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Solar panel cost in City of Edinburgh (EH7)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for EH7 (City of Edinburgh) 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
14.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£863
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,363
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 27.18p/kWh with a 57.62p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 852 kWh/kW — 3 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 852 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.2p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.2p/kWh
Standing charge
57.6p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
852 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: £719, 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 1705 kWh 682 kWh 1023 kWh £185 £102 £288 £4,069 14.1 yrs £1,683
3 kW 2557 kWh 1023 kWh 1534 kWh £278 £153 £431 £6,104 14.1 yrs £2,524
4 kW 3409 kWh 1364 kWh 2045 kWh £371 £205 £575 £8,138 14.1 yrs £3,366
5 kW 4261 kWh 1705 kWh 2557 kWh £463 £256 £719 £10,173 14.1 yrs £4,207
6 kW 5114 kWh 2045 kWh 3068 kWh £556 £307 £863 £12,207 14.1 yrs £5,049
7 kW 5966 kWh 2386 kWh 3580 kWh £649 £358 £1,007 £14,242 14.1 yrs £5,890
8 kW 6818 kWh 2727 kWh 4091 kWh £741 £409 £1,150 £16,276 14.1 yrs £6,732

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: £865, 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 1705 kWh 1023 kWh 682 kWh £278 £68 £346 £6,169 17.8 yrs £754
3 kW 2557 kWh 1534 kWh 1023 kWh £417 £102 £519 £8,204 15.8 yrs £2,181
4 kW 3409 kWh 2045 kWh 1364 kWh £556 £136 £692 £10,238 14.8 yrs £3,609
5 kW 4261 kWh 2557 kWh 1705 kWh £695 £170 £865 £12,273 14.2 yrs £5,036
6 kW 5114 kWh 3068 kWh 2045 kWh £834 £205 £1,038 £14,307 13.8 yrs £6,463
7 kW 5966 kWh 3580 kWh 2386 kWh £973 £239 £1,212 £16,342 13.5 yrs £7,890
8 kW 6818 kWh 4091 kWh 2727 kWh £1,112 £273 £1,385 £18,376 13.3 yrs £9,317

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: £939, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1705 kWh 1193 kWh 511 kWh £324 £51 £375 £7,569 20.2 yrs £-60
3 kW 2557 kWh 1790 kWh 767 kWh £486 £77 £563 £9,604 17.1 yrs £1,660
4 kW 3409 kWh 2386 kWh 1023 kWh £649 £102 £751 £11,638 15.5 yrs £3,380
5 kW 4261 kWh 2983 kWh 1278 kWh £811 £128 £939 £13,673 14.6 yrs £5,100
6 kW 5114 kWh 3580 kWh 1534 kWh £973 £153 £1,126 £15,707 13.9 yrs £6,820
7 kW 5966 kWh 4176 kWh 1790 kWh £1,135 £179 £1,314 £17,742 13.5 yrs £8,540
8 kW 6818 kWh 4773 kWh 2045 kWh £1,297 £205 £1,502 £19,776 13.2 yrs £10,260

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: £961, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1705 kWh 1244 kWh 460 kWh £338 £46 £384 £9,319 24.3 yrs £-1,634
3 kW 2557 kWh 1867 kWh 690 kWh £507 £69 £576 £11,354 19.7 yrs £174
4 kW 3409 kWh 2489 kWh 920 kWh £676 £92 £768 £13,388 17.4 yrs £1,981
5 kW 4261 kWh 3111 kWh 1151 kWh £846 £115 £961 £15,423 16.1 yrs £3,789
6 kW 5114 kWh 3733 kWh 1381 kWh £1,015 £138 £1,153 £17,457 15.1 yrs £5,597
7 kW 5966 kWh 4355 kWh 1611 kWh £1,184 £161 £1,345 £19,492 14.5 yrs £7,405
8 kW 6818 kWh 4977 kWh 1841 kWh £1,353 £184 £1,537 £21,526 14.0 yrs £9,213

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: £975, 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 1705 kWh 1278 kWh 426 kWh £347 £43 £390 £11,069 28.4 yrs £-3,267
3 kW 2557 kWh 1918 kWh 639 kWh £521 £64 £585 £13,104 22.4 yrs £-1,401
4 kW 3409 kWh 2557 kWh 852 kWh £695 £85 £780 £15,138 19.4 yrs £466
5 kW 4261 kWh 3196 kWh 1065 kWh £869 £107 £975 £17,173 17.6 yrs £2,332
6 kW 5114 kWh 3835 kWh 1278 kWh £1,042 £128 £1,170 £19,207 16.4 yrs £4,199
7 kW 5966 kWh 4475 kWh 1492 kWh £1,216 £149 £1,365 £21,242 15.6 yrs £6,065
8 kW 6818 kWh 5114 kWh 1705 kWh £1,390 £170 £1,560 £23,276 14.9 yrs £7,931

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 1705 kWh 1313 kWh 392 kWh £357 £39 £396 £13,519 34.1 yrs £-5,600
3 kW 2557 kWh 1969 kWh 588 kWh £535 £59 £594 £15,554 26.2 yrs £-3,675
4 kW 3409 kWh 2625 kWh 784 kWh £713 £78 £792 £17,588 22.2 yrs £-1,750
5 kW 4261 kWh 3281 kWh 980 kWh £892 £98 £990 £19,623 19.8 yrs £175
6 kW 5114 kWh 3938 kWh 1176 kWh £1,070 £118 £1,188 £21,657 18.2 yrs £2,100
7 kW 5966 kWh 4594 kWh 1372 kWh £1,249 £137 £1,386 £23,692 17.1 yrs £4,025
8 kW 6818 kWh 5250 kWh 1568 kWh £1,427 £157 £1,584 £25,726 16.2 yrs £5,950

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 EH7

Figures below are tailored to EH7 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2681 of 2997
14.1 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£863 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1723 of 2997
24.4% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£210 fixed • ~£863 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.8% West −21.0%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.18p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
57.62p/day
Local Sunshine
852kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~852 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

Leith Walk, Craigentinny/Duddingston, City Centre, Inverleith, Almond

Data Sources & Assumptions

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

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q1 2026

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

EH99 (City of Edinburgh)
≈1.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~851 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH7
EH8 (City of Edinburgh)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~870 kWh/kWp · +2% vs EH7
EH6 (City of Edinburgh)
≈1.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~879 kWh/kWp · +3% vs EH7
EH1 (City of Edinburgh)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~878 kWh/kWp · +3% vs EH7
EH2 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~878 kWh/kWp · +3% vs EH7
EH3 (City of Edinburgh)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +5% vs EH7

Similar sunshine across the UK

LA9 (Westmorland and Furness)
~852 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH7
SK6 (Stockport)
~852 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH7
BT46 (Mid Ulster)
~852 kWh/kWp · -0% vs EH7