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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SS3 (Southend-on-Sea)

See if solar pays off for you in Southend-on-Sea — 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
11.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£886
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£11,968
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 1066 kWh/kW — 57 above the regional median (1009).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1066 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)
1066 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: £886, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2132 kWh 853 kWh 1279 kWh £226 £128 £354 £4,069 11.5 yrs £3,016
3 kW 3199 kWh 1279 kWh 1919 kWh £339 £192 £531 £6,104 11.5 yrs £4,524
4 kW 4265 kWh 1706 kWh 2559 kWh £453 £256 £708 £8,138 11.5 yrs £6,032
5 kW 5331 kWh 2132 kWh 3199 kWh £566 £320 £886 £10,173 11.5 yrs £7,540
6 kW 6397 kWh 2559 kWh 3838 kWh £679 £384 £1,063 £12,207 11.5 yrs £9,048
7 kW 7464 kWh 2985 kWh 4478 kWh £792 £448 £1,240 £14,242 11.5 yrs £10,556
8 kW 8530 kWh 3412 kWh 5118 kWh £905 £512 £1,417 £16,276 11.5 yrs £12,064

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: £1,062, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2132 kWh 1279 kWh 853 kWh £339 £85 £425 £6,169 14.5 yrs £2,326
3 kW 3199 kWh 1919 kWh 1279 kWh £509 £128 £637 £8,204 12.9 yrs £4,539
4 kW 4265 kWh 2559 kWh 1706 kWh £679 £171 £849 £10,238 12.1 yrs £6,752
5 kW 5331 kWh 3199 kWh 2132 kWh £849 £213 £1,062 £12,273 11.6 yrs £8,965
6 kW 6397 kWh 3838 kWh 2559 kWh £1,018 £256 £1,274 £14,307 11.2 yrs £11,178
7 kW 7464 kWh 4478 kWh 2985 kWh £1,188 £299 £1,487 £16,342 11.0 yrs £13,391
8 kW 8530 kWh 5118 kWh 3412 kWh £1,358 £341 £1,699 £18,376 10.8 yrs £15,604

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: £1,150, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2132 kWh 1493 kWh 640 kWh £396 £64 £460 £7,569 16.5 yrs £1,631
3 kW 3199 kWh 2239 kWh 960 kWh £594 £96 £690 £9,604 13.9 yrs £4,196
4 kW 4265 kWh 2985 kWh 1279 kWh £792 £128 £920 £11,638 12.7 yrs £6,762
5 kW 5331 kWh 3732 kWh 1599 kWh £990 £160 £1,150 £13,673 11.9 yrs £9,327
6 kW 6397 kWh 4478 kWh 1919 kWh £1,188 £192 £1,380 £15,707 11.4 yrs £11,893
7 kW 7464 kWh 5225 kWh 2239 kWh £1,386 £224 £1,610 £17,742 11.0 yrs £14,458
8 kW 8530 kWh 5971 kWh 2559 kWh £1,584 £256 £1,840 £19,776 10.7 yrs £17,024

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: £1,176, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2132 kWh 1557 kWh 576 kWh £413 £58 £471 £9,319 19.8 yrs £92
3 kW 3199 kWh 2335 kWh 864 kWh £619 £86 £706 £11,354 16.1 yrs £2,764
4 kW 4265 kWh 3113 kWh 1152 kWh £826 £115 £941 £13,388 14.2 yrs £5,435
5 kW 5331 kWh 3892 kWh 1439 kWh £1,032 £144 £1,176 £15,423 13.1 yrs £8,106
6 kW 6397 kWh 4670 kWh 1727 kWh £1,239 £173 £1,412 £17,457 12.4 yrs £10,777
7 kW 7464 kWh 5448 kWh 2015 kWh £1,445 £202 £1,647 £19,492 11.8 yrs £13,448
8 kW 8530 kWh 6227 kWh 2303 kWh £1,652 £230 £1,882 £21,526 11.4 yrs £16,120

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: £1,194, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2132 kWh 1599 kWh 533 kWh £424 £53 £478 £11,069 23.2 yrs £-1,517
3 kW 3199 kWh 2399 kWh 800 kWh £636 £80 £716 £13,104 18.3 yrs £1,225
4 kW 4265 kWh 3199 kWh 1066 kWh £849 £107 £955 £15,138 15.8 yrs £3,967
5 kW 5331 kWh 3998 kWh 1333 kWh £1,061 £133 £1,194 £17,173 14.4 yrs £6,709
6 kW 6397 kWh 4798 kWh 1599 kWh £1,273 £160 £1,433 £19,207 13.4 yrs £9,450
7 kW 7464 kWh 5598 kWh 1866 kWh £1,485 £187 £1,672 £21,242 12.7 yrs £12,192
8 kW 8530 kWh 6397 kWh 2132 kWh £1,697 £213 £1,910 £23,276 12.2 yrs £14,934

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: £1,212, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2132 kWh 1642 kWh 490 kWh £436 £49 £485 £13,519 27.9 yrs £-3,826
3 kW 3199 kWh 2463 kWh 736 kWh £653 £74 £727 £15,554 21.4 yrs £-1,013
4 kW 4265 kWh 3284 kWh 981 kWh £871 £98 £969 £17,588 18.1 yrs £1,799
5 kW 5331 kWh 4105 kWh 1226 kWh £1,089 £123 £1,212 £19,623 16.2 yrs £4,611
6 kW 6397 kWh 4926 kWh 1471 kWh £1,307 £147 £1,454 £21,657 14.9 yrs £7,423
7 kW 7464 kWh 5747 kWh 1717 kWh £1,525 £172 £1,696 £23,692 14.0 yrs £10,235
8 kW 8530 kWh 6568 kWh 1962 kWh £1,743 £196 £1,939 £25,726 13.3 yrs £13,048

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 SS3

Figures below are tailored to SS3 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1204 of 2182
4.9 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~10 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #197 of 2997
10.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,018 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #830 of 2997
17.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,018 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1066kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1066 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 71% • Flats: 20% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 6,563 properties

Coverage

Southend-on-Sea (68%)|Rochford (32%)

Areas Covered

Shoeburyness, Foulness and The Wakerings, West Shoebury, Roche South, Victoria, Southchurch

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

SS1 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈5.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SS3
SS2 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈5.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SS3
SS99 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SS3
SS22 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,068 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS3
SS0 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈6.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,056 kWh/kWp · -1% vs SS3
SS4 (Rochford)
≈7.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,068 kWh/kWp · +0% vs SS3

Similar sunshine across the UK

DT2 (Dorset)
~1,066 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS3
TR93 (Cornwall)
~1,066 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS3
TR18 (Cornwall)
~1,066 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS3