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Solar panel cost in Scottish Borders (EH43)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for EH43 (Scottish Borders) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

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
12.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£9,767
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£817
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,651
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: The official cost per kW is lower above 4 kW, so a 5–6 kW system can pay back a little faster than a 3–4 kW system on otherwise identical assumptions.
  • 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

Panel costs: Uses March 2026 TIC mean installation costs: £1,827/kW up to 4 kW and £1,628/kW above 4 kW.

Other costs: Battery prices are modelled at £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 25.85p/kWh with a 64.17p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 833 kWh/kW — 17 below 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 833 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.9p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.9p/kWh
Standing charge
64.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
833 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: £681, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1666 kWh 666 kWh 1000 kWh £172 £100 £272 £3,256 12.0 yrs £2,189
3 kW 2499 kWh 1000 kWh 1499 kWh £258 £150 £408 £4,883 12.0 yrs £3,284
4 kW 3332 kWh 1333 kWh 1999 kWh £345 £200 £544 £6,511 12.0 yrs £4,378
5 kW 4165 kWh 1666 kWh 2499 kWh £431 £250 £681 £8,139 12.0 yrs £5,473
6 kW 4998 kWh 1999 kWh 2999 kWh £517 £300 £817 £9,767 12.0 yrs £6,567
7 kW 5831 kWh 2332 kWh 3499 kWh £603 £350 £953 £11,394 12.0 yrs £7,662
8 kW 6664 kWh 2666 kWh 3998 kWh £689 £400 £1,089 £13,022 12.0 yrs £8,756

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £813, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1666 kWh 1000 kWh 666 kWh £258 £67 £325 £5,356 16.5 yrs £1,145
3 kW 2499 kWh 1499 kWh 1000 kWh £388 £100 £488 £6,983 14.3 yrs £2,768
4 kW 3332 kWh 1999 kWh 1333 kWh £517 £133 £650 £8,611 13.2 yrs £4,391
5 kW 4165 kWh 2499 kWh 1666 kWh £646 £167 £813 £10,239 12.6 yrs £6,013
6 kW 4998 kWh 2999 kWh 1999 kWh £775 £200 £975 £11,867 12.2 yrs £7,636
7 kW 5831 kWh 3499 kWh 2332 kWh £904 £233 £1,138 £13,494 11.9 yrs £9,259
8 kW 6664 kWh 3998 kWh 2666 kWh £1,034 £267 £1,300 £15,122 11.6 yrs £10,881

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £879, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1666 kWh 1166 kWh 500 kWh £301 £50 £351 £6,756 19.2 yrs £273
3 kW 2499 kWh 1749 kWh 750 kWh £452 £75 £527 £8,383 15.9 yrs £2,160
4 kW 3332 kWh 2332 kWh 1000 kWh £603 £100 £703 £10,011 14.2 yrs £4,047
5 kW 4165 kWh 2916 kWh 1250 kWh £754 £125 £879 £11,639 13.2 yrs £5,934
6 kW 4998 kWh 3499 kWh 1499 kWh £904 £150 £1,054 £13,267 12.6 yrs £7,820
7 kW 5831 kWh 4082 kWh 1749 kWh £1,055 £175 £1,230 £14,894 12.1 yrs £9,707
8 kW 6664 kWh 4665 kWh 1999 kWh £1,206 £200 £1,406 £16,522 11.8 yrs £11,594

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £898, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1666 kWh 1216 kWh 450 kWh £314 £45 £359 £8,506 23.7 yrs £-1,318
3 kW 2499 kWh 1824 kWh 675 kWh £472 £67 £539 £10,133 18.8 yrs £648
4 kW 3332 kWh 2432 kWh 900 kWh £629 £90 £719 £11,761 16.4 yrs £2,614
5 kW 4165 kWh 3040 kWh 1125 kWh £786 £112 £898 £13,389 14.9 yrs £4,580
6 kW 4998 kWh 3649 kWh 1349 kWh £943 £135 £1,078 £15,017 13.9 yrs £6,546
7 kW 5831 kWh 4257 kWh 1574 kWh £1,100 £157 £1,258 £16,644 13.2 yrs £8,511
8 kW 6664 kWh 4865 kWh 1799 kWh £1,258 £180 £1,437 £18,272 12.7 yrs £10,477

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £912, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1666 kWh 1250 kWh 417 kWh £323 £42 £365 £10,256 28.1 yrs £-2,963
3 kW 2499 kWh 1874 kWh 625 kWh £484 £62 £547 £11,883 21.7 yrs £-944
4 kW 3332 kWh 2499 kWh 833 kWh £646 £83 £729 £13,511 18.5 yrs £1,075
5 kW 4165 kWh 3124 kWh 1041 kWh £807 £104 £912 £15,139 16.6 yrs £3,094
6 kW 4998 kWh 3749 kWh 1250 kWh £969 £125 £1,094 £16,767 15.3 yrs £5,112
7 kW 5831 kWh 4373 kWh 1458 kWh £1,130 £146 £1,276 £18,394 14.4 yrs £7,131
8 kW 6664 kWh 4998 kWh 1666 kWh £1,292 £167 £1,459 £20,022 13.7 yrs £9,150

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £925, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1666 kWh 1283 kWh 383 kWh £332 £38 £370 £12,706 34.3 yrs £-5,307
3 kW 2499 kWh 1924 kWh 575 kWh £497 £57 £555 £14,333 25.8 yrs £-3,235
4 kW 3332 kWh 2566 kWh 766 kWh £663 £77 £740 £15,961 21.6 yrs £-1,164
5 kW 4165 kWh 3207 kWh 958 kWh £829 £96 £925 £17,589 19.0 yrs £908
6 kW 4998 kWh 3849 kWh 1150 kWh £995 £115 £1,110 £19,217 17.3 yrs £2,979
7 kW 5831 kWh 4490 kWh 1341 kWh £1,161 £134 £1,295 £20,844 16.1 yrs £5,051
8 kW 6664 kWh 5131 kWh 1533 kWh £1,326 £153 £1,480 £22,472 15.2 yrs £7,122

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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.

Before you request quotes in Scottish Borders

Use the numbers above to sanity-check installer quotes. The main things to compare are system size, battery assumptions, payback claims, MCS certification, DNO paperwork and export assumptions.

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Check what MCS certification means

Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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Insights for EH43

Figures below are tailored to EH43 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2509 of 2996
12.0 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£817 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1960 of 2996
28.6% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£234 fixed • ~£817 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.6% West −19.2%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in EH43

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 22 Jan 40 Feb 73 Mar 101 Apr 113 May 105 Jun 110 Jul 97 Aug 76 Sep 50 Oct 31 Nov 16 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 37.5% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: May / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 26 kWh per month; the average month produces around 69 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 104 kWh in winter, or 278 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.85p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
64.17p/day
Local Sunshine
833kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~833 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

Scottish Borders (100%)

Areas Covered

Tweeddale East

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q3 2026

Installation costs: DESNZ/MCS data, March 2026 (TIC)

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

EH44 (Scottish Borders)
≈3.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~826 kWh/kWp · -1% vs EH43
EH45 (Scottish Borders)
≈11.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~810 kWh/kWp · -3% vs EH43
TD1 (Scottish Borders)
≈12.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · +6% vs EH43
TD7 (Scottish Borders)
≈13.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~883 kWh/kWp · +6% vs EH43
EH38 (Scottish Borders)
≈17.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~837 kWh/kWp · +0% vs EH43
TD6 (Scottish Borders)
≈19.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~897 kWh/kWp · +8% vs EH43

Similar sunshine across the UK

OL16 (Rochdale)
~833 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH43
OL11 (Rochdale)
~833 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH43
AB34 (Aberdeenshire)
~832 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH43