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Solar Panels in EH11 (City of Edinburgh)

See if solar pays off for you in City of Edinburgh — 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
13.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£876
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,703
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 894 kWh/kW — 44 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 894 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)
894 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: £730, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1788 kWh 715 kWh 1073 kWh £185 £107 £292 £4,069 13.9 yrs £1,774
3 kW 2682 kWh 1073 kWh 1609 kWh £277 £161 £438 £6,104 13.9 yrs £2,660
4 kW 3577 kWh 1431 kWh 2146 kWh £370 £215 £584 £8,138 13.9 yrs £3,547
5 kW 4471 kWh 1788 kWh 2682 kWh £462 £268 £730 £10,173 13.9 yrs £4,434
6 kW 5365 kWh 2146 kWh 3219 kWh £555 £322 £876 £12,207 13.9 yrs £5,321
7 kW 6259 kWh 2504 kWh 3755 kWh £647 £376 £1,022 £14,242 13.9 yrs £6,208
8 kW 7153 kWh 2861 kWh 4292 kWh £739 £429 £1,169 £16,276 13.9 yrs £7,095

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: £872, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1788 kWh 1073 kWh 715 kWh £277 £72 £349 £6,169 17.7 yrs £807
3 kW 2682 kWh 1609 kWh 1073 kWh £416 £107 £523 £8,204 15.7 yrs £2,260
4 kW 3577 kWh 2146 kWh 1431 kWh £555 £143 £698 £10,238 14.7 yrs £3,713
5 kW 4471 kWh 2682 kWh 1788 kWh £693 £179 £872 £12,273 14.1 yrs £5,167
6 kW 5365 kWh 3219 kWh 2146 kWh £832 £215 £1,046 £14,307 13.7 yrs £6,620
7 kW 6259 kWh 3755 kWh 2504 kWh £970 £250 £1,221 £16,342 13.4 yrs £8,073
8 kW 7153 kWh 4292 kWh 2861 kWh £1,109 £286 £1,395 £18,376 13.2 yrs £9,527

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: £943, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1788 kWh 1252 kWh 536 kWh £323 £54 £377 £7,569 20.1 yrs £-27
3 kW 2682 kWh 1878 kWh 805 kWh £485 £80 £566 £9,604 17.0 yrs £1,710
4 kW 3577 kWh 2504 kWh 1073 kWh £647 £107 £754 £11,638 15.4 yrs £3,446
5 kW 4471 kWh 3129 kWh 1341 kWh £809 £134 £943 £13,673 14.5 yrs £5,183
6 kW 5365 kWh 3755 kWh 1609 kWh £970 £161 £1,131 £15,707 13.9 yrs £6,920
7 kW 6259 kWh 4381 kWh 1878 kWh £1,132 £188 £1,320 £17,742 13.4 yrs £8,656
8 kW 7153 kWh 5007 kWh 2146 kWh £1,294 £215 £1,508 £19,776 13.1 yrs £10,393

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: £964, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1788 kWh 1305 kWh 483 kWh £337 £48 £386 £9,319 24.2 yrs £-1,607
3 kW 2682 kWh 1958 kWh 724 kWh £506 £72 £578 £11,354 19.6 yrs £215
4 kW 3577 kWh 2611 kWh 966 kWh £675 £97 £771 £13,388 17.4 yrs £2,036
5 kW 4471 kWh 3264 kWh 1207 kWh £843 £121 £964 £15,423 16.0 yrs £3,858
6 kW 5365 kWh 3916 kWh 1449 kWh £1,012 £145 £1,157 £17,457 15.1 yrs £5,680
7 kW 6259 kWh 4569 kWh 1690 kWh £1,181 £169 £1,350 £19,492 14.4 yrs £7,501
8 kW 7153 kWh 5222 kWh 1931 kWh £1,349 £193 £1,542 £21,526 14.0 yrs £9,323

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: £978, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1788 kWh 1341 kWh 447 kWh £347 £45 £391 £11,069 28.3 yrs £-3,244
3 kW 2682 kWh 2012 kWh 671 kWh £520 £67 £587 £13,104 22.3 yrs £-1,365
4 kW 3577 kWh 2682 kWh 894 kWh £693 £89 £783 £15,138 19.3 yrs £513
5 kW 4471 kWh 3353 kWh 1118 kWh £866 £112 £978 £17,173 17.6 yrs £2,391
6 kW 5365 kWh 4024 kWh 1341 kWh £1,040 £134 £1,174 £19,207 16.4 yrs £4,269
7 kW 6259 kWh 4694 kWh 1565 kWh £1,213 £156 £1,369 £21,242 15.5 yrs £6,148
8 kW 7153 kWh 5365 kWh 1788 kWh £1,386 £179 £1,565 £23,276 14.9 yrs £8,026

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: £992, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1788 kWh 1377 kWh 411 kWh £356 £41 £397 £13,519 34.1 yrs £-5,580
3 kW 2682 kWh 2065 kWh 617 kWh £534 £62 £595 £15,554 26.1 yrs £-3,645
4 kW 3577 kWh 2754 kWh 823 kWh £712 £82 £794 £17,588 22.2 yrs £-1,710
5 kW 4471 kWh 3442 kWh 1028 kWh £890 £103 £992 £19,623 19.8 yrs £224
6 kW 5365 kWh 4131 kWh 1234 kWh £1,067 £123 £1,191 £21,657 18.2 yrs £2,159
7 kW 6259 kWh 4819 kWh 1440 kWh £1,245 £144 £1,389 £23,692 17.1 yrs £4,094
8 kW 7153 kWh 5508 kWh 1645 kWh £1,423 £165 £1,588 £25,726 16.2 yrs £6,029

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 EH11

Figures below are tailored to EH11 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2470 of 2997
12.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,004 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1516 of 2997
20.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£1,004 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
894kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~894 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

City of Edinburgh (100%)

Areas Covered

Sighthill/Gorgie, Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart, Corstorphine/Murrayfield, Morningside, Pentland Hills, Drum Brae/Gyle, City Centre, Tweeddale West

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

EH10 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~894 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH11
EH3 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH11
EH12 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~883 kWh/kWp · -1% vs EH11
EH4 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH11
EH13 (City of Edinburgh)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~893 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH11
EH14 (City of Edinburgh)
≈3.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~894 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH11

Similar sunshine across the UK

CA24 (Cumberland)
~894 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH11
PA66 (Argyll and Bute)
~894 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH11
NE46 (Northumberland)
~894 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH11