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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in DG5 (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
13.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£900
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,283
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 918 kWh/kW — 68 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 918 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)
918 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: £750, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 734 kWh 1101 kWh £190 £110 £300 £4,069 13.6 yrs £1,928
3 kW 2753 kWh 1101 kWh 1652 kWh £285 £165 £450 £6,104 13.6 yrs £2,893
4 kW 3671 kWh 1469 kWh 2203 kWh £379 £220 £600 £8,138 13.6 yrs £3,857
5 kW 4589 kWh 1836 kWh 2753 kWh £474 £275 £750 £10,173 13.6 yrs £4,821
6 kW 5507 kWh 2203 kWh 3304 kWh £569 £330 £900 £12,207 13.6 yrs £5,785
7 kW 6425 kWh 2570 kWh 3855 kWh £664 £385 £1,050 £14,242 13.6 yrs £6,749
8 kW 7343 kWh 2937 kWh 4406 kWh £759 £441 £1,199 £16,276 13.6 yrs £7,714

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: £895, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 1101 kWh 734 kWh £285 £73 £358 £6,169 17.2 yrs £991
3 kW 2753 kWh 1652 kWh 1101 kWh £427 £110 £537 £8,204 15.3 yrs £2,537
4 kW 3671 kWh 2203 kWh 1469 kWh £569 £147 £716 £10,238 14.3 yrs £4,083
5 kW 4589 kWh 2753 kWh 1836 kWh £711 £184 £895 £12,273 13.7 yrs £5,629
6 kW 5507 kWh 3304 kWh 2203 kWh £854 £220 £1,074 £14,307 13.3 yrs £7,174
7 kW 6425 kWh 3855 kWh 2570 kWh £996 £257 £1,253 £16,342 13.0 yrs £8,720
8 kW 7343 kWh 4406 kWh 2937 kWh £1,138 £294 £1,432 £18,376 12.8 yrs £10,266

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: £968, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 1285 kWh 551 kWh £332 £55 £387 £7,569 19.6 yrs £173
3 kW 2753 kWh 1927 kWh 826 kWh £498 £83 £581 £9,604 16.5 yrs £2,009
4 kW 3671 kWh 2570 kWh 1101 kWh £664 £110 £774 £11,638 15.0 yrs £3,846
5 kW 4589 kWh 3212 kWh 1377 kWh £830 £138 £968 £13,673 14.1 yrs £5,682
6 kW 5507 kWh 3855 kWh 1652 kWh £996 £165 £1,161 £15,707 13.5 yrs £7,519
7 kW 6425 kWh 4497 kWh 1927 kWh £1,162 £193 £1,355 £17,742 13.1 yrs £9,355
8 kW 7343 kWh 5140 kWh 2203 kWh £1,328 £220 £1,548 £19,776 12.8 yrs £11,192

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: £990, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1836 kWh 1340 kWh 496 kWh £346 £50 £396 £9,319 23.5 yrs £-1,403
3 kW 2753 kWh 2010 kWh 743 kWh £519 £74 £594 £11,354 19.1 yrs £521
4 kW 3671 kWh 2680 kWh 991 kWh £693 £99 £792 £13,388 16.9 yrs £2,445
5 kW 4589 kWh 3350 kWh 1239 kWh £866 £124 £990 £15,423 15.6 yrs £4,369
6 kW 5507 kWh 4020 kWh 1487 kWh £1,039 £149 £1,187 £17,457 14.7 yrs £6,292
7 kW 6425 kWh 4690 kWh 1735 kWh £1,212 £173 £1,385 £19,492 14.1 yrs £8,216
8 kW 7343 kWh 5360 kWh 1982 kWh £1,385 £198 £1,583 £21,526 13.6 yrs £10,140

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: £1,004, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1836 kWh 1377 kWh 459 kWh £356 £46 £402 £11,069 27.6 yrs £-3,036
3 kW 2753 kWh 2065 kWh 688 kWh £534 £69 £602 £13,104 21.8 yrs £-1,054
4 kW 3671 kWh 2753 kWh 918 kWh £711 £92 £803 £15,138 18.8 yrs £927
5 kW 4589 kWh 3442 kWh 1147 kWh £889 £115 £1,004 £17,173 17.1 yrs £2,909
6 kW 5507 kWh 4130 kWh 1377 kWh £1,067 £138 £1,205 £19,207 15.9 yrs £4,891
7 kW 6425 kWh 4819 kWh 1606 kWh £1,245 £161 £1,406 £21,242 15.1 yrs £6,873
8 kW 7343 kWh 5507 kWh 1836 kWh £1,423 £184 £1,607 £23,276 14.5 yrs £8,855

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: £1,019, Upfront: £19,623, 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 1836 kWh 1413 kWh 422 kWh £365 £42 £407 £13,519 33.2 yrs £-5,370
3 kW 2753 kWh 2120 kWh 633 kWh £548 £63 £611 £15,554 25.4 yrs £-3,330
4 kW 3671 kWh 2827 kWh 844 kWh £730 £84 £815 £17,588 21.6 yrs £-1,290
5 kW 4589 kWh 3534 kWh 1055 kWh £913 £106 £1,019 £19,623 19.3 yrs £750
6 kW 5507 kWh 4240 kWh 1267 kWh £1,096 £127 £1,222 £21,657 17.7 yrs £2,790
7 kW 6425 kWh 4947 kWh 1478 kWh £1,278 £148 £1,426 £23,692 16.6 yrs £4,830
8 kW 7343 kWh 5654 kWh 1689 kWh £1,461 £169 £1,630 £25,726 15.8 yrs £6,870

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 DG5

Figures below are tailored to DG5 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2100 of 2997
11.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,030 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1407 of 2997
20.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£1,030 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
918kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~918 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

Abbey, Castle Douglas and Crocketford

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

DG7 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈8.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~931 kWh/kWp · +1% vs DG5
DG6 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈18.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~950 kWh/kWp · +3% vs DG5
DG2 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈19.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · -4% vs DG5
DG1 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈21.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~881 kWh/kWp · -4% vs DG5
DG3 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈34.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · -10% vs DG5
DG11 (Dumfries and Galloway)
≈36.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~875 kWh/kWp · -5% vs DG5

Similar sunshine across the UK

S10 (Sheffield)
~918 kWh/kWp · +0% vs DG5
BT20 (Ards and North Down)
~918 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DG5
SY21 (Powys)
~918 kWh/kWp · -0% vs DG5