Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in EH95 (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
£873
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,607
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

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 890 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)
890 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: £727, 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 1780 kWh 712 kWh 1068 kWh £184 £107 £291 £4,069 14.0 yrs £1,748
3 kW 2671 kWh 1068 kWh 1602 kWh £276 £160 £436 £6,104 14.0 yrs £2,622
4 kW 3561 kWh 1424 kWh 2137 kWh £368 £214 £582 £8,138 14.0 yrs £3,496
5 kW 4451 kWh 1780 kWh 2671 kWh £460 £267 £727 £10,173 14.0 yrs £4,370
6 kW 5341 kWh 2137 kWh 3205 kWh £552 £320 £873 £12,207 14.0 yrs £5,244
7 kW 6232 kWh 2493 kWh 3739 kWh £644 £374 £1,018 £14,242 14.0 yrs £6,118
8 kW 7122 kWh 2849 kWh 4273 kWh £736 £427 £1,163 £16,276 14.0 yrs £6,992

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: £868, 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 1780 kWh 1068 kWh 712 kWh £276 £71 £347 £6,169 17.8 yrs £776
3 kW 2671 kWh 1602 kWh 1068 kWh £414 £107 £521 £8,204 15.7 yrs £2,214
4 kW 3561 kWh 2137 kWh 1424 kWh £552 £142 £695 £10,238 14.7 yrs £3,652
5 kW 4451 kWh 2671 kWh 1780 kWh £690 £178 £868 £12,273 14.1 yrs £5,090
6 kW 5341 kWh 3205 kWh 2137 kWh £828 £214 £1,042 £14,307 13.7 yrs £6,529
7 kW 6232 kWh 3739 kWh 2493 kWh £966 £249 £1,215 £16,342 13.4 yrs £7,967
8 kW 7122 kWh 4273 kWh 2849 kWh £1,104 £285 £1,389 £18,376 13.2 yrs £9,405

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 1780 kWh 1246 kWh 534 kWh £322 £53 £375 £7,569 20.2 yrs £-60
3 kW 2671 kWh 1869 kWh 801 kWh £483 £80 £563 £9,604 17.1 yrs £1,660
4 kW 3561 kWh 2493 kWh 1068 kWh £644 £107 £751 £11,638 15.5 yrs £3,380
5 kW 4451 kWh 3116 kWh 1335 kWh £805 £134 £939 £13,673 14.6 yrs £5,101
6 kW 5341 kWh 3739 kWh 1602 kWh £966 £160 £1,126 £15,707 13.9 yrs £6,821
7 kW 6232 kWh 4362 kWh 1869 kWh £1,127 £187 £1,314 £17,742 13.5 yrs £8,541
8 kW 7122 kWh 4985 kWh 2137 kWh £1,288 £214 £1,502 £19,776 13.2 yrs £10,261

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: £960, 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 1780 kWh 1300 kWh 481 kWh £336 £48 £384 £9,319 24.3 yrs £-1,641
3 kW 2671 kWh 1950 kWh 721 kWh £504 £72 £576 £11,354 19.7 yrs £164
4 kW 3561 kWh 2599 kWh 961 kWh £672 £96 £768 £13,388 17.4 yrs £1,969
5 kW 4451 kWh 3249 kWh 1202 kWh £840 £120 £960 £15,423 16.1 yrs £3,774
6 kW 5341 kWh 3899 kWh 1442 kWh £1,008 £144 £1,152 £17,457 15.2 yrs £5,578
7 kW 6232 kWh 4549 kWh 1683 kWh £1,175 £168 £1,344 £19,492 14.5 yrs £7,383
8 kW 7122 kWh 5199 kWh 1923 kWh £1,343 £192 £1,536 £21,526 14.0 yrs £9,188

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: £974, 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 1780 kWh 1335 kWh 445 kWh £345 £45 £390 £11,069 28.4 yrs £-3,278
3 kW 2671 kWh 2003 kWh 668 kWh £518 £67 £584 £13,104 22.4 yrs £-1,417
4 kW 3561 kWh 2671 kWh 890 kWh £690 £89 £779 £15,138 19.4 yrs £445
5 kW 4451 kWh 3338 kWh 1113 kWh £863 £111 £974 £17,173 17.6 yrs £2,306
6 kW 5341 kWh 4006 kWh 1335 kWh £1,035 £134 £1,169 £19,207 16.4 yrs £4,167
7 kW 6232 kWh 4674 kWh 1558 kWh £1,208 £156 £1,363 £21,242 15.6 yrs £6,028
8 kW 7122 kWh 5341 kWh 1780 kWh £1,380 £178 £1,558 £23,276 14.9 yrs £7,889

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: £988, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1780 kWh 1371 kWh 410 kWh £354 £41 £395 £13,519 34.2 yrs £-5,615
3 kW 2671 kWh 2056 kWh 614 kWh £531 £61 £593 £15,554 26.2 yrs £-3,697
4 kW 3561 kWh 2742 kWh 819 kWh £709 £82 £790 £17,588 22.3 yrs £-1,780
5 kW 4451 kWh 3427 kWh 1024 kWh £886 £102 £988 £19,623 19.9 yrs £138
6 kW 5341 kWh 4113 kWh 1229 kWh £1,063 £123 £1,186 £21,657 18.3 yrs £2,055
7 kW 6232 kWh 4798 kWh 1433 kWh £1,240 £143 £1,383 £23,692 17.1 yrs £3,973
8 kW 7122 kWh 5484 kWh 1638 kWh £1,417 £164 £1,581 £25,726 16.3 yrs £5,890

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
890kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~890 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

Forth

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.