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Postcode solar briefing

Solar panel cost in Southend-on-Sea (SS9)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for SS9 (Southend-on-Sea) using official UK data. Start with the local verdict, then adjust the calculator for your roof, usage and export assumptions.

Local model Calculator unchanged Quote assumptions checked
Local solar briefing

Solar in SS9: roof size may be the main upside, so compare proposed system sizes carefully.

This is a modelled local view, not a promise of savings. Use it as a quick sense-check before comparing installer quotes for SS9.

Typical system
6.0 kW
starting point
Annual benefit
£1,031
before battery costs
Payback estimate
9.5 years
panel-only baseline
Postcode verdict
Roof-size upside
local model
Local context

Why SS9 differs

South-facing yield is about 2.9% above the Eastern median.

The starting system size is 6.0 kW, which is larger than the regional typical size of 5.0 kW.

Local housing mix looks suitable for a postcode-level estimate, but your actual roof still matters more than the area average.

Battery payback depends heavily on evening use, export tariff and whether the installer has assumed optimistic self-consumption.

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
9.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£9,767
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,031
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£16,018
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

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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.

Before you sign

What to challenge in solar quotes for SS9

Use the calculator above as a baseline, then ask installers to explain where their quote differs from the local assumptions.

If the proposed system is much larger than 6.0 kW, ask why it fits your roof and usage.

Compare payback with and without a battery before accepting a bundled quote.

Check which Smart Export Guarantee tariff is assumed. The calculator baseline uses 10p/kWh.

Confirm who handles MCS certification and DNO/G98/G99 paperwork before comparing finance or warranties.

Compare quotes Check MCS DNO, G98 and G99
New quote check

Want a quote sanity check for SS9?

Share the first part of your postcode and a few basics. We’ll help you check whether system size, battery, export and paperwork assumptions look sensible before you commit to installer conversations.

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.

Request a quote sanity check →

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 #326 of 2996
9.5 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£1,032 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #343 of 2996
19.1% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£197 fixed • ~£1,032 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −21.7% West −21.4%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)
Compare areas

Compare SS9 with nearby and similar areas

Nearby postcode areas 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 solar-yield areas

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

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 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 26.4p 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)
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: £859, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 9.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2077 kWh 831 kWh 1246 kWh £219 £125 £344 £3,256 9.5 yrs £3,620
3 kW 3116 kWh 1246 kWh 1869 kWh £329 £187 £516 £4,883 9.5 yrs £5,431
4 kW 4154 kWh 1662 kWh 2492 kWh £438 £249 £688 £6,511 9.5 yrs £7,241
5 kW 5193 kWh 2077 kWh 3116 kWh £548 £312 £859 £8,139 9.5 yrs £9,051
6 kW 6231 kWh 2492 kWh 3739 kWh £658 £374 £1,031 £9,767 9.5 yrs £10,861
7 kW 7270 kWh 2908 kWh 4362 kWh £767 £436 £1,203 £11,394 9.5 yrs £12,672
8 kW 8308 kWh 3323 kWh 4985 kWh £877 £498 £1,375 £13,022 9.5 yrs £14,482

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,030, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 9.9 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 £329 £83 £412 £5,356 13.0 yrs £2,881
3 kW 3116 kWh 1869 kWh 1246 kWh £493 £125 £618 £6,983 11.3 yrs £5,372
4 kW 4154 kWh 2492 kWh 1662 kWh £658 £166 £824 £8,611 10.5 yrs £7,863
5 kW 5193 kWh 3116 kWh 2077 kWh £822 £208 £1,030 £10,239 9.9 yrs £10,353
6 kW 6231 kWh 3739 kWh 2492 kWh £986 £249 £1,236 £11,867 9.6 yrs £12,844
7 kW 7270 kWh 4362 kWh 2908 kWh £1,151 £291 £1,441 £13,494 9.4 yrs £15,335
8 kW 8308 kWh 4985 kWh 3323 kWh £1,315 £332 £1,647 £15,122 9.2 yrs £17,825

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,115, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 10.4 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 £384 £62 £446 £6,756 15.2 yrs £2,162
3 kW 3116 kWh 2181 kWh 935 kWh £575 £93 £669 £8,383 12.5 yrs £4,993
4 kW 4154 kWh 2908 kWh 1246 kWh £767 £125 £892 £10,011 11.2 yrs £7,824
5 kW 5193 kWh 3635 kWh 1558 kWh £959 £156 £1,115 £11,639 10.4 yrs £10,654
6 kW 6231 kWh 4362 kWh 1869 kWh £1,151 £187 £1,338 £13,267 9.9 yrs £13,485
7 kW 7270 kWh 5089 kWh 2181 kWh £1,342 £218 £1,561 £14,894 9.5 yrs £16,316
8 kW 8308 kWh 5816 kWh 2492 kWh £1,534 £249 £1,783 £16,522 9.3 yrs £19,147

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,140, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 11.7 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 £400 £56 £456 £8,506 18.6 yrs £616
3 kW 3116 kWh 2274 kWh 841 kWh £600 £84 £684 £10,133 14.8 yrs £3,549
4 kW 4154 kWh 3033 kWh 1122 kWh £800 £112 £912 £11,761 12.9 yrs £6,482
5 kW 5193 kWh 3791 kWh 1402 kWh £1,000 £140 £1,140 £13,389 11.7 yrs £9,415
6 kW 6231 kWh 4549 kWh 1682 kWh £1,200 £168 £1,368 £15,017 11.0 yrs £12,348
7 kW 7270 kWh 5307 kWh 1963 kWh £1,400 £196 £1,596 £16,644 10.4 yrs £15,281
8 kW 8308 kWh 6065 kWh 2243 kWh £1,600 £224 £1,824 £18,272 10.0 yrs £18,214

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,157, Upfront: £15,139, 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 2077 kWh 1558 kWh 519 kWh £411 £52 £463 £10,256 22.2 yrs £-998
3 kW 3116 kWh 2337 kWh 779 kWh £616 £78 £694 £11,883 17.1 yrs £2,003
4 kW 4154 kWh 3116 kWh 1039 kWh £822 £104 £926 £13,511 14.6 yrs £5,004
5 kW 5193 kWh 3895 kWh 1298 kWh £1,027 £130 £1,157 £15,139 13.1 yrs £8,005
6 kW 6231 kWh 4673 kWh 1558 kWh £1,233 £156 £1,389 £16,767 12.1 yrs £11,006
7 kW 7270 kWh 5452 kWh 1817 kWh £1,438 £182 £1,620 £18,394 11.4 yrs £14,007
8 kW 8308 kWh 6231 kWh 2077 kWh £1,644 £208 £1,852 £20,022 10.8 yrs £17,008

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,174, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 15.0 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 £422 £48 £470 £12,706 27.1 yrs £-3,312
3 kW 3116 kWh 2399 kWh 717 kWh £633 £72 £705 £14,333 20.3 yrs £-243
4 kW 4154 kWh 3199 kWh 955 kWh £844 £96 £939 £15,961 17.0 yrs £2,826
5 kW 5193 kWh 3998 kWh 1194 kWh £1,055 £119 £1,174 £17,589 15.0 yrs £5,895
6 kW 6231 kWh 4798 kWh 1433 kWh £1,266 £143 £1,409 £19,217 13.6 yrs £8,964
7 kW 7270 kWh 5598 kWh 1672 kWh £1,477 £167 £1,644 £20,844 12.7 yrs £12,033
8 kW 8308 kWh 6397 kWh 1911 kWh £1,688 £191 £1,879 £22,472 12.0 yrs £15,102

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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.

Seasonal solar output in SS9

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 39 Jan 54 Feb 87 Mar 117 Apr 124 May 125 Jun 126 Jul 114 Aug 97 Sep 69 Oct 49 Nov 37 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 50.0% 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 43 kWh per month; the average month produces around 87 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 173 kWh in winter, or 346 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.38p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
53.94p/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, 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.