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

Solar Panels in AB54 (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
14.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£708
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,525
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 842 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)
842 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: £708, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1683 kWh 673 kWh 1010 kWh £182 £101 £283 £4,069 14.4 yrs £1,594
3 kW 2525 kWh 1010 kWh 1515 kWh £273 £151 £425 £6,104 14.4 yrs £2,392
4 kW 3366 kWh 1346 kWh 2020 kWh £364 £202 £566 £8,138 14.4 yrs £3,189
5 kW 4208 kWh 1683 kWh 2525 kWh £455 £252 £708 £10,173 14.4 yrs £3,986
6 kW 5049 kWh 2020 kWh 3030 kWh £547 £303 £850 £12,207 14.4 yrs £4,783
7 kW 5891 kWh 2356 kWh 3535 kWh £638 £353 £991 £14,242 14.4 yrs £5,580
8 kW 6732 kWh 2693 kWh 4039 kWh £729 £404 £1,133 £16,276 14.4 yrs £6,377

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: £851, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1683 kWh 1010 kWh 673 kWh £273 £67 £341 £6,169 18.1 yrs £643
3 kW 2525 kWh 1515 kWh 1010 kWh £410 £101 £511 £8,204 16.1 yrs £2,014
4 kW 3366 kWh 2020 kWh 1346 kWh £547 £135 £681 £10,238 15.0 yrs £3,386
5 kW 4208 kWh 2525 kWh 1683 kWh £683 £168 £851 £12,273 14.4 yrs £4,757
6 kW 5049 kWh 3030 kWh 2020 kWh £820 £202 £1,022 £14,307 14.0 yrs £6,129
7 kW 5891 kWh 3535 kWh 2356 kWh £956 £236 £1,192 £16,342 13.7 yrs £7,500
8 kW 6732 kWh 4039 kWh 2693 kWh £1,093 £269 £1,362 £18,376 13.5 yrs £8,872

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: £923, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1683 kWh 1178 kWh 505 kWh £319 £50 £369 £7,569 20.5 yrs £-183
3 kW 2525 kWh 1767 kWh 757 kWh £478 £76 £554 £9,604 17.3 yrs £1,476
4 kW 3366 kWh 2356 kWh 1010 kWh £638 £101 £739 £11,638 15.8 yrs £3,134
5 kW 4208 kWh 2945 kWh 1262 kWh £797 £126 £923 £13,673 14.8 yrs £4,793
6 kW 5049 kWh 3535 kWh 1515 kWh £956 £151 £1,108 £15,707 14.2 yrs £6,452
7 kW 5891 kWh 4124 kWh 1767 kWh £1,116 £177 £1,293 £17,742 13.7 yrs £8,110
8 kW 6732 kWh 4713 kWh 2020 kWh £1,275 £202 £1,477 £19,776 13.4 yrs £9,769

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: £945, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1683 kWh 1229 kWh 454 kWh £332 £45 £378 £9,319 24.7 yrs £-1,761
3 kW 2525 kWh 1843 kWh 682 kWh £499 £68 £567 £11,354 20.0 yrs £-16
4 kW 3366 kWh 2457 kWh 909 kWh £665 £91 £756 £13,388 17.7 yrs £1,729
5 kW 4208 kWh 3072 kWh 1136 kWh £831 £114 £945 £15,423 16.3 yrs £3,474
6 kW 5049 kWh 3686 kWh 1363 kWh £997 £136 £1,134 £17,457 15.4 yrs £5,218
7 kW 5891 kWh 4300 kWh 1591 kWh £1,164 £159 £1,323 £19,492 14.7 yrs £6,963
8 kW 6732 kWh 4915 kWh 1818 kWh £1,330 £182 £1,512 £21,526 14.2 yrs £8,708

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: £959, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1683 kWh 1262 kWh 421 kWh £342 £42 £384 £11,069 28.9 yrs £-3,396
3 kW 2525 kWh 1894 kWh 631 kWh £512 £63 £576 £13,104 22.8 yrs £-1,594
4 kW 3366 kWh 2525 kWh 842 kWh £683 £84 £767 £15,138 19.7 yrs £209
5 kW 4208 kWh 3156 kWh 1052 kWh £854 £105 £959 £17,173 17.9 yrs £2,011
6 kW 5049 kWh 3787 kWh 1262 kWh £1,025 £126 £1,151 £19,207 16.7 yrs £3,813
7 kW 5891 kWh 4418 kWh 1473 kWh £1,196 £147 £1,343 £21,242 15.8 yrs £5,615
8 kW 6732 kWh 5049 kWh 1683 kWh £1,366 £168 £1,535 £23,276 15.2 yrs £7,417

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: £974, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1683 kWh 1296 kWh 387 kWh £351 £39 £389 £13,519 34.7 yrs £-5,731
3 kW 2525 kWh 1944 kWh 581 kWh £526 £58 £584 £15,554 26.6 yrs £-3,871
4 kW 3366 kWh 2592 kWh 774 kWh £701 £77 £779 £17,588 22.6 yrs £-2,012
5 kW 4208 kWh 3240 kWh 968 kWh £877 £97 £974 £19,623 20.2 yrs £-152
6 kW 5049 kWh 3888 kWh 1161 kWh £1,052 £116 £1,168 £21,657 18.5 yrs £1,708
7 kW 5891 kWh 4536 kWh 1355 kWh £1,227 £135 £1,363 £23,692 17.4 yrs £3,567
8 kW 6732 kWh 5184 kWh 1548 kWh £1,403 £155 £1,558 £25,726 16.5 yrs £5,427

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
842kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~842 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 (89%)|Moray (11%)

Areas Covered

Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford, Banff and District, Keith and Cullen, Turriff and District, Speyside Glenlivet, West Garioch

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.