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Solar Panels in EH22 (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
£864
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,382
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 881 kWh/kW — 31 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 881 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)
881 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: £720, 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 1762 kWh 705 kWh 1057 kWh £182 £106 £288 £4,069 14.1 yrs £1,688
3 kW 2643 kWh 1057 kWh 1586 kWh £273 £159 £432 £6,104 14.1 yrs £2,532
4 kW 3524 kWh 1410 kWh 2114 kWh £364 £211 £576 £8,138 14.1 yrs £3,376
5 kW 4405 kWh 1762 kWh 2643 kWh £455 £264 £720 £10,173 14.1 yrs £4,220
6 kW 5286 kWh 2114 kWh 3172 kWh £546 £317 £864 £12,207 14.1 yrs £5,064
7 kW 6167 kWh 2467 kWh 3700 kWh £637 £370 £1,007 £14,242 14.1 yrs £5,908
8 kW 7048 kWh 2819 kWh 4229 kWh £729 £423 £1,151 £16,276 14.1 yrs £6,752

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: £859, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1762 kWh 1057 kWh 705 kWh £273 £70 £344 £6,169 18.0 yrs £705
3 kW 2643 kWh 1586 kWh 1057 kWh £410 £106 £516 £8,204 15.9 yrs £2,107
4 kW 3524 kWh 2114 kWh 1410 kWh £546 £141 £687 £10,238 14.9 yrs £3,509
5 kW 4405 kWh 2643 kWh 1762 kWh £683 £176 £859 £12,273 14.3 yrs £4,911
6 kW 5286 kWh 3172 kWh 2114 kWh £820 £211 £1,031 £14,307 13.9 yrs £6,314
7 kW 6167 kWh 3700 kWh 2467 kWh £956 £247 £1,203 £16,342 13.6 yrs £7,716
8 kW 7048 kWh 4229 kWh 2819 kWh £1,093 £282 £1,375 £18,376 13.4 yrs £9,118

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: £929, 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 1762 kWh 1233 kWh 529 kWh £319 £53 £372 £7,569 20.4 yrs £-137
3 kW 2643 kWh 1850 kWh 793 kWh £478 £79 £557 £9,604 17.2 yrs £1,544
4 kW 3524 kWh 2467 kWh 1057 kWh £637 £106 £743 £11,638 15.7 yrs £3,225
5 kW 4405 kWh 3084 kWh 1322 kWh £797 £132 £929 £13,673 14.7 yrs £4,907
6 kW 5286 kWh 3700 kWh 1586 kWh £956 £159 £1,115 £15,707 14.1 yrs £6,588
7 kW 6167 kWh 4317 kWh 1850 kWh £1,116 £185 £1,301 £17,742 13.6 yrs £8,270
8 kW 7048 kWh 4934 kWh 2114 kWh £1,275 £211 £1,486 £19,776 13.3 yrs £9,951

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: £950, 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 1762 kWh 1286 kWh 476 kWh £332 £48 £380 £9,319 24.5 yrs £-1,720
3 kW 2643 kWh 1929 kWh 714 kWh £499 £71 £570 £11,354 19.9 yrs £45
4 kW 3524 kWh 2573 kWh 952 kWh £665 £95 £760 £13,388 17.6 yrs £1,810
5 kW 4405 kWh 3216 kWh 1189 kWh £831 £119 £950 £15,423 16.2 yrs £3,575
6 kW 5286 kWh 3859 kWh 1427 kWh £997 £143 £1,140 £17,457 15.3 yrs £5,341
7 kW 6167 kWh 4502 kWh 1665 kWh £1,163 £167 £1,330 £19,492 14.7 yrs £7,106
8 kW 7048 kWh 5145 kWh 1903 kWh £1,330 £190 £1,520 £21,526 14.2 yrs £8,871

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: £964, 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 1762 kWh 1322 kWh 441 kWh £341 £44 £386 £11,069 28.7 yrs £-3,358
3 kW 2643 kWh 1982 kWh 661 kWh £512 £66 £578 £13,104 22.7 yrs £-1,537
4 kW 3524 kWh 2643 kWh 881 kWh £683 £88 £771 £15,138 19.6 yrs £284
5 kW 4405 kWh 3304 kWh 1101 kWh £854 £110 £964 £17,173 17.8 yrs £2,105
6 kW 5286 kWh 3965 kWh 1322 kWh £1,024 £132 £1,157 £19,207 16.6 yrs £3,926
7 kW 6167 kWh 4625 kWh 1542 kWh £1,195 £154 £1,349 £21,242 15.7 yrs £5,746
8 kW 7048 kWh 5286 kWh 1762 kWh £1,366 £176 £1,542 £23,276 15.1 yrs £7,567

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: £978, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1762 kWh 1357 kWh 405 kWh £351 £41 £391 £13,519 34.6 yrs £-5,697
3 kW 2643 kWh 2035 kWh 608 kWh £526 £61 £587 £15,554 26.5 yrs £-3,820
4 kW 3524 kWh 2714 kWh 811 kWh £701 £81 £782 £17,588 22.5 yrs £-1,943
5 kW 4405 kWh 3392 kWh 1013 kWh £876 £101 £978 £19,623 20.1 yrs £-66
6 kW 5286 kWh 4070 kWh 1216 kWh £1,052 £122 £1,173 £21,657 18.5 yrs £1,810
7 kW 6167 kWh 4749 kWh 1418 kWh £1,227 £142 £1,369 £23,692 17.3 yrs £3,687
8 kW 7048 kWh 5427 kWh 1621 kWh £1,402 £162 £1,565 £25,726 16.4 yrs £5,564

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 EH22

Figures below are tailored to EH22 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2554 of 2997
12.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£989 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1590 of 2997
20.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£989 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
881kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~881 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

Dalkeith, Midlothian East, Midlothian South, Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry, Bonnyrigg, Liberton/Gilmerton

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

EH19 (Midlothian)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~883 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH22
EH18 (Midlothian)
≈4.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~862 kWh/kWp · -2% vs EH22
EH23 (Midlothian)
≈5.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~860 kWh/kWp · -2% vs EH22
EH17 (City of Edinburgh)
≈5.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH22
EH21 (East Lothian)
≈5.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~893 kWh/kWp · +1% vs EH22
EH20 (Midlothian)
≈6.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~883 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH22

Similar sunshine across the UK

M90 (Manchester)
~881 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH22
M28 (Salford)
~881 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH22
SK23 (High Peak)
~881 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH22