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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in RH18 (Wealden)

See if solar pays off for you in Wealden — 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
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,025
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,416
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 1019 kWh/kW — 10 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 1019 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)
1019 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: £854, 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 2037 kWh 815 kWh 1222 kWh £219 £122 £342 £4,069 11.9 yrs £2,764
3 kW 3056 kWh 1222 kWh 1834 kWh £329 £183 £512 £6,104 11.9 yrs £4,146
4 kW 4075 kWh 1630 kWh 2445 kWh £439 £244 £683 £8,138 11.9 yrs £5,527
5 kW 5094 kWh 2037 kWh 3056 kWh £548 £306 £854 £10,173 11.9 yrs £6,909
6 kW 6112 kWh 2445 kWh 3667 kWh £658 £367 £1,025 £12,207 11.9 yrs £8,291
7 kW 7131 kWh 2852 kWh 4279 kWh £768 £428 £1,196 £14,242 11.9 yrs £9,673
8 kW 8150 kWh 3260 kWh 4890 kWh £878 £489 £1,367 £16,276 11.9 yrs £11,055

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: £1,026, 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 2037 kWh 1222 kWh 815 kWh £329 £81 £411 £6,169 15.0 yrs £2,043
3 kW 3056 kWh 1834 kWh 1222 kWh £494 £122 £616 £8,204 13.3 yrs £4,114
4 kW 4075 kWh 2445 kWh 1630 kWh £658 £163 £821 £10,238 12.5 yrs £6,185
5 kW 5094 kWh 3056 kWh 2037 kWh £823 £204 £1,026 £12,273 12.0 yrs £8,256
6 kW 6112 kWh 3667 kWh 2445 kWh £987 £244 £1,232 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,328
7 kW 7131 kWh 4279 kWh 2852 kWh £1,152 £285 £1,437 £16,342 11.4 yrs £12,399
8 kW 8150 kWh 4890 kWh 3260 kWh £1,316 £326 £1,642 £18,376 11.2 yrs £14,470

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: £1,113, 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 2037 kWh 1426 kWh 611 kWh £384 £61 £445 £7,569 17.0 yrs £1,332
3 kW 3056 kWh 2139 kWh 917 kWh £576 £92 £668 £9,604 14.4 yrs £3,748
4 kW 4075 kWh 2852 kWh 1222 kWh £768 £122 £890 £11,638 13.1 yrs £6,164
5 kW 5094 kWh 3565 kWh 1528 kWh £960 £153 £1,113 £13,673 12.3 yrs £8,580
6 kW 6112 kWh 4279 kWh 1834 kWh £1,152 £183 £1,335 £15,707 11.8 yrs £10,996
7 kW 7131 kWh 4992 kWh 2139 kWh £1,344 £214 £1,558 £17,742 11.4 yrs £13,412
8 kW 8150 kWh 5705 kWh 2445 kWh £1,536 £244 £1,780 £19,776 11.1 yrs £15,828

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: £1,138, 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 2037 kWh 1487 kWh 550 kWh £400 £55 £455 £9,319 20.5 yrs £-211
3 kW 3056 kWh 2231 kWh 825 kWh £601 £83 £683 £11,354 16.6 yrs £2,308
4 kW 4075 kWh 2975 kWh 1100 kWh £801 £110 £911 £13,388 14.7 yrs £4,828
5 kW 5094 kWh 3718 kWh 1375 kWh £1,001 £138 £1,138 £15,423 13.5 yrs £7,347
6 kW 6112 kWh 4462 kWh 1650 kWh £1,201 £165 £1,366 £17,457 12.8 yrs £9,867
7 kW 7131 kWh 5206 kWh 1925 kWh £1,401 £193 £1,594 £19,492 12.2 yrs £12,386
8 kW 8150 kWh 5949 kWh 2200 kWh £1,602 £220 £1,822 £21,526 11.8 yrs £14,906

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: £1,156, 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 2037 kWh 1528 kWh 509 kWh £411 £51 £462 £11,069 23.9 yrs £-1,823
3 kW 3056 kWh 2292 kWh 764 kWh £617 £76 £693 £13,104 18.9 yrs £765
4 kW 4075 kWh 3056 kWh 1019 kWh £823 £102 £925 £15,138 16.4 yrs £3,354
5 kW 5094 kWh 3820 kWh 1273 kWh £1,028 £127 £1,156 £17,173 14.9 yrs £5,942
6 kW 6112 kWh 4584 kWh 1528 kWh £1,234 £153 £1,387 £19,207 13.8 yrs £8,530
7 kW 7131 kWh 5348 kWh 1783 kWh £1,440 £178 £1,618 £21,242 13.1 yrs £11,119
8 kW 8150 kWh 6112 kWh 2037 kWh £1,645 £204 £1,849 £23,276 12.6 yrs £13,707

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: £1,173, 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 2037 kWh 1569 kWh 469 kWh £422 £47 £469 £13,519 28.8 yrs £-4,135
3 kW 3056 kWh 2353 kWh 703 kWh £633 £70 £704 £15,554 22.1 yrs £-1,478
4 kW 4075 kWh 3138 kWh 937 kWh £845 £94 £938 £17,588 18.7 yrs £1,179
5 kW 5094 kWh 3922 kWh 1172 kWh £1,056 £117 £1,173 £19,623 16.7 yrs £3,837
6 kW 6112 kWh 4706 kWh 1406 kWh £1,267 £141 £1,408 £21,657 15.4 yrs £6,494
7 kW 7131 kWh 5491 kWh 1640 kWh £1,478 £164 £1,642 £23,692 14.4 yrs £9,151
8 kW 8150 kWh 6275 kWh 1874 kWh £1,689 £187 £1,877 £25,726 13.7 yrs £11,809

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 RH18

Figures below are tailored to RH18 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #412 of 2182
5.7 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~12 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #343 of 2997
10.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,180 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #203 of 2997
14.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,180 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1019kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1019 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: 73% • Flats: 18% • Bungalows: 6% Based on 1,048 properties

Coverage

Wealden (77%)|Mid Sussex (23%)

Areas Covered

Forest Row, East Grinstead Town, Hartfield, Danehill & Fletching

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

RH19 (Mid Sussex)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,007 kWh/kWp · -1% vs RH18
TN7 (Wealden)
≈5.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,019 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RH18
RH7 (Tandridge)
≈9.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,014 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RH18
TN6 (Wealden)
≈10.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,026 kWh/kWp · +1% vs RH18
TN8 (Sevenoaks)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,024 kWh/kWp · +0% vs RH18
TN3 (Tunbridge Wells)
≈13.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,023 kWh/kWp · +0% vs RH18

Similar sunshine across the UK

SO20 (Test Valley)
~1,019 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RH18
SP1 (Wiltshire)
~1,019 kWh/kWp · +0% vs RH18
TA17 (Somerset)
~1,019 kWh/kWp · +0% vs RH18