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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in RM17 (Thurrock)

See if solar pays off for you in Thurrock — 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
£684
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,972
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 1030 kWh/kW — 21 above the regional median (1009).

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 1030 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)
1030 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: £856, 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 2060 kWh 824 kWh 1236 kWh £219 £124 £342 £4,069 11.9 yrs £2,775
3 kW 3090 kWh 1236 kWh 1854 kWh £328 £185 £513 £6,104 11.9 yrs £4,163
4 kW 4120 kWh 1648 kWh 2472 kWh £437 £247 £684 £8,138 11.9 yrs £5,550
5 kW 5150 kWh 2060 kWh 3090 kWh £547 £309 £856 £10,173 11.9 yrs £6,938
6 kW 6180 kWh 2472 kWh 3708 kWh £656 £371 £1,027 £12,207 11.9 yrs £8,325
7 kW 7210 kWh 2884 kWh 4326 kWh £765 £433 £1,198 £14,242 11.9 yrs £9,713
8 kW 8240 kWh 3296 kWh 4944 kWh £874 £494 £1,369 £16,276 11.9 yrs £11,100

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 2060 kWh 1236 kWh 824 kWh £328 £82 £410 £6,169 15.0 yrs £2,037
3 kW 3090 kWh 1854 kWh 1236 kWh £492 £124 £615 £8,204 13.3 yrs £4,106
4 kW 4120 kWh 2472 kWh 1648 kWh £656 £165 £821 £10,238 12.5 yrs £6,174
5 kW 5150 kWh 3090 kWh 2060 kWh £820 £206 £1,026 £12,273 12.0 yrs £8,243
6 kW 6180 kWh 3708 kWh 2472 kWh £984 £247 £1,231 £14,307 11.6 yrs £10,311
7 kW 7210 kWh 4326 kWh 2884 kWh £1,148 £288 £1,436 £16,342 11.4 yrs £12,380
8 kW 8240 kWh 4944 kWh 3296 kWh £1,312 £330 £1,641 £18,376 11.2 yrs £14,448

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: £1,111, 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 2060 kWh 1442 kWh 618 kWh £383 £62 £444 £7,569 17.0 yrs £1,318
3 kW 3090 kWh 2163 kWh 927 kWh £574 £93 £667 £9,604 14.4 yrs £3,727
4 kW 4120 kWh 2884 kWh 1236 kWh £765 £124 £889 £11,638 13.1 yrs £6,136
5 kW 5150 kWh 3605 kWh 1545 kWh £956 £154 £1,111 £13,673 12.3 yrs £8,545
6 kW 6180 kWh 4326 kWh 1854 kWh £1,148 £185 £1,333 £15,707 11.8 yrs £10,954
7 kW 7210 kWh 5047 kWh 2163 kWh £1,339 £216 £1,555 £17,742 11.4 yrs £13,364
8 kW 8240 kWh 5768 kWh 2472 kWh £1,530 £247 £1,777 £19,776 11.1 yrs £15,773

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: £1,136, 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 2060 kWh 1504 kWh 556 kWh £399 £56 £455 £9,319 20.5 yrs £-228
3 kW 3090 kWh 2256 kWh 834 kWh £598 £83 £682 £11,354 16.7 yrs £2,284
4 kW 4120 kWh 3008 kWh 1112 kWh £798 £111 £909 £13,388 14.7 yrs £4,795
5 kW 5150 kWh 3759 kWh 1390 kWh £997 £139 £1,136 £15,423 13.6 yrs £7,306
6 kW 6180 kWh 4511 kWh 1669 kWh £1,197 £167 £1,364 £17,457 12.8 yrs £9,817
7 kW 7210 kWh 5263 kWh 1947 kWh £1,396 £195 £1,591 £19,492 12.3 yrs £12,329
8 kW 8240 kWh 6015 kWh 2225 kWh £1,596 £222 £1,818 £21,526 11.8 yrs £14,840

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: £1,153, 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 2060 kWh 1545 kWh 515 kWh £410 £51 £461 £11,069 24.0 yrs £-1,841
3 kW 3090 kWh 2317 kWh 772 kWh £615 £77 £692 £13,104 18.9 yrs £738
4 kW 4120 kWh 3090 kWh 1030 kWh £820 £103 £923 £15,138 16.4 yrs £3,317
5 kW 5150 kWh 3862 kWh 1287 kWh £1,025 £129 £1,153 £17,173 14.9 yrs £5,897
6 kW 6180 kWh 4635 kWh 1545 kWh £1,230 £154 £1,384 £19,207 13.9 yrs £8,476
7 kW 7210 kWh 5407 kWh 1802 kWh £1,435 £180 £1,615 £21,242 13.2 yrs £11,055
8 kW 8240 kWh 6180 kWh 2060 kWh £1,640 £206 £1,846 £23,276 12.6 yrs £13,635

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: £1,170, 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 2060 kWh 1586 kWh 474 kWh £421 £47 £468 £13,519 28.9 yrs £-4,155
3 kW 3090 kWh 2379 kWh 711 kWh £631 £71 £702 £15,554 22.1 yrs £-1,508
4 kW 4120 kWh 3172 kWh 948 kWh £842 £95 £936 £17,588 18.8 yrs £1,140
5 kW 5150 kWh 3965 kWh 1184 kWh £1,052 £118 £1,170 £19,623 16.8 yrs £3,787
6 kW 6180 kWh 4759 kWh 1421 kWh £1,262 £142 £1,405 £21,657 15.4 yrs £6,435
7 kW 7210 kWh 5552 kWh 1658 kWh £1,473 £166 £1,639 £23,692 14.5 yrs £9,082
8 kW 8240 kWh 6345 kWh 1895 kWh £1,683 £190 £1,873 £25,726 13.7 yrs £11,729

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 RM17

Figures below are tailored to RM17 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #2083 of 2182
4.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~8 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #345 of 2997
10.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£787 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1987 of 2997
22.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£787 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1030kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1030 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: 50% • Flats: 44% • Bungalows: 3% Based on 7,782 properties

Coverage

Thurrock (100%)

Areas Covered

Grays Riverside, Grays Thurrock, Little Thurrock Rectory, Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park, Chafford and North Stifford, Chadwell St Mary, Little Thurrock Blackshots, West Thurrock and South Stifford

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

RM16 (Thurrock)
≈0.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,030 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RM17
RM20 (Thurrock)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,023 kWh/kWp · -1% vs RM17
RM18 (Thurrock)
≈3.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,033 kWh/kWp · +0% vs RM17
RM15 (Thurrock)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,024 kWh/kWp · -1% vs RM17
RM19 (Thurrock)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,030 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RM17
RM14 (Havering)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,027 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RM17

Similar sunshine across the UK

BH31 (Dorset)
~1,030 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RM17
TR7 (Cornwall)
~1,030 kWh/kWp · -0% vs RM17
ME20 (Tonbridge and Malling)
~1,030 kWh/kWp · +0% vs RM17