Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in SE7 (Greenwich)

See if solar pays off for you in Greenwich — 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
12.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£6,104
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£490
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,155
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

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 1006 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.6p/kWh
Standing charge
46.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1006 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: £817, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2011 kWh 805 kWh 1207 kWh £206 £121 £327 £4,069 12.4 yrs £2,469
3 kW 3017 kWh 1207 kWh 1810 kWh £309 £181 £490 £6,104 12.4 yrs £3,703
4 kW 4023 kWh 1609 kWh 2414 kWh £412 £241 £654 £8,138 12.4 yrs £4,938
5 kW 5028 kWh 2011 kWh 3017 kWh £516 £302 £817 £10,173 12.4 yrs £6,172
6 kW 6034 kWh 2414 kWh 3620 kWh £619 £362 £981 £12,207 12.4 yrs £7,406
7 kW 7040 kWh 2816 kWh 4224 kWh £722 £422 £1,144 £14,242 12.4 yrs £8,641
8 kW 8046 kWh 3218 kWh 4827 kWh £825 £483 £1,308 £16,276 12.4 yrs £9,875

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: £974, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2011 kWh 1207 kWh 805 kWh £309 £80 £390 £6,169 15.8 yrs £1,626
3 kW 3017 kWh 1810 kWh 1207 kWh £464 £121 £585 £8,204 14.0 yrs £3,489
4 kW 4023 kWh 2414 kWh 1609 kWh £619 £161 £780 £10,238 13.1 yrs £5,353
5 kW 5028 kWh 3017 kWh 2011 kWh £773 £201 £974 £12,273 12.6 yrs £7,216
6 kW 6034 kWh 3620 kWh 2414 kWh £928 £241 £1,169 £14,307 12.2 yrs £9,079
7 kW 7040 kWh 4224 kWh 2816 kWh £1,083 £282 £1,364 £16,342 12.0 yrs £10,942
8 kW 8046 kWh 4827 kWh 3218 kWh £1,237 £322 £1,559 £18,376 11.8 yrs £12,805

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: £1,053, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2011 kWh 1408 kWh 603 kWh £361 £60 £421 £7,569 18.0 yrs £855
3 kW 3017 kWh 2112 kWh 905 kWh £541 £91 £632 £9,604 15.2 yrs £3,033
4 kW 4023 kWh 2816 kWh 1207 kWh £722 £121 £842 £11,638 13.8 yrs £5,210
5 kW 5028 kWh 3520 kWh 1509 kWh £902 £151 £1,053 £13,673 13.0 yrs £7,388
6 kW 6034 kWh 4224 kWh 1810 kWh £1,083 £181 £1,264 £15,707 12.4 yrs £9,565
7 kW 7040 kWh 4928 kWh 2112 kWh £1,263 £211 £1,474 £17,742 12.0 yrs £11,743
8 kW 8046 kWh 5632 kWh 2414 kWh £1,443 £241 £1,685 £19,776 11.7 yrs £13,920

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: £1,077, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2011 kWh 1468 kWh 543 kWh £376 £54 £431 £9,319 21.6 yrs £-706
3 kW 3017 kWh 2202 kWh 815 kWh £564 £81 £646 £11,354 17.6 yrs £1,566
4 kW 4023 kWh 2937 kWh 1086 kWh £753 £109 £861 £13,388 15.5 yrs £3,837
5 kW 5028 kWh 3671 kWh 1358 kWh £941 £136 £1,077 £15,423 14.3 yrs £6,109
6 kW 6034 kWh 4405 kWh 1629 kWh £1,129 £163 £1,292 £17,457 13.5 yrs £8,381
7 kW 7040 kWh 5139 kWh 1901 kWh £1,317 £190 £1,507 £19,492 12.9 yrs £10,653
8 kW 8046 kWh 5873 kWh 2172 kWh £1,505 £217 £1,723 £21,526 12.5 yrs £12,925

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: £1,092, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2011 kWh 1509 kWh 503 kWh £387 £50 £437 £11,069 25.3 yrs £-2,331
3 kW 3017 kWh 2263 kWh 754 kWh £580 £75 £655 £13,104 20.0 yrs £4
4 kW 4023 kWh 3017 kWh 1006 kWh £773 £101 £874 £15,138 17.3 yrs £2,339
5 kW 5028 kWh 3771 kWh 1257 kWh £967 £126 £1,092 £17,173 15.7 yrs £4,674
6 kW 6034 kWh 4526 kWh 1509 kWh £1,160 £151 £1,311 £19,207 14.7 yrs £7,008
7 kW 7040 kWh 5280 kWh 1760 kWh £1,353 £176 £1,529 £21,242 13.9 yrs £9,343
8 kW 8046 kWh 6034 kWh 2011 kWh £1,547 £201 £1,748 £23,276 13.3 yrs £11,678

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: £1,108, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2011 kWh 1549 kWh 463 kWh £397 £46 £443 £13,519 30.5 yrs £-4,655
3 kW 3017 kWh 2323 kWh 694 kWh £595 £69 £665 £15,554 23.4 yrs £-2,257
4 kW 4023 kWh 3098 kWh 925 kWh £794 £93 £886 £17,588 19.8 yrs £140
5 kW 5028 kWh 3872 kWh 1157 kWh £992 £116 £1,108 £19,623 17.7 yrs £2,538
6 kW 6034 kWh 4646 kWh 1388 kWh £1,191 £139 £1,330 £21,657 16.3 yrs £4,936
7 kW 7040 kWh 5421 kWh 1619 kWh £1,389 £162 £1,551 £23,692 15.3 yrs £7,333
8 kW 8046 kWh 6195 kWh 1850 kWh £1,588 £185 £1,773 £25,726 14.5 yrs £9,731

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.63p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
46.06p/day
Local Sunshine
1006kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1006 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
3.0kW
For houses & bungalows 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: 42% • Flats: 52% • Bungalows: 0% Based on 5,384 properties

Coverage

Greenwich (100%)

Areas Covered

Charlton Village & Riverside, Greenwich Peninsula, Charlton Hornfair, Woolwich Dockyard, Kidbrooke Village & Sutcliffe

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.