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Solar panel cost in Southend-on-Sea (SS1)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for SS1 (Southend-on-Sea) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

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
10.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£5,481
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£524
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,611
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: The official cost per kW is lower above 4 kW, so a 5–6 kW system can pay back a little faster than a 3–4 kW system on otherwise identical assumptions.
  • 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

Panel costs: Uses March 2026 TIC mean installation costs: £1,827/kW up to 4 kW and £1,628/kW above 4 kW.

Other costs: Battery prices are modelled at £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 26.38p/kWh with a 53.94p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1055 kWh/kW — 45 above the regional median (1009).

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 1055 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.4p/kWh
Standing charge
53.9p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1055 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: £873, Upfront: £9,134, Break-even: 10.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2109 kWh 844 kWh 1265 kWh £223 £127 £349 £3,654 10.5 yrs £3,328
3 kW 3164 kWh 1265 kWh 1898 kWh £334 £190 £524 £5,481 10.5 yrs £4,992
4 kW 4218 kWh 1687 kWh 2531 kWh £445 £253 £698 £7,307 10.5 yrs £6,656
5 kW 5273 kWh 2109 kWh 3164 kWh £556 £316 £873 £9,134 10.5 yrs £8,321
6 kW 6327 kWh 2531 kWh 3796 kWh £668 £380 £1,047 £10,961 10.5 yrs £9,985
7 kW 7382 kWh 2953 kWh 4429 kWh £779 £443 £1,222 £12,788 10.5 yrs £11,649
8 kW 8436 kWh 3375 kWh 5062 kWh £890 £506 £1,396 £14,615 10.5 yrs £13,313

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,045, Upfront: £11,234, Break-even: 10.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2109 kWh 1265 kWh 844 kWh £334 £84 £418 £5,754 13.8 yrs £2,610
3 kW 3164 kWh 1898 kWh 1265 kWh £501 £127 £627 £7,581 12.1 yrs £4,965
4 kW 4218 kWh 2531 kWh 1687 kWh £668 £169 £836 £9,407 11.2 yrs £7,320
5 kW 5273 kWh 3164 kWh 2109 kWh £835 £211 £1,045 £11,234 10.7 yrs £9,675
6 kW 6327 kWh 3796 kWh 2531 kWh £1,001 £253 £1,255 £13,061 10.4 yrs £12,030
7 kW 7382 kWh 4429 kWh 2953 kWh £1,168 £295 £1,464 £14,888 10.2 yrs £14,385
8 kW 8436 kWh 5062 kWh 3375 kWh £1,335 £337 £1,673 £16,715 10.0 yrs £16,740

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,132, Upfront: £12,634, Break-even: 11.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2109 kWh 1476 kWh 633 kWh £389 £63 £453 £7,154 15.8 yrs £1,901
3 kW 3164 kWh 2215 kWh 949 kWh £584 £95 £679 £8,981 13.2 yrs £4,602
4 kW 4218 kWh 2953 kWh 1265 kWh £779 £127 £905 £10,807 11.9 yrs £7,302
5 kW 5273 kWh 3691 kWh 1582 kWh £974 £158 £1,132 £12,634 11.2 yrs £10,003
6 kW 6327 kWh 4429 kWh 1898 kWh £1,168 £190 £1,358 £14,461 10.6 yrs £12,703
7 kW 7382 kWh 5167 kWh 2215 kWh £1,363 £221 £1,585 £16,288 10.3 yrs £15,404
8 kW 8436 kWh 5905 kWh 2531 kWh £1,558 £253 £1,811 £18,115 10.0 yrs £18,104

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,158, Upfront: £14,384, 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 2109 kWh 1540 kWh 569 kWh £406 £57 £463 £8,904 19.2 yrs £358
3 kW 3164 kWh 2309 kWh 854 kWh £609 £85 £695 £10,731 15.4 yrs £3,162
4 kW 4218 kWh 3079 kWh 1139 kWh £812 £114 £926 £12,557 13.6 yrs £5,967
5 kW 5273 kWh 3849 kWh 1424 kWh £1,015 £142 £1,158 £14,384 12.4 yrs £8,771
6 kW 6327 kWh 4619 kWh 1708 kWh £1,218 £171 £1,389 £16,211 11.7 yrs £11,575
7 kW 7382 kWh 5389 kWh 1993 kWh £1,422 £199 £1,621 £18,038 11.1 yrs £14,379
8 kW 8436 kWh 6159 kWh 2278 kWh £1,625 £228 £1,852 £19,865 10.7 yrs £17,183

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,175, Upfront: £16,134, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2109 kWh 1582 kWh 527 kWh £417 £53 £470 £10,654 22.7 yrs £-1,254
3 kW 3164 kWh 2373 kWh 791 kWh £626 £79 £705 £12,481 17.7 yrs £1,620
4 kW 4218 kWh 3164 kWh 1055 kWh £835 £105 £940 £14,307 15.2 yrs £4,493
5 kW 5273 kWh 3955 kWh 1318 kWh £1,043 £132 £1,175 £16,134 13.7 yrs £7,366
6 kW 6327 kWh 4745 kWh 1582 kWh £1,252 £158 £1,410 £17,961 12.7 yrs £10,239
7 kW 7382 kWh 5536 kWh 1845 kWh £1,460 £185 £1,645 £19,788 12.0 yrs £13,113
8 kW 8436 kWh 6327 kWh 2109 kWh £1,669 £211 £1,880 £21,615 11.5 yrs £15,986

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,192, Upfront: £18,584, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2109 kWh 1624 kWh 485 kWh £428 £49 £477 £13,104 27.5 yrs £-3,565
3 kW 3164 kWh 2436 kWh 728 kWh £643 £73 £715 £14,931 20.9 yrs £-623
4 kW 4218 kWh 3248 kWh 970 kWh £857 £97 £954 £16,757 17.6 yrs £2,319
5 kW 5273 kWh 4060 kWh 1213 kWh £1,071 £121 £1,192 £18,584 15.6 yrs £5,262
6 kW 6327 kWh 4872 kWh 1455 kWh £1,285 £146 £1,431 £20,411 14.3 yrs £8,204
7 kW 7382 kWh 5684 kWh 1698 kWh £1,499 £170 £1,669 £22,238 13.3 yrs £11,146
8 kW 8436 kWh 6496 kWh 1940 kWh £1,714 £194 £1,908 £24,065 12.6 yrs £14,089

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,827, 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.

Before you request quotes in Southend-on-Sea

Use the numbers above to sanity-check installer quotes. The main things to compare are system size, battery assumptions, payback claims, MCS certification, DNO paperwork and export assumptions.

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Check what MCS certification means

Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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This is a practical sanity-check request, not an instant quote promise. The Blue Ape quote route above remains available if you already want installer introductions.

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Insights for SS1

Figures below are tailored to SS1 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1949 of 2182
4.2 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~9 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #209 of 2996
9.3 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£1,048 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #321 of 2996
18.8% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,048 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −21.9% West −21.8%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in SS1

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 40 Jan 54 Feb 88 Mar 119 Apr 127 May 127 Jun 128 Jul 116 Aug 100 Sep 70 Oct 49 Nov 37 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 49.5% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: Jul / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 44 kWh per month; the average month produces around 88 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 174 kWh in winter, or 352 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.38p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.94p/day
Local Sunshine
1055kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1055 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: 31% • Flats: 57% • Bungalows: 5% Based on 9,367 properties

Coverage

Southend-on-Sea (100%)

Areas Covered

Victoria, Milton, Thorpe, Kursaal, Southchurch, West Shoebury

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q3 2026

Installation costs: DESNZ/MCS data, March 2026 (TIC)

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

SS99 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈0.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS1
SS2 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈0.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS1
SS0 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,056 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS1
SS22 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,068 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SS1
SS9 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,039 kWh/kWp · -2% vs SS1
SS4 (Rochford)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,068 kWh/kWp · +1% vs SS1

Similar sunshine across the UK

TN22 (Wealden)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS1
BH22 (Dorset)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS1
DT11 (Dorset)
~1,055 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS1