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Solar Panels in EH20 (Midlothian)

See if solar pays off for you in Midlothian — 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
14.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£866
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,441
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 883 kWh/kW — 34 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 883 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)
883 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: £722, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1767 kWh 707 kWh 1060 kWh £183 £106 £289 £4,069 14.1 yrs £1,704
3 kW 2650 kWh 1060 kWh 1590 kWh £274 £159 £433 £6,104 14.1 yrs £2,556
4 kW 3534 kWh 1414 kWh 2120 kWh £365 £212 £577 £8,138 14.1 yrs £3,408
5 kW 4417 kWh 1767 kWh 2650 kWh £457 £265 £722 £10,173 14.1 yrs £4,260
6 kW 5301 kWh 2120 kWh 3180 kWh £548 £318 £866 £12,207 14.1 yrs £5,112
7 kW 6184 kWh 2474 kWh 3711 kWh £639 £371 £1,010 £14,242 14.1 yrs £5,964
8 kW 7068 kWh 2827 kWh 4241 kWh £731 £424 £1,155 £16,276 14.1 yrs £6,815

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: £862, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1767 kWh 1060 kWh 707 kWh £274 £71 £345 £6,169 17.9 yrs £723
3 kW 2650 kWh 1590 kWh 1060 kWh £411 £106 £517 £8,204 15.9 yrs £2,135
4 kW 3534 kWh 2120 kWh 1414 kWh £548 £141 £689 £10,238 14.9 yrs £3,547
5 kW 4417 kWh 2650 kWh 1767 kWh £685 £177 £862 £12,273 14.2 yrs £4,958
6 kW 5301 kWh 3180 kWh 2120 kWh £822 £212 £1,034 £14,307 13.8 yrs £6,370
7 kW 6184 kWh 3711 kWh 2474 kWh £959 £247 £1,206 £16,342 13.5 yrs £7,782
8 kW 7068 kWh 4241 kWh 2827 kWh £1,096 £283 £1,378 £18,376 13.3 yrs £9,194

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: £932, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1767 kWh 1237 kWh 530 kWh £320 £53 £373 £7,569 20.3 yrs £-117
3 kW 2650 kWh 1855 kWh 795 kWh £479 £80 £559 £9,604 17.2 yrs £1,575
4 kW 3534 kWh 2474 kWh 1060 kWh £639 £106 £745 £11,638 15.6 yrs £3,266
5 kW 4417 kWh 3092 kWh 1325 kWh £799 £133 £932 £13,673 14.7 yrs £4,958
6 kW 5301 kWh 3711 kWh 1590 kWh £959 £159 £1,118 £15,707 14.1 yrs £6,649
7 kW 6184 kWh 4329 kWh 1855 kWh £1,119 £186 £1,304 £17,742 13.6 yrs £8,341
8 kW 7068 kWh 4947 kWh 2120 kWh £1,278 £212 £1,490 £19,776 13.3 yrs £10,033

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: £953, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1767 kWh 1290 kWh 477 kWh £333 £48 £381 £9,319 24.5 yrs £-1,699
3 kW 2650 kWh 1935 kWh 716 kWh £500 £72 £572 £11,354 19.9 yrs £77
4 kW 3534 kWh 2580 kWh 954 kWh £667 £95 £762 £13,388 17.6 yrs £1,852
5 kW 4417 kWh 3225 kWh 1193 kWh £833 £119 £953 £15,423 16.2 yrs £3,628
6 kW 5301 kWh 3870 kWh 1431 kWh £1,000 £143 £1,143 £17,457 15.3 yrs £5,403
7 kW 6184 kWh 4514 kWh 1670 kWh £1,167 £167 £1,334 £19,492 14.6 yrs £7,179
8 kW 7068 kWh 5159 kWh 1908 kWh £1,333 £191 £1,524 £21,526 14.1 yrs £8,954

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: £967, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1767 kWh 1325 kWh 442 kWh £342 £44 £387 £11,069 28.6 yrs £-3,337
3 kW 2650 kWh 1988 kWh 663 kWh £514 £66 £580 £13,104 22.6 yrs £-1,505
4 kW 3534 kWh 2650 kWh 883 kWh £685 £88 £773 £15,138 19.6 yrs £326
5 kW 4417 kWh 3313 kWh 1104 kWh £856 £110 £967 £17,173 17.8 yrs £2,158
6 kW 5301 kWh 3976 kWh 1325 kWh £1,027 £133 £1,160 £19,207 16.6 yrs £3,989
7 kW 6184 kWh 4638 kWh 1546 kWh £1,199 £155 £1,353 £21,242 15.7 yrs £5,821
8 kW 7068 kWh 5301 kWh 1767 kWh £1,370 £177 £1,546 £23,276 15.1 yrs £7,652

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: £980, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1767 kWh 1361 kWh 406 kWh £352 £41 £392 £13,519 34.5 yrs £-5,675
3 kW 2650 kWh 2041 kWh 610 kWh £527 £61 £588 £15,554 26.4 yrs £-3,788
4 kW 3534 kWh 2721 kWh 813 kWh £703 £81 £784 £17,588 22.4 yrs £-1,900
5 kW 4417 kWh 3401 kWh 1016 kWh £879 £102 £980 £19,623 20.0 yrs £-13
6 kW 5301 kWh 4082 kWh 1219 kWh £1,055 £122 £1,177 £21,657 18.4 yrs £1,875
7 kW 6184 kWh 4762 kWh 1422 kWh £1,230 £142 £1,373 £23,692 17.3 yrs £3,762
8 kW 7068 kWh 5442 kWh 1626 kWh £1,406 £163 £1,569 £25,726 16.4 yrs £5,650

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 EH20

Figures below are tailored to EH20 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2553 of 2997
12.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£992 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1583 of 2997
20.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£992 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
883kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~883 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

Midlothian (100%)

Areas Covered

Midlothian West, Bonnyrigg

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

EH18 (Midlothian)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~862 kWh/kWp · -2% vs EH20
EH25 (Midlothian)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~886 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH20
EH17 (City of Edinburgh)
≈3.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH20
EH24 (Midlothian)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH20
EH19 (Midlothian)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~883 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH20
EH16 (City of Edinburgh)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~883 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH20

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT10 (Belfast)
~884 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH20
M33 (Trafford)
~884 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH20
CF42 (Rhondda Cynon Taf)
~884 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH20