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

Solar Panels in FK3 (Falkirk)

See if solar pays off for you in Falkirk — 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
14.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£834
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,639
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 851 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)
851 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: £695, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1701 kWh 681 kWh 1021 kWh £176 £102 £278 £4,069 14.6 yrs £1,490
3 kW 2552 kWh 1021 kWh 1531 kWh £264 £153 £417 £6,104 14.6 yrs £2,235
4 kW 3403 kWh 1361 kWh 2042 kWh £352 £204 £556 £8,138 14.6 yrs £2,980
5 kW 4254 kWh 1701 kWh 2552 kWh £440 £255 £695 £10,173 14.6 yrs £3,725
6 kW 5104 kWh 2042 kWh 3063 kWh £528 £306 £834 £12,207 14.6 yrs £4,470
7 kW 5955 kWh 2382 kWh 3573 kWh £616 £357 £973 £14,242 14.6 yrs £5,215
8 kW 6806 kWh 2722 kWh 4083 kWh £703 £408 £1,112 £16,276 14.6 yrs £5,959

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: £830, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1701 kWh 1021 kWh 681 kWh £264 £68 £332 £6,169 18.6 yrs £468
3 kW 2552 kWh 1531 kWh 1021 kWh £396 £102 £498 £8,204 16.5 yrs £1,752
4 kW 3403 kWh 2042 kWh 1361 kWh £528 £136 £664 £10,238 15.4 yrs £3,036
5 kW 4254 kWh 2552 kWh 1701 kWh £659 £170 £830 £12,273 14.8 yrs £4,320
6 kW 5104 kWh 3063 kWh 2042 kWh £791 £204 £996 £14,307 14.4 yrs £5,604
7 kW 5955 kWh 3573 kWh 2382 kWh £923 £238 £1,161 £16,342 14.1 yrs £6,888
8 kW 6806 kWh 4083 kWh 2722 kWh £1,055 £272 £1,327 £18,376 13.8 yrs £8,172

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: £897, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1701 kWh 1191 kWh 510 kWh £308 £51 £359 £7,569 21.1 yrs £-393
3 kW 2552 kWh 1786 kWh 766 kWh £462 £77 £538 £9,604 17.8 yrs £1,160
4 kW 3403 kWh 2382 kWh 1021 kWh £616 £102 £718 £11,638 16.2 yrs £2,714
5 kW 4254 kWh 2977 kWh 1276 kWh £769 £128 £897 £13,673 15.2 yrs £4,267
6 kW 5104 kWh 3573 kWh 1531 kWh £923 £153 £1,076 £15,707 14.6 yrs £5,821
7 kW 5955 kWh 4168 kWh 1786 kWh £1,077 £179 £1,256 £17,742 14.1 yrs £7,374
8 kW 6806 kWh 4764 kWh 2042 kWh £1,231 £204 £1,435 £19,776 13.8 yrs £8,928

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: £917, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1701 kWh 1242 kWh 459 kWh £321 £46 £367 £9,319 25.4 yrs £-1,981
3 kW 2552 kWh 1863 kWh 689 kWh £481 £69 £550 £11,354 20.6 yrs £-347
4 kW 3403 kWh 2484 kWh 919 kWh £642 £92 £734 £13,388 18.2 yrs £1,287
5 kW 4254 kWh 3105 kWh 1148 kWh £802 £115 £917 £15,423 16.8 yrs £2,921
6 kW 5104 kWh 3726 kWh 1378 kWh £963 £138 £1,101 £17,457 15.9 yrs £4,556
7 kW 5955 kWh 4347 kWh 1608 kWh £1,123 £161 £1,284 £19,492 15.2 yrs £6,190
8 kW 6806 kWh 4968 kWh 1838 kWh £1,284 £184 £1,468 £21,526 14.7 yrs £7,824

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: £931, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1701 kWh 1276 kWh 425 kWh £330 £43 £372 £11,069 29.7 yrs £-3,624
3 kW 2552 kWh 1914 kWh 638 kWh £495 £64 £558 £13,104 23.5 yrs £-1,935
4 kW 3403 kWh 2552 kWh 851 kWh £659 £85 £745 £15,138 20.3 yrs £-247
5 kW 4254 kWh 3190 kWh 1063 kWh £824 £106 £931 £17,173 18.5 yrs £1,441
6 kW 5104 kWh 3828 kWh 1276 kWh £989 £128 £1,117 £19,207 17.2 yrs £3,129
7 kW 5955 kWh 4466 kWh 1489 kWh £1,154 £149 £1,303 £21,242 16.3 yrs £4,817
8 kW 6806 kWh 5104 kWh 1701 kWh £1,319 £170 £1,489 £23,276 15.6 yrs £6,506

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: £944, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1701 kWh 1310 kWh 391 kWh £339 £39 £378 £13,519 35.8 yrs £-5,966
3 kW 2552 kWh 1965 kWh 587 kWh £508 £59 £566 £15,554 27.5 yrs £-4,224
4 kW 3403 kWh 2620 kWh 783 kWh £677 £78 £755 £17,588 23.3 yrs £-2,482
5 kW 4254 kWh 3275 kWh 978 kWh £846 £98 £944 £19,623 20.8 yrs £-740
6 kW 5104 kWh 3930 kWh 1174 kWh £1,016 £117 £1,133 £21,657 19.1 yrs £1,003
7 kW 5955 kWh 4585 kWh 1370 kWh £1,185 £137 £1,322 £23,692 17.9 yrs £2,745
8 kW 6806 kWh 5240 kWh 1565 kWh £1,354 £157 £1,511 £25,726 17.0 yrs £4,487

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
851kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~851 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

Falkirk (100%)

Areas Covered

Grangemouth, Lower Braes, Falkirk North, Bo'ness and Blackness

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.