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Solar Panels in AB1 (Aberdeen City)

See if solar pays off for you in Aberdeen City — 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
13.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£751
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,599
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 Northern Scotland, the current unit rate is 27.06p/kWh with a 61.00p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 893 kWh/kW — 78 above the regional median (815).

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 893 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
61.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
893 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: £751, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1785 kWh 714 kWh 1071 kWh £193 £107 £300 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,938
3 kW 2678 kWh 1071 kWh 1607 kWh £290 £161 £451 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,907
4 kW 3570 kWh 1428 kWh 2142 kWh £386 £214 £601 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,876
5 kW 4463 kWh 1785 kWh 2678 kWh £483 £268 £751 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,845
6 kW 5356 kWh 2142 kWh 3213 kWh £580 £321 £901 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,814
7 kW 6248 kWh 2499 kWh 3749 kWh £676 £375 £1,051 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,783
8 kW 7141 kWh 2856 kWh 4285 kWh £773 £428 £1,201 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,752

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: £903, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 1071 kWh 714 kWh £290 £71 £361 £6,169 17.1 yrs £1,056
3 kW 2678 kWh 1607 kWh 1071 kWh £435 £107 £542 £8,204 15.1 yrs £2,634
4 kW 3570 kWh 2142 kWh 1428 kWh £580 £143 £723 £10,238 14.2 yrs £4,212
5 kW 4463 kWh 2678 kWh 1785 kWh £725 £179 £903 £12,273 13.6 yrs £5,791
6 kW 5356 kWh 3213 kWh 2142 kWh £870 £214 £1,084 £14,307 13.2 yrs £7,369
7 kW 6248 kWh 3749 kWh 2499 kWh £1,014 £250 £1,264 £16,342 12.9 yrs £8,947
8 kW 7141 kWh 4285 kWh 2856 kWh £1,159 £286 £1,445 £18,376 12.7 yrs £10,525

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: £979, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 1250 kWh 536 kWh £338 £54 £392 £7,569 19.3 yrs £265
3 kW 2678 kWh 1875 kWh 803 kWh £507 £80 £588 £9,604 16.3 yrs £2,148
4 kW 3570 kWh 2499 kWh 1071 kWh £676 £107 £783 £11,638 14.9 yrs £4,031
5 kW 4463 kWh 3124 kWh 1339 kWh £845 £134 £979 £13,673 14.0 yrs £5,913
6 kW 5356 kWh 3749 kWh 1607 kWh £1,014 £161 £1,175 £15,707 13.4 yrs £7,796
7 kW 6248 kWh 4374 kWh 1875 kWh £1,184 £187 £1,371 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,679
8 kW 7141 kWh 4999 kWh 2142 kWh £1,353 £214 £1,567 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,561

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: £1,002, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 1303 kWh 482 kWh £353 £48 £401 £9,319 23.2 yrs £-1,302
3 kW 2678 kWh 1955 kWh 723 kWh £529 £72 £601 £11,354 18.9 yrs £672
4 kW 3570 kWh 2606 kWh 964 kWh £705 £96 £802 £13,388 16.7 yrs £2,646
5 kW 4463 kWh 3258 kWh 1205 kWh £882 £121 £1,002 £15,423 15.4 yrs £4,620
6 kW 5356 kWh 3910 kWh 1446 kWh £1,058 £145 £1,203 £17,457 14.5 yrs £6,594
7 kW 6248 kWh 4561 kWh 1687 kWh £1,234 £169 £1,403 £19,492 13.9 yrs £8,568
8 kW 7141 kWh 5213 kWh 1928 kWh £1,411 £193 £1,603 £21,526 13.4 yrs £10,542

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: £1,017, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 1339 kWh 446 kWh £362 £45 £407 £11,069 27.2 yrs £-2,930
3 kW 2678 kWh 2008 kWh 669 kWh £543 £67 £610 £13,104 21.5 yrs £-895
4 kW 3570 kWh 2678 kWh 893 kWh £725 £89 £814 £15,138 18.6 yrs £1,140
5 kW 4463 kWh 3347 kWh 1116 kWh £906 £112 £1,017 £17,173 16.9 yrs £3,175
6 kW 5356 kWh 4017 kWh 1339 kWh £1,087 £134 £1,221 £19,207 15.7 yrs £5,210
7 kW 6248 kWh 4686 kWh 1562 kWh £1,268 £156 £1,424 £21,242 14.9 yrs £7,245
8 kW 7141 kWh 5356 kWh 1785 kWh £1,449 £179 £1,628 £23,276 14.3 yrs £9,280

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: £1,033, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 1375 kWh 411 kWh £372 £41 £413 £13,519 32.7 yrs £-5,258
3 kW 2678 kWh 2062 kWh 616 kWh £558 £62 £620 £15,554 25.1 yrs £-3,162
4 kW 3570 kWh 2749 kWh 821 kWh £744 £82 £826 £17,588 21.3 yrs £-1,067
5 kW 4463 kWh 3437 kWh 1027 kWh £930 £103 £1,033 £19,623 19.0 yrs £1,029
6 kW 5356 kWh 4124 kWh 1232 kWh £1,116 £123 £1,239 £21,657 17.5 yrs £3,125
7 kW 6248 kWh 4811 kWh 1437 kWh £1,302 £144 £1,446 £23,692 16.4 yrs £5,221
8 kW 7141 kWh 5499 kWh 1642 kWh £1,488 £164 £1,652 £25,726 15.6 yrs £7,317

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 AB1

Figures below are tailored to AB1 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2082 of 2997
11.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£692 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2732 of 2997
32.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£692 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
893kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~893 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

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Aberdeen City (94%)|Aberdeenshire (6%)

Areas Covered

Torry/Ferryhill, Lower Deeside, Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee, Kincorth/Nigg/Cove, Hazlehead/Queens Cross/Countesswells, George St/Harbour, North Kincardine, Midstocket/Rosemount + 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 Northern Scotland

AB10 (Aberdeen City)
≈0.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -3% vs AB1
AB11 (Aberdeen City)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -3% vs AB1
AB9 (Aberdeen City)
≈1.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AB1
AB25 (Aberdeen City)
≈2.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AB1
AB12 (Aberdeen City)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~874 kWh/kWp · -2% vs AB1
AB15 (Aberdeen City)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AB1

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT12 (Belfast)
~893 kWh/kWp · +0% vs AB1
EH13 (City of Edinburgh)
~893 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AB1
EH21 (East Lothian)
~893 kWh/kWp · +0% vs AB1