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Solar Panels in EH13 (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
14.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£875
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,663
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 893 kWh/kW — 43 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 893 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)
893 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: £729, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1785 kWh 714 kWh 1071 kWh £185 £107 £292 £4,069 14.0 yrs £1,763
3 kW 2678 kWh 1071 kWh 1607 kWh £277 £161 £437 £6,104 14.0 yrs £2,645
4 kW 3570 kWh 1428 kWh 2142 kWh £369 £214 £583 £8,138 14.0 yrs £3,526
5 kW 4463 kWh 1785 kWh 2678 kWh £461 £268 £729 £10,173 14.0 yrs £4,408
6 kW 5355 kWh 2142 kWh 3213 kWh £554 £321 £875 £12,207 14.0 yrs £5,289
7 kW 6248 kWh 2499 kWh 3749 kWh £646 £375 £1,021 £14,242 14.0 yrs £6,171
8 kW 7140 kWh 2856 kWh 4284 kWh £738 £428 £1,166 £16,276 14.0 yrs £7,053

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: £870, 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 1785 kWh 1071 kWh 714 kWh £277 £71 £348 £6,169 17.7 yrs £794
3 kW 2678 kWh 1607 kWh 1071 kWh £415 £107 £522 £8,204 15.7 yrs £2,241
4 kW 3570 kWh 2142 kWh 1428 kWh £554 £143 £696 £10,238 14.7 yrs £3,688
5 kW 4463 kWh 2678 kWh 1785 kWh £692 £179 £870 £12,273 14.1 yrs £5,135
6 kW 5355 kWh 3213 kWh 2142 kWh £830 £214 £1,044 £14,307 13.7 yrs £6,582
7 kW 6248 kWh 3749 kWh 2499 kWh £969 £250 £1,219 £16,342 13.4 yrs £8,029
8 kW 7140 kWh 4284 kWh 2856 kWh £1,107 £286 £1,393 £18,376 13.2 yrs £9,477

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: £941, 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 1785 kWh 1250 kWh 536 kWh £323 £54 £376 £7,569 20.1 yrs £-40
3 kW 2678 kWh 1874 kWh 803 kWh £484 £80 £565 £9,604 17.0 yrs £1,689
4 kW 3570 kWh 2499 kWh 1071 kWh £646 £107 £753 £11,638 15.5 yrs £3,419
5 kW 4463 kWh 3124 kWh 1339 kWh £807 £134 £941 £13,673 14.5 yrs £5,149
6 kW 5355 kWh 3749 kWh 1607 kWh £969 £161 £1,129 £15,707 13.9 yrs £6,879
7 kW 6248 kWh 4373 kWh 1874 kWh £1,130 £187 £1,318 £17,742 13.5 yrs £8,609
8 kW 7140 kWh 4998 kWh 2142 kWh £1,292 £214 £1,506 £19,776 13.1 yrs £10,339

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: £962, 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 1785 kWh 1303 kWh 482 kWh £337 £48 £385 £9,319 24.2 yrs £-1,621
3 kW 2678 kWh 1955 kWh 723 kWh £505 £72 £577 £11,354 19.7 yrs £194
4 kW 3570 kWh 2606 kWh 964 kWh £673 £96 £770 £13,388 17.4 yrs £2,009
5 kW 4463 kWh 3258 kWh 1205 kWh £842 £120 £962 £15,423 16.0 yrs £3,823
6 kW 5355 kWh 3909 kWh 1446 kWh £1,010 £145 £1,155 £17,457 15.1 yrs £5,638
7 kW 6248 kWh 4561 kWh 1687 kWh £1,179 £169 £1,347 £19,492 14.5 yrs £7,453
8 kW 7140 kWh 5212 kWh 1928 kWh £1,347 £193 £1,540 £21,526 14.0 yrs £9,267

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: £976, 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 1785 kWh 1339 kWh 446 kWh £346 £45 £391 £11,069 28.3 yrs £-3,258
3 kW 2678 kWh 2008 kWh 669 kWh £519 £67 £586 £13,104 22.4 yrs £-1,386
4 kW 3570 kWh 2678 kWh 893 kWh £692 £89 £781 £15,138 19.4 yrs £485
5 kW 4463 kWh 3347 kWh 1116 kWh £865 £112 £976 £17,173 17.6 yrs £2,356
6 kW 5355 kWh 4016 kWh 1339 kWh £1,038 £134 £1,172 £19,207 16.4 yrs £4,227
7 kW 6248 kWh 4686 kWh 1562 kWh £1,211 £156 £1,367 £21,242 15.5 yrs £6,098
8 kW 7140 kWh 5355 kWh 1785 kWh £1,384 £179 £1,562 £23,276 14.9 yrs £7,970

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: £991, 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 1785 kWh 1374 kWh 411 kWh £355 £41 £396 £13,519 34.1 yrs £-5,594
3 kW 2678 kWh 2062 kWh 616 kWh £533 £62 £594 £15,554 26.2 yrs £-3,667
4 kW 3570 kWh 2749 kWh 821 kWh £710 £82 £792 £17,588 22.2 yrs £-1,739
5 kW 4463 kWh 3436 kWh 1026 kWh £888 £103 £991 £19,623 19.8 yrs £189
6 kW 5355 kWh 4123 kWh 1232 kWh £1,066 £123 £1,189 £21,657 18.2 yrs £2,117
7 kW 6248 kWh 4811 kWh 1437 kWh £1,243 £144 £1,387 £23,692 17.1 yrs £4,044
8 kW 7140 kWh 5498 kWh 1642 kWh £1,421 £164 £1,585 £25,726 16.2 yrs £5,972

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 EH13

Figures below are tailored to EH13 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2471 of 2997
12.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,002 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1515 of 2997
20.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£1,002 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
893kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~893 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

Colinton/Fairmilehead, Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart

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)
≈2.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~894 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH13
EH14 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~894 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH13
EH11 (City of Edinburgh)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~894 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH13
EH9 (City of Edinburgh)
≈4.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~889 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH13
EH91 (City of Edinburgh)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~882 kWh/kWp · -1% vs EH13
EH12 (City of Edinburgh)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~883 kWh/kWp · -1% vs EH13

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT4 (Belfast)
~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH13
BT5 (Belfast)
~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH13
AB13 (Aberdeen City)
~893 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH13