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Solar Panels in EH4 (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
£874
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,651
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 892 kWh/kW — 42 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 892 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)
892 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 1784 kWh 714 kWh 1070 kWh £184 £107 £291 £4,069 14.0 yrs £1,760
3 kW 2676 kWh 1070 kWh 1606 kWh £277 £161 £437 £6,104 14.0 yrs £2,640
4 kW 3568 kWh 1427 kWh 2141 kWh £369 £214 £583 £8,138 14.0 yrs £3,519
5 kW 4460 kWh 1784 kWh 2676 kWh £461 £268 £729 £10,173 14.0 yrs £4,399
6 kW 5352 kWh 2141 kWh 3211 kWh £553 £321 £874 £12,207 14.0 yrs £5,279
7 kW 6244 kWh 2498 kWh 3746 kWh £645 £375 £1,020 £14,242 14.0 yrs £6,159
8 kW 7136 kWh 2854 kWh 4282 kWh £738 £428 £1,166 £16,276 14.0 yrs £7,039

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 1784 kWh 1070 kWh 714 kWh £277 £71 £348 £6,169 17.7 yrs £790
3 kW 2676 kWh 1606 kWh 1070 kWh £415 £107 £522 £8,204 15.7 yrs £2,235
4 kW 3568 kWh 2141 kWh 1427 kWh £553 £143 £696 £10,238 14.7 yrs £3,680
5 kW 4460 kWh 2676 kWh 1784 kWh £691 £178 £870 £12,273 14.1 yrs £5,125
6 kW 5352 kWh 3211 kWh 2141 kWh £830 £214 £1,044 £14,307 13.7 yrs £6,570
7 kW 6244 kWh 3746 kWh 2498 kWh £968 £250 £1,218 £16,342 13.4 yrs £8,015
8 kW 7136 kWh 4282 kWh 2854 kWh £1,106 £285 £1,392 £18,376 13.2 yrs £9,460

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 1784 kWh 1249 kWh 535 kWh £323 £54 £376 £7,569 20.1 yrs £-45
3 kW 2676 kWh 1873 kWh 803 kWh £484 £80 £564 £9,604 17.0 yrs £1,683
4 kW 3568 kWh 2498 kWh 1070 kWh £645 £107 £752 £11,638 15.5 yrs £3,411
5 kW 4460 kWh 3122 kWh 1338 kWh £807 £134 £941 £13,673 14.5 yrs £5,138
6 kW 5352 kWh 3746 kWh 1606 kWh £968 £161 £1,129 £15,707 13.9 yrs £6,866
7 kW 6244 kWh 4371 kWh 1873 kWh £1,129 £187 £1,317 £17,742 13.5 yrs £8,593
8 kW 7136 kWh 4995 kWh 2141 kWh £1,291 £214 £1,505 £19,776 13.1 yrs £10,321

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 1784 kWh 1302 kWh 482 kWh £337 £48 £385 £9,319 24.2 yrs £-1,625
3 kW 2676 kWh 1954 kWh 723 kWh £505 £72 £577 £11,354 19.7 yrs £187
4 kW 3568 kWh 2605 kWh 963 kWh £673 £96 £769 £13,388 17.4 yrs £2,000
5 kW 4460 kWh 3256 kWh 1204 kWh £841 £120 £962 £15,423 16.0 yrs £3,812
6 kW 5352 kWh 3907 kWh 1445 kWh £1,010 £145 £1,154 £17,457 15.1 yrs £5,624
7 kW 6244 kWh 4558 kWh 1686 kWh £1,178 £169 £1,346 £19,492 14.5 yrs £7,437
8 kW 7136 kWh 5209 kWh 1927 kWh £1,346 £193 £1,539 £21,526 14.0 yrs £9,249

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 1784 kWh 1338 kWh 446 kWh £346 £45 £390 £11,069 28.4 yrs £-3,262
3 kW 2676 kWh 2007 kWh 669 kWh £519 £67 £586 £13,104 22.4 yrs £-1,393
4 kW 3568 kWh 2676 kWh 892 kWh £691 £89 £781 £15,138 19.4 yrs £476
5 kW 4460 kWh 3345 kWh 1115 kWh £864 £112 £976 £17,173 17.6 yrs £2,345
6 kW 5352 kWh 4014 kWh 1338 kWh £1,037 £134 £1,171 £19,207 16.4 yrs £4,214
7 kW 6244 kWh 4683 kWh 1561 kWh £1,210 £156 £1,366 £21,242 15.5 yrs £6,082
8 kW 7136 kWh 5352 kWh 1784 kWh £1,383 £178 £1,561 £23,276 14.9 yrs £7,951

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: £990, 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 1784 kWh 1374 kWh 410 kWh £355 £41 £396 £13,519 34.1 yrs £-5,599
3 kW 2676 kWh 2061 kWh 615 kWh £532 £62 £594 £15,554 26.2 yrs £-3,674
4 kW 3568 kWh 2747 kWh 821 kWh £710 £82 £792 £17,588 22.2 yrs £-1,748
5 kW 4460 kWh 3434 kWh 1026 kWh £887 £103 £990 £19,623 19.8 yrs £177
6 kW 5352 kWh 4121 kWh 1231 kWh £1,065 £123 £1,188 £21,657 18.2 yrs £2,103
7 kW 6244 kWh 4808 kWh 1436 kWh £1,242 £144 £1,386 £23,692 17.1 yrs £4,028
8 kW 7136 kWh 5495 kWh 1641 kWh £1,420 £164 £1,584 £25,726 16.2 yrs £5,954

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 EH4

Figures below are tailored to EH4 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2476 of 2997
12.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£1,001 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1521 of 2997
20.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£1,001 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
892kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~892 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

Inverleith, Almond, Drum Brae/Gyle, Forth, Corstorphine/Murrayfield, City Centre

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

EH95 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~890 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH4
EH5 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH4
EH12 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~883 kWh/kWp · -1% vs EH4
EH11 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~894 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH4
EH3 (City of Edinburgh)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH4
EH2 (City of Edinburgh)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~878 kWh/kWp · -2% vs EH4

Similar sunshine across the UK

SY19 (Powys)
~892 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH4
PH12 (Perth and Kinross)
~892 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH4
BT6 (Belfast)
~892 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH4