs RH13
RH77 (Crawley)
≈14.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,007 kWh/kWp · -2% vs RH13

Similar sunshine across the UK

CF5 (Cardiff)
~1,024 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RH13
RM15 (Thurrock)
~1,024 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RH13
CM14 (Brentwood)
~1,024 kWh/kWp · +0% vs RH13