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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in SS9 (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
11.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,035
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£13,671
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 1039 kWh/kW — 29 above the regional median (1009).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1039 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)
1039 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: £863, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2077 kWh 831 kWh 1246 kWh £220 £125 £345 £4,069 11.8 yrs £2,832
3 kW 3116 kWh 1246 kWh 1869 kWh £331 £187 £518 £6,104 11.8 yrs £4,248
4 kW 4154 kWh 1662 kWh 2492 kWh £441 £249 £690 £8,138 11.8 yrs £5,664
5 kW 5193 kWh 2077 kWh 3116 kWh £551 £312 £863 £10,173 11.8 yrs £7,080
6 kW 6231 kWh 2492 kWh 3739 kWh £661 £374 £1,035 £12,207 11.8 yrs £8,496
7 kW 7270 kWh 2908 kWh 4362 kWh £771 £436 £1,208 £14,242 11.8 yrs £9,912
8 kW 8308 kWh 3323 kWh 4985 kWh £882 £498 £1,380 £16,276 11.8 yrs £11,327

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: £1,034, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2077 kWh 1246 kWh 831 kWh £331 £83 £414 £6,169 14.9 yrs £2,105
3 kW 3116 kWh 1869 kWh 1246 kWh £496 £125 £621 £8,204 13.2 yrs £4,208
4 kW 4154 kWh 2492 kWh 1662 kWh £661 £166 £827 £10,238 12.4 yrs £6,310
5 kW 5193 kWh 3116 kWh 2077 kWh £827 £208 £1,034 £12,273 11.9 yrs £8,413
6 kW 6231 kWh 3739 kWh 2492 kWh £992 £249 £1,241 £14,307 11.5 yrs £10,516
7 kW 7270 kWh 4362 kWh 2908 kWh £1,157 £291 £1,448 £16,342 11.3 yrs £12,618
8 kW 8308 kWh 4985 kWh 3323 kWh £1,323 £332 £1,655 £18,376 11.1 yrs £14,721

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: £1,120, Upfront: £13,673, 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 2077 kWh 1454 kWh 623 kWh £386 £62 £448 £7,569 16.9 yrs £1,392
3 kW 3116 kWh 2181 kWh 935 kWh £579 £93 £672 £9,604 14.3 yrs £3,838
4 kW 4154 kWh 2908 kWh 1246 kWh £771 £125 £896 £11,638 13.0 yrs £6,284
5 kW 5193 kWh 3635 kWh 1558 kWh £964 £156 £1,120 £13,673 12.2 yrs £8,730
6 kW 6231 kWh 4362 kWh 1869 kWh £1,157 £187 £1,344 £15,707 11.7 yrs £11,176
7 kW 7270 kWh 5089 kWh 2181 kWh £1,350 £218 £1,568 £17,742 11.3 yrs £13,622
8 kW 8308 kWh 5816 kWh 2492 kWh £1,543 £249 £1,792 £19,776 11.0 yrs £16,068

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: £1,146, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2077 kWh 1516 kWh 561 kWh £402 £56 £458 £9,319 20.3 yrs £-152
3 kW 3116 kWh 2274 kWh 841 kWh £603 £84 £688 £11,354 16.5 yrs £2,397
4 kW 4154 kWh 3033 kWh 1122 kWh £805 £112 £917 £13,388 14.6 yrs £4,946
5 kW 5193 kWh 3791 kWh 1402 kWh £1,006 £140 £1,146 £15,423 13.5 yrs £7,495
6 kW 6231 kWh 4549 kWh 1682 kWh £1,207 £168 £1,375 £17,457 12.7 yrs £10,044
7 kW 7270 kWh 5307 kWh 1963 kWh £1,408 £196 £1,604 £19,492 12.2 yrs £12,593
8 kW 8308 kWh 6065 kWh 2243 kWh £1,609 £224 £1,833 £21,526 11.7 yrs £15,142

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: £1,163, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2077 kWh 1558 kWh 519 kWh £413 £52 £465 £11,069 23.8 yrs £-1,765
3 kW 3116 kWh 2337 kWh 779 kWh £620 £78 £698 £13,104 18.8 yrs £853
4 kW 4154 kWh 3116 kWh 1039 kWh £827 £104 £930 £15,138 16.3 yrs £3,471
5 kW 5193 kWh 3895 kWh 1298 kWh £1,033 £130 £1,163 £17,173 14.8 yrs £6,088
6 kW 6231 kWh 4673 kWh 1558 kWh £1,240 £156 £1,396 £19,207 13.8 yrs £8,706
7 kW 7270 kWh 5452 kWh 1817 kWh £1,447 £182 £1,628 £21,242 13.0 yrs £11,323
8 kW 8308 kWh 6231 kWh 2077 kWh £1,653 £208 £1,861 £23,276 12.5 yrs £13,941

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: £1,180, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2077 kWh 1599 kWh 478 kWh £424 £48 £472 £13,519 28.6 yrs £-4,077
3 kW 3116 kWh 2399 kWh 717 kWh £636 £72 £708 £15,554 22.0 yrs £-1,391
4 kW 4154 kWh 3199 kWh 955 kWh £849 £96 £944 £17,588 18.6 yrs £1,295
5 kW 5193 kWh 3998 kWh 1194 kWh £1,061 £119 £1,180 £19,623 16.6 yrs £3,981
6 kW 6231 kWh 4798 kWh 1433 kWh £1,273 £143 £1,416 £21,657 15.3 yrs £6,668
7 kW 7270 kWh 5598 kWh 1672 kWh £1,485 £167 £1,652 £23,692 14.3 yrs £9,354
8 kW 8308 kWh 6397 kWh 1911 kWh £1,697 £191 £1,888 £25,726 13.6 yrs £12,040

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 SS9

Figures below are tailored to SS9 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #668 of 2182
5.4 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #363 of 2997
10.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,190 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #225 of 2997
14.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£176 fixed • ~£1,190 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.53p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
48.25p/day
Local Sunshine
1039kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1039 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 48% • Flats: 31% • Bungalows: 18% Based on 12,052 properties

Coverage

Southend-on-Sea (98%)|Rochford (2%)|Castle Point (1%)

Areas Covered

Belfairs, Leigh, West Leigh, Eastwood Park, Blenheim Park, Chalkwell, St Laurence, Victoria + 4 more

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

SS0 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,056 kWh/kWp · +2% vs SS9
SS22 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,068 kWh/kWp · +3% vs SS9
SS99 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈4.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · +2% vs SS9
SS2 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · +2% vs SS9
SS1 (Southend-on-Sea)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,055 kWh/kWp · +2% vs SS9
SS8 (Castle Point)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,038 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS9

Similar sunshine across the UK

EX10 (East Devon)
~1,038 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS9
SO97 (Eastleigh)
~1,038 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS9
TR3 (Cornwall)
~1,038 kWh/kWp · -0% vs SS9