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Solar Panels in AB35 (Aberdeenshire)

See if solar pays off for you in Aberdeenshire — 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
15.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£656
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,227
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 780 kWh/kW — 35 below 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 780 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)
780 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: £656, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 624 kWh 936 kWh £169 £94 £262 £4,069 15.5 yrs £1,179
3 kW 2339 kWh 936 kWh 1404 kWh £253 £140 £394 £6,104 15.5 yrs £1,768
4 kW 3119 kWh 1248 kWh 1872 kWh £338 £187 £525 £8,138 15.5 yrs £2,358
5 kW 3899 kWh 1560 kWh 2339 kWh £422 £234 £656 £10,173 15.5 yrs £2,947
6 kW 4679 kWh 1872 kWh 2807 kWh £506 £281 £787 £12,207 15.5 yrs £3,537
7 kW 5459 kWh 2184 kWh 3275 kWh £591 £328 £918 £14,242 15.5 yrs £4,126
8 kW 6239 kWh 2495 kWh 3743 kWh £675 £374 £1,050 £16,276 15.5 yrs £4,716

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: £789, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 936 kWh 624 kWh £253 £62 £316 £6,169 19.5 yrs £143
3 kW 2339 kWh 1404 kWh 936 kWh £380 £94 £473 £8,204 17.3 yrs £1,265
4 kW 3119 kWh 1872 kWh 1248 kWh £506 £125 £631 £10,238 16.2 yrs £2,386
5 kW 3899 kWh 2339 kWh 1560 kWh £633 £156 £789 £12,273 15.6 yrs £3,508
6 kW 4679 kWh 2807 kWh 1872 kWh £760 £187 £947 £14,307 15.1 yrs £4,630
7 kW 5459 kWh 3275 kWh 2184 kWh £886 £218 £1,105 £16,342 14.8 yrs £5,751
8 kW 6239 kWh 3743 kWh 2495 kWh £1,013 £250 £1,262 £18,376 14.6 yrs £6,873

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: £856, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 1092 kWh 468 kWh £295 £47 £342 £7,569 22.1 yrs £-725
3 kW 2339 kWh 1638 kWh 702 kWh £443 £70 £513 £9,604 18.7 yrs £663
4 kW 3119 kWh 2184 kWh 936 kWh £591 £94 £684 £11,638 17.0 yrs £2,051
5 kW 3899 kWh 2729 kWh 1170 kWh £739 £117 £856 £13,673 16.0 yrs £3,438
6 kW 4679 kWh 3275 kWh 1404 kWh £886 £140 £1,027 £15,707 15.3 yrs £4,826
7 kW 5459 kWh 3821 kWh 1638 kWh £1,034 £164 £1,198 £17,742 14.8 yrs £6,214
8 kW 6239 kWh 4367 kWh 1872 kWh £1,182 £187 £1,369 £19,776 14.4 yrs £7,602

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: £876, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 1139 kWh 421 kWh £308 £42 £350 £9,319 26.6 yrs £-2,315
3 kW 2339 kWh 1708 kWh 632 kWh £462 £63 £525 £11,354 21.6 yrs £-847
4 kW 3119 kWh 2277 kWh 842 kWh £616 £84 £700 £13,388 19.1 yrs £620
5 kW 3899 kWh 2846 kWh 1053 kWh £770 £105 £876 £15,423 17.6 yrs £2,088
6 kW 4679 kWh 3416 kWh 1263 kWh £924 £126 £1,051 £17,457 16.6 yrs £3,555
7 kW 5459 kWh 3985 kWh 1474 kWh £1,078 £147 £1,226 £19,492 15.9 yrs £5,023
8 kW 6239 kWh 4554 kWh 1684 kWh £1,232 £168 £1,401 £21,526 15.4 yrs £6,490

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: £889, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 1170 kWh 390 kWh £317 £39 £356 £11,069 31.1 yrs £-3,959
3 kW 2339 kWh 1755 kWh 585 kWh £475 £58 £533 £13,104 24.6 yrs £-2,438
4 kW 3119 kWh 2339 kWh 780 kWh £633 £78 £711 £15,138 21.3 yrs £-917
5 kW 3899 kWh 2924 kWh 975 kWh £791 £97 £889 £17,173 19.3 yrs £604
6 kW 4679 kWh 3509 kWh 1170 kWh £950 £117 £1,067 £19,207 18.0 yrs £2,124
7 kW 5459 kWh 4094 kWh 1365 kWh £1,108 £136 £1,244 £21,242 17.1 yrs £3,645
8 kW 6239 kWh 4679 kWh 1560 kWh £1,266 £156 £1,422 £23,276 16.4 yrs £5,166

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: £902, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 1201 kWh 359 kWh £325 £36 £361 £13,519 37.5 yrs £-6,302
3 kW 2339 kWh 1801 kWh 538 kWh £487 £54 £541 £15,554 28.7 yrs £-4,728
4 kW 3119 kWh 2402 kWh 717 kWh £650 £72 £722 £17,588 24.4 yrs £-3,154
5 kW 3899 kWh 3002 kWh 897 kWh £812 £90 £902 £19,623 21.8 yrs £-1,580
6 kW 4679 kWh 3603 kWh 1076 kWh £975 £108 £1,083 £21,657 20.0 yrs £-6
7 kW 5459 kWh 4203 kWh 1256 kWh £1,137 £126 £1,263 £23,692 18.8 yrs £1,568
8 kW 6239 kWh 4804 kWh 1435 kWh £1,300 £143 £1,443 £25,726 17.8 yrs £3,142

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 AB35

Figures below are tailored to AB35 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2914 of 2997
13.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£605 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2920 of 2997
36.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£605 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
780kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~780 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

Aberdeenshire (100%)

Areas Covered

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside

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

AB34 (Aberdeenshire)
≈15.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~832 kWh/kWp · +7% vs AB35
AB36 (Aberdeenshire)
≈16.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · +6% vs AB35
AB33 (Aberdeenshire)
≈28.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · +6% vs AB35
AB3 (Aberdeenshire)
≈31.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~920 kWh/kWp · +18% vs AB35
AB31 (Aberdeenshire)
≈33.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~896 kWh/kWp · +15% vs AB35
AB37 (Moray)
≈37.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~773 kWh/kWp · -1% vs AB35

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL27 (Conwy)
~777 kWh/kWp · -0% vs AB35
LL21 (Denbighshire)
~785 kWh/kWp · +1% vs AB35
CA8 (Cumberland)
~786 kWh/kWp · +1% vs AB35