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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SE19 (Croydon)

See if solar pays off for you in Croydon — 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
12.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£6,104
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£501
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,424
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 996 kWh/kW — 33 below the regional median (1029).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 996 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)
996 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: £835, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1992 kWh 797 kWh 1195 kWh £215 £120 £334 £4,069 12.2 yrs £2,612
3 kW 2988 kWh 1195 kWh 1793 kWh £322 £179 £501 £6,104 12.2 yrs £3,918
4 kW 3985 kWh 1594 kWh 2391 kWh £429 £239 £668 £8,138 12.2 yrs £5,224
5 kW 4981 kWh 1992 kWh 2988 kWh £536 £299 £835 £10,173 12.2 yrs £6,531
6 kW 5977 kWh 2391 kWh 3586 kWh £644 £359 £1,002 £12,207 12.2 yrs £7,837
7 kW 6973 kWh 2789 kWh 4184 kWh £751 £418 £1,169 £14,242 12.2 yrs £9,143
8 kW 7969 kWh 3188 kWh 4781 kWh £858 £478 £1,336 £16,276 12.2 yrs £10,449

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: £1,004, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1992 kWh 1195 kWh 797 kWh £322 £80 £401 £6,169 15.4 yrs £1,861
3 kW 2988 kWh 1793 kWh 1195 kWh £483 £120 £602 £8,204 13.6 yrs £3,841
4 kW 3985 kWh 2391 kWh 1594 kWh £644 £159 £803 £10,238 12.8 yrs £5,821
5 kW 4981 kWh 2988 kWh 1992 kWh £804 £199 £1,004 £12,273 12.2 yrs £7,801
6 kW 5977 kWh 3586 kWh 2391 kWh £965 £239 £1,204 £14,307 11.9 yrs £9,782
7 kW 6973 kWh 4184 kWh 2789 kWh £1,126 £279 £1,405 £16,342 11.6 yrs £11,762
8 kW 7969 kWh 4781 kWh 3188 kWh £1,287 £319 £1,606 £18,376 11.4 yrs £13,742

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: £1,088, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1992 kWh 1395 kWh 598 kWh £375 £60 £435 £7,569 17.4 yrs £1,135
3 kW 2988 kWh 2092 kWh 897 kWh £563 £90 £653 £9,604 14.7 yrs £3,452
4 kW 3985 kWh 2789 kWh 1195 kWh £751 £120 £870 £11,638 13.4 yrs £5,770
5 kW 4981 kWh 3486 kWh 1494 kWh £939 £149 £1,088 £13,673 12.6 yrs £8,087
6 kW 5977 kWh 4184 kWh 1793 kWh £1,126 £179 £1,306 £15,707 12.0 yrs £10,404
7 kW 6973 kWh 4881 kWh 2092 kWh £1,314 £209 £1,523 £17,742 11.6 yrs £12,722
8 kW 7969 kWh 5578 kWh 2391 kWh £1,502 £239 £1,741 £19,776 11.4 yrs £15,039

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: £1,113, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1992 kWh 1454 kWh 538 kWh £392 £54 £445 £9,319 20.9 yrs £-413
3 kW 2988 kWh 2182 kWh 807 kWh £587 £81 £668 £11,354 17.0 yrs £2,006
4 kW 3985 kWh 2909 kWh 1076 kWh £783 £108 £891 £13,388 15.0 yrs £4,424
5 kW 4981 kWh 3636 kWh 1345 kWh £979 £134 £1,113 £15,423 13.9 yrs £6,843
6 kW 5977 kWh 4363 kWh 1614 kWh £1,175 £161 £1,336 £17,457 13.1 yrs £9,261
7 kW 6973 kWh 5090 kWh 1883 kWh £1,370 £188 £1,559 £19,492 12.5 yrs £11,680
8 kW 7969 kWh 5817 kWh 2152 kWh £1,566 £215 £1,781 £21,526 12.1 yrs £14,098

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: £1,130, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1992 kWh 1494 kWh 498 kWh £402 £50 £452 £11,069 24.5 yrs £-2,028
3 kW 2988 kWh 2241 kWh 747 kWh £603 £75 £678 £13,104 19.3 yrs £458
4 kW 3985 kWh 2988 kWh 996 kWh £804 £100 £904 £15,138 16.7 yrs £2,944
5 kW 4981 kWh 3735 kWh 1245 kWh £1,006 £125 £1,130 £17,173 15.2 yrs £5,430
6 kW 5977 kWh 4483 kWh 1494 kWh £1,207 £149 £1,356 £19,207 14.2 yrs £7,916
7 kW 6973 kWh 5230 kWh 1743 kWh £1,408 £174 £1,582 £21,242 13.4 yrs £10,401
8 kW 7969 kWh 5977 kWh 1992 kWh £1,609 £199 £1,808 £23,276 12.9 yrs £12,887

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: £1,147, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1992 kWh 1534 kWh 458 kWh £413 £46 £459 £13,519 29.5 yrs £-4,343
3 kW 2988 kWh 2301 kWh 687 kWh £619 £69 £688 £15,554 22.6 yrs £-1,790
4 kW 3985 kWh 3068 kWh 916 kWh £826 £92 £918 £17,588 19.2 yrs £763
5 kW 4981 kWh 3835 kWh 1146 kWh £1,032 £115 £1,147 £19,623 17.1 yrs £3,317
6 kW 5977 kWh 4602 kWh 1375 kWh £1,239 £137 £1,376 £21,657 15.7 yrs £5,870
7 kW 6973 kWh 5369 kWh 1604 kWh £1,445 £160 £1,606 £23,692 14.8 yrs £8,423
8 kW 7969 kWh 6136 kWh 1833 kWh £1,652 £183 £1,835 £25,726 14.0 yrs £10,977

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 SE19

Figures below are tailored to SE19 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #2125 of 2182
3.8 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~8 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #720 of 2997
10.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£962 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1038 of 2997
18.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£962 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
996kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~996 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For eligible homes in this area

⚠️ This area is predominantly flats. Many residents require freeholder approval for solar installations. System size shown reflects houses and bungalows only.

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 24% • Flats: 66% • Bungalows: 1% Based on 9,486 properties

Coverage

Croydon (72%)|Lambeth (14%)|Bromley (8%)|Southwark (6%)

Areas Covered

Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace & Anerley, Dulwich Wood, Norbury Park, Knight's Hill, South Norwood

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

SE25 (Croydon)
≈2.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SE19
CR7 (Croydon)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SE19
CR0 (Croydon)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SE19
CR9 (Croydon)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~996 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SE19
CR90 (Croydon)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SE19
CR44 (Sutton)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~990 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SE19

Similar sunshine across the UK

UB18 (Ealing)
~996 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SE19
SW17 (Wandsworth)
~996 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SE19
UB3 (Hillingdon)
~996 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SE19