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

Solar Panels in FK19 (Stirling)

See if solar pays off for you in Stirling — 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
15.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£647
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,002
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 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 769 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
61.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
769 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: £647, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1538 kWh 615 kWh 923 kWh £166 £92 £259 £4,069 15.7 yrs £1,107
3 kW 2307 kWh 923 kWh 1384 kWh £250 £138 £388 £6,104 15.7 yrs £1,660
4 kW 3076 kWh 1231 kWh 1846 kWh £333 £185 £518 £8,138 15.7 yrs £2,214
5 kW 3846 kWh 1538 kWh 2307 kWh £416 £231 £647 £10,173 15.7 yrs £2,767
6 kW 4615 kWh 1846 kWh 2769 kWh £499 £277 £776 £12,207 15.7 yrs £3,321
7 kW 5384 kWh 2154 kWh 3230 kWh £583 £323 £906 £14,242 15.7 yrs £3,874
8 kW 6153 kWh 2461 kWh 3692 kWh £666 £369 £1,035 £16,276 15.7 yrs £4,427

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: £778, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1538 kWh 923 kWh 615 kWh £250 £62 £311 £6,169 19.8 yrs £57
3 kW 2307 kWh 1384 kWh 923 kWh £375 £92 £467 £8,204 17.6 yrs £1,135
4 kW 3076 kWh 1846 kWh 1231 kWh £499 £123 £623 £10,238 16.4 yrs £2,213
5 kW 3846 kWh 2307 kWh 1538 kWh £624 £154 £778 £12,273 15.8 yrs £3,291
6 kW 4615 kWh 2769 kWh 1846 kWh £749 £185 £934 £14,307 15.3 yrs £4,370
7 kW 5384 kWh 3230 kWh 2154 kWh £874 £215 £1,089 £16,342 15.0 yrs £5,448
8 kW 6153 kWh 3692 kWh 2461 kWh £999 £246 £1,245 £18,376 14.8 yrs £6,526

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: £844, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1538 kWh 1077 kWh 461 kWh £291 £46 £338 £7,569 22.4 yrs £-819
3 kW 2307 kWh 1615 kWh 692 kWh £437 £69 £506 £9,604 19.0 yrs £522
4 kW 3076 kWh 2154 kWh 923 kWh £583 £92 £675 £11,638 17.2 yrs £1,863
5 kW 3846 kWh 2692 kWh 1154 kWh £728 £115 £844 £13,673 16.2 yrs £3,203
6 kW 4615 kWh 3230 kWh 1384 kWh £874 £138 £1,013 £15,707 15.5 yrs £4,544
7 kW 5384 kWh 3769 kWh 1615 kWh £1,020 £162 £1,181 £17,742 15.0 yrs £5,885
8 kW 6153 kWh 4307 kWh 1846 kWh £1,165 £185 £1,350 £19,776 14.6 yrs £7,226

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: £863, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1538 kWh 1123 kWh 415 kWh £304 £42 £345 £9,319 27.0 yrs £-2,411
3 kW 2307 kWh 1684 kWh 623 kWh £456 £62 £518 £11,354 21.9 yrs £-992
4 kW 3076 kWh 2246 kWh 831 kWh £608 £83 £691 £13,388 19.4 yrs £428
5 kW 3846 kWh 2807 kWh 1038 kWh £760 £104 £863 £15,423 17.9 yrs £1,847
6 kW 4615 kWh 3369 kWh 1246 kWh £912 £125 £1,036 £17,457 16.8 yrs £3,267
7 kW 5384 kWh 3930 kWh 1454 kWh £1,064 £145 £1,209 £19,492 16.1 yrs £4,686
8 kW 6153 kWh 4492 kWh 1661 kWh £1,215 £166 £1,382 £21,526 15.6 yrs £6,105

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: £877, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1538 kWh 1154 kWh 385 kWh £312 £38 £351 £11,069 31.6 yrs £-4,056
3 kW 2307 kWh 1731 kWh 577 kWh £468 £58 £526 £13,104 24.9 yrs £-2,584
4 kW 3076 kWh 2307 kWh 769 kWh £624 £77 £701 £15,138 21.6 yrs £-1,112
5 kW 3846 kWh 2884 kWh 961 kWh £780 £96 £877 £17,173 19.6 yrs £360
6 kW 4615 kWh 3461 kWh 1154 kWh £937 £115 £1,052 £19,207 18.3 yrs £1,831
7 kW 5384 kWh 4038 kWh 1346 kWh £1,093 £135 £1,227 £21,242 17.3 yrs £3,303
8 kW 6153 kWh 4615 kWh 1538 kWh £1,249 £154 £1,403 £23,276 16.6 yrs £4,775

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: £890, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 22.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1538 kWh 1184 kWh 354 kWh £321 £35 £356 £13,519 38.0 yrs £-6,401
3 kW 2307 kWh 1777 kWh 531 kWh £481 £53 £534 £15,554 29.1 yrs £-4,877
4 kW 3076 kWh 2369 kWh 708 kWh £641 £71 £712 £17,588 24.7 yrs £-3,352
5 kW 3846 kWh 2961 kWh 884 kWh £801 £88 £890 £19,623 22.1 yrs £-1,828
6 kW 4615 kWh 3553 kWh 1061 kWh £962 £106 £1,068 £21,657 20.3 yrs £-304
7 kW 5384 kWh 4146 kWh 1238 kWh £1,122 £124 £1,246 £23,692 19.0 yrs £1,221
8 kW 6153 kWh 4738 kWh 1415 kWh £1,282 £142 £1,424 £25,726 18.1 yrs £2,745

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
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
769kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~769 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Stirling (100%)

Areas Covered

Trossachs and Teith

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.