Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in AB2 (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
£756
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,718
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

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 898 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)
898 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: £756, 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 1797 kWh 719 kWh 1078 kWh £194 £108 £302 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,976
3 kW 2695 kWh 1078 kWh 1617 kWh £292 £162 £453 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,964
4 kW 3593 kWh 1437 kWh 2156 kWh £389 £216 £605 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,952
5 kW 4491 kWh 1797 kWh 2695 kWh £486 £269 £756 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,940
6 kW 5390 kWh 2156 kWh 3234 kWh £583 £323 £907 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,928
7 kW 6288 kWh 2515 kWh 3773 kWh £681 £377 £1,058 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,916
8 kW 7186 kWh 2874 kWh 4312 kWh £778 £431 £1,209 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,904

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: £909, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1797 kWh 1078 kWh 719 kWh £292 £72 £364 £6,169 17.0 yrs £1,102
3 kW 2695 kWh 1617 kWh 1078 kWh £438 £108 £545 £8,204 15.0 yrs £2,703
4 kW 3593 kWh 2156 kWh 1437 kWh £583 £144 £727 £10,238 14.1 yrs £4,304
5 kW 4491 kWh 2695 kWh 1797 kWh £729 £180 £909 £12,273 13.5 yrs £5,905
6 kW 5390 kWh 3234 kWh 2156 kWh £875 £216 £1,091 £14,307 13.1 yrs £7,506
7 kW 6288 kWh 3773 kWh 2515 kWh £1,021 £252 £1,272 £16,342 12.8 yrs £9,107
8 kW 7186 kWh 4312 kWh 2874 kWh £1,167 £287 £1,454 £18,376 12.6 yrs £10,708

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: £986, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1797 kWh 1258 kWh 539 kWh £340 £54 £394 £7,569 19.2 yrs £315
3 kW 2695 kWh 1886 kWh 808 kWh £510 £81 £591 £9,604 16.2 yrs £2,223
4 kW 3593 kWh 2515 kWh 1078 kWh £681 £108 £788 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,130
5 kW 4491 kWh 3144 kWh 1347 kWh £851 £135 £986 £13,673 13.9 yrs £6,038
6 kW 5390 kWh 3773 kWh 1617 kWh £1,021 £162 £1,183 £15,707 13.3 yrs £7,945
7 kW 6288 kWh 4402 kWh 1886 kWh £1,191 £189 £1,380 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,853
8 kW 7186 kWh 5030 kWh 2156 kWh £1,361 £216 £1,577 £19,776 12.5 yrs £11,760

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: £1,008, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1797 kWh 1311 kWh 485 kWh £355 £49 £403 £9,319 23.1 yrs £-1,251
3 kW 2695 kWh 1967 kWh 728 kWh £532 £73 £605 £11,354 18.8 yrs £748
4 kW 3593 kWh 2623 kWh 970 kWh £710 £97 £807 £13,388 16.6 yrs £2,748
5 kW 4491 kWh 3279 kWh 1213 kWh £887 £121 £1,008 £15,423 15.3 yrs £4,747
6 kW 5390 kWh 3934 kWh 1455 kWh £1,065 £146 £1,210 £17,457 14.4 yrs £6,747
7 kW 6288 kWh 4590 kWh 1698 kWh £1,242 £170 £1,412 £19,492 13.8 yrs £8,746
8 kW 7186 kWh 5246 kWh 1940 kWh £1,420 £194 £1,614 £21,526 13.3 yrs £10,746

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: £1,024, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1797 kWh 1347 kWh 449 kWh £365 £45 £410 £11,069 27.0 yrs £-2,879
3 kW 2695 kWh 2021 kWh 674 kWh £547 £67 £614 £13,104 21.3 yrs £-818
4 kW 3593 kWh 2695 kWh 898 kWh £729 £90 £819 £15,138 18.5 yrs £1,243
5 kW 4491 kWh 3369 kWh 1123 kWh £912 £112 £1,024 £17,173 16.8 yrs £3,304
6 kW 5390 kWh 4042 kWh 1347 kWh £1,094 £135 £1,229 £19,207 15.6 yrs £5,364
7 kW 6288 kWh 4716 kWh 1572 kWh £1,276 £157 £1,433 £21,242 14.8 yrs £7,425
8 kW 7186 kWh 5390 kWh 1797 kWh £1,458 £180 £1,638 £23,276 14.2 yrs £9,486

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: £1,039, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1797 kWh 1383 kWh 413 kWh £374 £41 £416 £13,519 32.5 yrs £-5,206
3 kW 2695 kWh 2075 kWh 620 kWh £562 £62 £623 £15,554 24.9 yrs £-3,084
4 kW 3593 kWh 2767 kWh 826 kWh £749 £83 £831 £17,588 21.2 yrs £-962
5 kW 4491 kWh 3458 kWh 1033 kWh £936 £103 £1,039 £19,623 18.9 yrs £1,160
6 kW 5390 kWh 4150 kWh 1240 kWh £1,123 £124 £1,247 £21,657 17.4 yrs £3,282
7 kW 6288 kWh 4842 kWh 1446 kWh £1,310 £145 £1,455 £23,692 16.3 yrs £5,404
8 kW 7186 kWh 5533 kWh 1653 kWh £1,497 £165 £1,663 £25,726 15.5 yrs £7,526

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
898kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~898 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 (95%)|Aberdeenshire (5%)

Areas Covered

Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone, Northfield/Mastrick North, Hilton/Woodside/Stockethill, George St/Harbour, Midstocket/Rosemount, Bridge of Don, Tillydrone/Seaton/Old Aberdeen, Kingswells/Sheddocksley/Summerhill + 3 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.