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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in AB10 (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
13.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£731
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,112
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 869 kWh/kW — 54 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 869 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)
869 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: £731, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1739 kWh 696 kWh 1043 kWh £188 £104 £293 £4,069 13.9 yrs £1,782
3 kW 2608 kWh 1043 kWh 1565 kWh £282 £156 £439 £6,104 13.9 yrs £2,673
4 kW 3478 kWh 1391 kWh 2087 kWh £376 £209 £585 £8,138 13.9 yrs £3,564
5 kW 4347 kWh 1739 kWh 2608 kWh £471 £261 £731 £10,173 13.9 yrs £4,455
6 kW 5217 kWh 2087 kWh 3130 kWh £565 £313 £878 £12,207 13.9 yrs £5,346
7 kW 6086 kWh 2434 kWh 3652 kWh £659 £365 £1,024 £14,242 13.9 yrs £6,237
8 kW 6956 kWh 2782 kWh 4173 kWh £753 £417 £1,170 £16,276 13.9 yrs £7,128

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: £880, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1739 kWh 1043 kWh 696 kWh £282 £70 £352 £6,169 17.5 yrs £869
3 kW 2608 kWh 1565 kWh 1043 kWh £423 £104 £528 £8,204 15.5 yrs £2,353
4 kW 3478 kWh 2087 kWh 1391 kWh £565 £139 £704 £10,238 14.5 yrs £3,837
5 kW 4347 kWh 2608 kWh 1739 kWh £706 £174 £880 £12,273 14.0 yrs £5,321
6 kW 5217 kWh 3130 kWh 2087 kWh £847 £209 £1,056 £14,307 13.6 yrs £6,806
7 kW 6086 kWh 3652 kWh 2434 kWh £988 £243 £1,232 £16,342 13.3 yrs £8,290
8 kW 6956 kWh 4173 kWh 2782 kWh £1,129 £278 £1,408 £18,376 13.1 yrs £9,774

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: £954, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1739 kWh 1217 kWh 522 kWh £329 £52 £382 £7,569 19.8 yrs £62
3 kW 2608 kWh 1826 kWh 782 kWh £494 £78 £572 £9,604 16.8 yrs £1,843
4 kW 3478 kWh 2434 kWh 1043 kWh £659 £104 £763 £11,638 15.3 yrs £3,624
5 kW 4347 kWh 3043 kWh 1304 kWh £823 £130 £954 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,405
6 kW 5217 kWh 3652 kWh 1565 kWh £988 £156 £1,145 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,186
7 kW 6086 kWh 4260 kWh 1826 kWh £1,153 £183 £1,335 £17,742 13.3 yrs £8,967
8 kW 6956 kWh 4869 kWh 2087 kWh £1,318 £209 £1,526 £19,776 13.0 yrs £10,748

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: £976, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1739 kWh 1269 kWh 469 kWh £343 £47 £390 £9,319 23.9 yrs £-1,510
3 kW 2608 kWh 1904 kWh 704 kWh £515 £70 £586 £11,354 19.4 yrs £360
4 kW 3478 kWh 2539 kWh 939 kWh £687 £94 £781 £13,388 17.1 yrs £2,230
5 kW 4347 kWh 3173 kWh 1174 kWh £859 £117 £976 £15,423 15.8 yrs £4,100
6 kW 5217 kWh 3808 kWh 1408 kWh £1,030 £141 £1,171 £17,457 14.9 yrs £5,970
7 kW 6086 kWh 4443 kWh 1643 kWh £1,202 £164 £1,367 £19,492 14.3 yrs £7,840
8 kW 6956 kWh 5078 kWh 1878 kWh £1,374 £188 £1,562 £21,526 13.8 yrs £9,709

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: £991, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1739 kWh 1304 kWh 435 kWh £353 £43 £396 £11,069 27.9 yrs £-3,141
3 kW 2608 kWh 1956 kWh 652 kWh £529 £65 £595 £13,104 22.0 yrs £-1,212
4 kW 3478 kWh 2608 kWh 869 kWh £706 £87 £793 £15,138 19.1 yrs £717
5 kW 4347 kWh 3260 kWh 1087 kWh £882 £109 £991 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,646
6 kW 5217 kWh 3912 kWh 1304 kWh £1,059 £130 £1,189 £19,207 16.2 yrs £4,576
7 kW 6086 kWh 4565 kWh 1522 kWh £1,235 £152 £1,387 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,505
8 kW 6956 kWh 5217 kWh 1739 kWh £1,412 £174 £1,586 £23,276 14.7 yrs £8,434

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: £1,006, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1739 kWh 1339 kWh 400 kWh £362 £40 £402 £13,519 33.6 yrs £-5,473
3 kW 2608 kWh 2008 kWh 600 kWh £543 £60 £603 £15,554 25.8 yrs £-3,484
4 kW 3478 kWh 2678 kWh 800 kWh £725 £80 £805 £17,588 21.9 yrs £-1,496
5 kW 4347 kWh 3347 kWh 1000 kWh £906 £100 £1,006 £19,623 19.5 yrs £493
6 kW 5217 kWh 4017 kWh 1200 kWh £1,087 £120 £1,207 £21,657 17.9 yrs £2,482
7 kW 6086 kWh 4686 kWh 1400 kWh £1,268 £140 £1,408 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,470
8 kW 6956 kWh 5356 kWh 1600 kWh £1,449 £160 £1,609 £25,726 16.0 yrs £6,459

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 AB10

Figures below are tailored to AB10 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2372 of 2997
12.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£674 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2770 of 2997
33.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£674 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
869kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~869 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 (100%)

Areas Covered

Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee, Hazlehead/Queens Cross/Countesswells, Midstocket/Rosemount, George St/Harbour, Torry/Ferryhill, Kincorth/Nigg/Cove

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

AB1 (Aberdeen City)
≈0.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~893 kWh/kWp · +3% vs AB10
AB9 (Aberdeen City)
≈1.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +3% vs AB10
AB11 (Aberdeen City)
≈1.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AB10
AB25 (Aberdeen City)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +3% vs AB10
AB15 (Aberdeen City)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +3% vs AB10
AB12 (Aberdeen City)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~874 kWh/kWp · +1% vs AB10

Similar sunshine across the UK

BL3 (Bolton)
~869 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AB10
EH8 (City of Edinburgh)
~870 kWh/kWp · +0% vs AB10
EH15 (City of Edinburgh)
~869 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AB10