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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in TN5 (Wealden)

See if solar pays off for you in Wealden — 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
11.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£1,051
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£14,079
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 South East, the current unit rate is 26.92p/kWh with a 47.60p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 1045 kWh/kW — 16 above the regional median (1029).

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 1045 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.9p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.9p/kWh
Standing charge
47.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
1045 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: £876, Upfront: £10,173, 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 2090 kWh 836 kWh 1254 kWh £225 £125 £350 £4,069 11.6 yrs £2,941
3 kW 3135 kWh 1254 kWh 1881 kWh £338 £188 £526 £6,104 11.6 yrs £4,411
4 kW 4180 kWh 1672 kWh 2508 kWh £450 £251 £701 £8,138 11.6 yrs £5,881
5 kW 5225 kWh 2090 kWh 3135 kWh £563 £314 £876 £10,173 11.6 yrs £7,352
6 kW 6271 kWh 2508 kWh 3762 kWh £675 £376 £1,051 £12,207 11.6 yrs £8,822
7 kW 7316 kWh 2926 kWh 4389 kWh £788 £439 £1,227 £14,242 11.6 yrs £10,292
8 kW 8361 kWh 3344 kWh 5016 kWh £900 £502 £1,402 £16,276 11.6 yrs £11,762

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: £1,053, Upfront: £12,273, 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 2090 kWh 1254 kWh 836 kWh £338 £84 £421 £6,169 14.6 yrs £2,255
3 kW 3135 kWh 1881 kWh 1254 kWh £506 £125 £632 £8,204 13.0 yrs £4,433
4 kW 4180 kWh 2508 kWh 1672 kWh £675 £167 £842 £10,238 12.2 yrs £6,610
5 kW 5225 kWh 3135 kWh 2090 kWh £844 £209 £1,053 £12,273 11.7 yrs £8,788
6 kW 6271 kWh 3762 kWh 2508 kWh £1,013 £251 £1,264 £14,307 11.3 yrs £10,966
7 kW 7316 kWh 4389 kWh 2926 kWh £1,182 £293 £1,474 £16,342 11.1 yrs £13,143
8 kW 8361 kWh 5016 kWh 3344 kWh £1,350 £334 £1,685 £18,376 10.9 yrs £15,321

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: £1,141, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2090 kWh 1463 kWh 627 kWh £394 £63 £457 £7,569 16.6 yrs £1,563
3 kW 3135 kWh 2195 kWh 941 kWh £591 £94 £685 £9,604 14.0 yrs £4,094
4 kW 4180 kWh 2926 kWh 1254 kWh £788 £125 £913 £11,638 12.7 yrs £6,625
5 kW 5225 kWh 3658 kWh 1568 kWh £985 £157 £1,141 £13,673 12.0 yrs £9,156
6 kW 6271 kWh 4389 kWh 1881 kWh £1,182 £188 £1,370 £15,707 11.5 yrs £11,688
7 kW 7316 kWh 5121 kWh 2195 kWh £1,379 £219 £1,598 £17,742 11.1 yrs £14,219
8 kW 8361 kWh 5853 kWh 2508 kWh £1,575 £251 £1,826 £19,776 10.8 yrs £16,750

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: £1,168, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2090 kWh 1526 kWh 564 kWh £411 £56 £467 £9,319 19.9 yrs £25
3 kW 3135 kWh 2289 kWh 847 kWh £616 £85 £701 £11,354 16.2 yrs £2,662
4 kW 4180 kWh 3052 kWh 1129 kWh £822 £113 £934 £13,388 14.3 yrs £5,300
5 kW 5225 kWh 3815 kWh 1411 kWh £1,027 £141 £1,168 £15,423 13.2 yrs £7,937
6 kW 6271 kWh 4577 kWh 1693 kWh £1,232 £169 £1,402 £17,457 12.5 yrs £10,574
7 kW 7316 kWh 5340 kWh 1975 kWh £1,438 £198 £1,635 £19,492 11.9 yrs £13,212
8 kW 8361 kWh 6103 kWh 2257 kWh £1,643 £226 £1,869 £21,526 11.5 yrs £15,849

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: £1,186, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2090 kWh 1568 kWh 523 kWh £422 £52 £474 £11,069 23.3 yrs £-1,584
3 kW 3135 kWh 2351 kWh 784 kWh £633 £78 £711 £13,104 18.4 yrs £1,124
4 kW 4180 kWh 3135 kWh 1045 kWh £844 £105 £949 £15,138 16.0 yrs £3,832
5 kW 5225 kWh 3919 kWh 1306 kWh £1,055 £131 £1,186 £17,173 14.5 yrs £6,541
6 kW 6271 kWh 4703 kWh 1568 kWh £1,266 £157 £1,423 £19,207 13.5 yrs £9,249
7 kW 7316 kWh 5487 kWh 1829 kWh £1,477 £183 £1,660 £21,242 12.8 yrs £11,957
8 kW 8361 kWh 6271 kWh 2090 kWh £1,688 £209 £1,897 £23,276 12.3 yrs £14,665

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: £1,203, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 2090 kWh 1609 kWh 481 kWh £433 £48 £481 £13,519 28.1 yrs £-3,892
3 kW 3135 kWh 2414 kWh 721 kWh £650 £72 £722 £15,554 21.5 yrs £-1,113
4 kW 4180 kWh 3219 kWh 961 kWh £867 £96 £963 £17,588 18.3 yrs £1,665
5 kW 5225 kWh 4024 kWh 1202 kWh £1,083 £120 £1,203 £19,623 16.3 yrs £4,444
6 kW 6271 kWh 4828 kWh 1442 kWh £1,300 £144 £1,444 £21,657 15.0 yrs £7,223
7 kW 7316 kWh 5633 kWh 1683 kWh £1,516 £168 £1,685 £23,692 14.1 yrs £10,002
8 kW 8361 kWh 6438 kWh 1923 kWh £1,733 £192 £1,925 £25,726 13.4 yrs £12,781

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 TN5

Figures below are tailored to TN5 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #231 of 2182
6.1 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~13 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #249 of 2997
10.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,211 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #126 of 2997
14.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£174 fixed • ~£1,211 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.92p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
47.60p/day
Local Sunshine
1045kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~1045 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: 76% • Flats: 12% • Bungalows: 11% Based on 2,237 properties

Coverage

Wealden (50%)|Rother (38%)|Tunbridge Wells (11%)|Tonbridge and Malling (1%)

Areas Covered

Frant & Wadhurst, Hurst Green & Ticehurst, Sherwood, Rural Tunbridge Wells, Cage Green & Angel, Burwash & the Weald

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 South East

TN20 (Wealden)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,041 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TN5
TN19 (Rother)
≈8.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,052 kWh/kWp · +1% vs TN5
TN1 (Tunbridge Wells)
≈9.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · -2% vs TN5
TN2 (Tunbridge Wells)
≈9.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,029 kWh/kWp · -2% vs TN5
TN4 (Tunbridge Wells)
≈11.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,028 kWh/kWp · -2% vs TN5
TN3 (Tunbridge Wells)
≈11.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~1,023 kWh/kWp · -2% vs TN5

Similar sunshine across the UK

PL13 (Cornwall)
~1,046 kWh/kWp · +0% vs TN5
SA3 (Swansea)
~1,044 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TN5
TQ3 (Torbay)
~1,044 kWh/kWp · -0% vs TN5