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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in DG12 (Dumfries and Galloway)

See if solar pays off for you in Dumfries and Galloway — 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
13.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£888
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,985
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 Southern Scotland, the current unit rate is 25.84p/kWh with a 56.55p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 906 kWh/kW — 56 above the regional median (850).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 906 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.8p/kWh
Standing charge
56.5p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
906 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: £740, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1811 kWh 725 kWh 1087 kWh £187 £109 £296 £4,069 13.8 yrs £1,849
3 kW 2717 kWh 1087 kWh 1630 kWh £281 £163 £444 £6,104 13.8 yrs £2,773
4 kW 3623 kWh 1449 kWh 2174 kWh £374 £217 £592 £8,138 13.8 yrs £3,698
5 kW 4528 kWh 1811 kWh 2717 kWh £468 £272 £740 £10,173 13.8 yrs £4,622
6 kW 5434 kWh 2174 kWh 3260 kWh £562 £326 £888 £12,207 13.8 yrs £5,547
7 kW 6340 kWh 2536 kWh 3804 kWh £655 £380 £1,036 £14,242 13.8 yrs £6,471
8 kW 7245 kWh 2898 kWh 4347 kWh £749 £435 £1,184 £16,276 13.8 yrs £7,396

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: £883, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1811 kWh 1087 kWh 725 kWh £281 £72 £353 £6,169 17.5 yrs £897
3 kW 2717 kWh 1630 kWh 1087 kWh £421 £109 £530 £8,204 15.5 yrs £2,395
4 kW 3623 kWh 2174 kWh 1449 kWh £562 £145 £707 £10,238 14.5 yrs £3,893
5 kW 4528 kWh 2717 kWh 1811 kWh £702 £181 £883 £12,273 13.9 yrs £5,391
6 kW 5434 kWh 3260 kWh 2174 kWh £842 £217 £1,060 £14,307 13.5 yrs £6,890
7 kW 6340 kWh 3804 kWh 2536 kWh £983 £254 £1,236 £16,342 13.2 yrs £8,388
8 kW 7245 kWh 4347 kWh 2898 kWh £1,123 £290 £1,413 £18,376 13.0 yrs £9,886

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: £955, 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 1811 kWh 1268 kWh 543 kWh £328 £54 £382 £7,569 19.8 yrs £70
3 kW 2717 kWh 1902 kWh 815 kWh £491 £82 £573 £9,604 16.8 yrs £1,856
4 kW 3623 kWh 2536 kWh 1087 kWh £655 £109 £764 £11,638 15.2 yrs £3,641
5 kW 4528 kWh 3170 kWh 1358 kWh £819 £136 £955 £13,673 14.3 yrs £5,426
6 kW 5434 kWh 3804 kWh 1630 kWh £983 £163 £1,146 £15,707 13.7 yrs £7,211
7 kW 6340 kWh 4438 kWh 1902 kWh £1,147 £190 £1,337 £17,742 13.3 yrs £8,996
8 kW 7245 kWh 5072 kWh 2174 kWh £1,311 £217 £1,528 £19,776 12.9 yrs £10,782

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 1811 kWh 1322 kWh 489 kWh £342 £49 £391 £9,319 23.9 yrs £-1,507
3 kW 2717 kWh 1983 kWh 734 kWh £513 £73 £586 £11,354 19.4 yrs £364
4 kW 3623 kWh 2645 kWh 978 kWh £683 £98 £781 £13,388 17.1 yrs £2,235
5 kW 4528 kWh 3306 kWh 1223 kWh £854 £122 £976 £15,423 15.8 yrs £4,106
6 kW 5434 kWh 3967 kWh 1467 kWh £1,025 £147 £1,172 £17,457 14.9 yrs £5,978
7 kW 6340 kWh 4628 kWh 1712 kWh £1,196 £171 £1,367 £19,492 14.3 yrs £7,849
8 kW 7245 kWh 5289 kWh 1956 kWh £1,367 £196 £1,562 £21,526 13.8 yrs £9,720

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 1811 kWh 1358 kWh 453 kWh £351 £45 £396 £11,069 27.9 yrs £-3,143
3 kW 2717 kWh 2038 kWh 679 kWh £527 £68 £594 £13,104 22.0 yrs £-1,214
4 kW 3623 kWh 2717 kWh 906 kWh £702 £91 £793 £15,138 19.1 yrs £715
5 kW 4528 kWh 3396 kWh 1132 kWh £878 £113 £991 £17,173 17.3 yrs £2,643
6 kW 5434 kWh 4075 kWh 1358 kWh £1,053 £136 £1,189 £19,207 16.2 yrs £4,572
7 kW 6340 kWh 4755 kWh 1585 kWh £1,229 £158 £1,387 £21,242 15.3 yrs £6,501
8 kW 7245 kWh 5434 kWh 1811 kWh £1,404 £181 £1,585 £23,276 14.7 yrs £8,429

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: £1,005, 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 1811 kWh 1395 kWh 417 kWh £360 £42 £402 £13,519 33.6 yrs £-5,478
3 kW 2717 kWh 2092 kWh 625 kWh £541 £62 £603 £15,554 25.8 yrs £-3,492
4 kW 3623 kWh 2789 kWh 833 kWh £721 £83 £804 £17,588 21.9 yrs £-1,506
5 kW 4528 kWh 3487 kWh 1042 kWh £901 £104 £1,005 £19,623 19.5 yrs £480
6 kW 5434 kWh 4184 kWh 1250 kWh £1,081 £125 £1,206 £21,657 18.0 yrs £2,466
7 kW 6340 kWh 4882 kWh 1458 kWh £1,261 £146 £1,407 £23,692 16.8 yrs £4,452
8 kW 7245 kWh 5579 kWh 1666 kWh £1,442 £167 £1,608 £25,726 16.0 yrs £6,438

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 DG12

Figures below are tailored to DG12 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2298 of 2997
12.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,017 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1478 of 2997
20.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£1,017 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
906kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~906 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Dumfries and Galloway (100%)

Areas Covered

Annandale South, Annandale East and Eskdale

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 Southern Scotland

DG16 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈12.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~900 kWh/kWp · -1% vs DG12
DG11 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈16.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~875 kWh/kWp · -3% vs DG12
DG14 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈21.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~863 kWh/kWp · -5% vs DG12
DG1 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈23.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · -3% vs DG12
DG13 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈24.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~841 kWh/kWp · -7% vs DG12
DG2 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈25.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · -3% vs DG12

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL32 (Conwy)
~906 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DG12
BD17 (Bradford)
~906 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DG12
BD97 (Bradford)
~905 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DG12