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

Solar Panels in AB56 (Moray)

See if solar pays off for you in Moray — 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
14.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£695
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,210
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 827 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)
827 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: £695, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1653 kWh 661 kWh 992 kWh £179 £99 £278 £4,069 14.6 yrs £1,494
3 kW 2480 kWh 992 kWh 1488 kWh £268 £149 £417 £6,104 14.6 yrs £2,240
4 kW 3306 kWh 1323 kWh 1984 kWh £358 £198 £556 £8,138 14.6 yrs £2,987
5 kW 4133 kWh 1653 kWh 2480 kWh £447 £248 £695 £10,173 14.6 yrs £3,734
6 kW 4959 kWh 1984 kWh 2976 kWh £537 £298 £834 £12,207 14.6 yrs £4,481
7 kW 5786 kWh 2314 kWh 3472 kWh £626 £347 £973 £14,242 14.6 yrs £5,227
8 kW 6613 kWh 2645 kWh 3968 kWh £716 £397 £1,113 £16,276 14.6 yrs £5,974

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: £836, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1653 kWh 992 kWh 661 kWh £268 £66 £335 £6,169 18.4 yrs £522
3 kW 2480 kWh 1488 kWh 992 kWh £403 £99 £502 £8,204 16.3 yrs £1,832
4 kW 3306 kWh 1984 kWh 1323 kWh £537 £132 £669 £10,238 15.3 yrs £3,143
5 kW 4133 kWh 2480 kWh 1653 kWh £671 £165 £836 £12,273 14.7 yrs £4,454
6 kW 4959 kWh 2976 kWh 1984 kWh £805 £198 £1,004 £14,307 14.3 yrs £5,765
7 kW 5786 kWh 3472 kWh 2314 kWh £939 £231 £1,171 £16,342 14.0 yrs £7,076
8 kW 6613 kWh 3968 kWh 2645 kWh £1,074 £265 £1,338 £18,376 13.7 yrs £8,387

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: £907, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1653 kWh 1157 kWh 496 kWh £313 £50 £363 £7,569 20.9 yrs £-314
3 kW 2480 kWh 1736 kWh 744 kWh £470 £74 £544 £9,604 17.7 yrs £1,279
4 kW 3306 kWh 2314 kWh 992 kWh £626 £99 £725 £11,638 16.0 yrs £2,871
5 kW 4133 kWh 2893 kWh 1240 kWh £783 £124 £907 £13,673 15.1 yrs £4,464
6 kW 4959 kWh 3472 kWh 1488 kWh £939 £149 £1,088 £15,707 14.4 yrs £6,057
7 kW 5786 kWh 4050 kWh 1736 kWh £1,096 £174 £1,270 £17,742 14.0 yrs £7,650
8 kW 6613 kWh 4629 kWh 1984 kWh £1,253 £198 £1,451 £19,776 13.6 yrs £9,243

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: £928, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1653 kWh 1207 kWh 446 kWh £327 £45 £371 £9,319 25.1 yrs £-1,895
3 kW 2480 kWh 1810 kWh 670 kWh £490 £67 £557 £11,354 20.4 yrs £-218
4 kW 3306 kWh 2414 kWh 893 kWh £653 £89 £742 £13,388 18.0 yrs £1,460
5 kW 4133 kWh 3017 kWh 1116 kWh £816 £112 £928 £15,423 16.6 yrs £3,137
6 kW 4959 kWh 3620 kWh 1339 kWh £980 £134 £1,114 £17,457 15.7 yrs £4,815
7 kW 5786 kWh 4224 kWh 1562 kWh £1,143 £156 £1,299 £19,492 15.0 yrs £6,492
8 kW 6613 kWh 4827 kWh 1785 kWh £1,306 £179 £1,485 £21,526 14.5 yrs £8,170

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: £942, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1653 kWh 1240 kWh 413 kWh £336 £41 £377 £11,069 29.4 yrs £-3,532
3 kW 2480 kWh 1860 kWh 620 kWh £503 £62 £565 £13,104 23.2 yrs £-1,798
4 kW 3306 kWh 2480 kWh 827 kWh £671 £83 £754 £15,138 20.1 yrs £-65
5 kW 4133 kWh 3100 kWh 1033 kWh £839 £103 £942 £17,173 18.2 yrs £1,669
6 kW 4959 kWh 3720 kWh 1240 kWh £1,007 £124 £1,131 £19,207 17.0 yrs £3,403
7 kW 5786 kWh 4340 kWh 1447 kWh £1,174 £145 £1,319 £21,242 16.1 yrs £5,137
8 kW 6613 kWh 4959 kWh 1653 kWh £1,342 £165 £1,507 £23,276 15.4 yrs £6,871

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: £956, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1653 kWh 1273 kWh 380 kWh £344 £38 £382 £13,519 35.3 yrs £-5,869
3 kW 2480 kWh 1909 kWh 570 kWh £517 £57 £574 £15,554 27.1 yrs £-4,079
4 kW 3306 kWh 2546 kWh 760 kWh £689 £76 £765 £17,588 23.0 yrs £-2,289
5 kW 4133 kWh 3182 kWh 951 kWh £861 £95 £956 £19,623 20.5 yrs £-499
6 kW 4959 kWh 3819 kWh 1141 kWh £1,033 £114 £1,147 £21,657 18.9 yrs £1,292
7 kW 5786 kWh 4455 kWh 1331 kWh £1,206 £133 £1,339 £23,692 17.7 yrs £3,082
8 kW 6613 kWh 5092 kWh 1521 kWh £1,378 £152 £1,530 £25,726 16.8 yrs £4,872

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
827kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~827 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

Moray (99%)|Aberdeenshire (1%)

Areas Covered

Buckie, Keith and Cullen, Fochabers Lhanbryde, Banff and District

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.