Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in G12 (Glasgow City)

See if solar pays off for you in Glasgow City — 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
15.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£814
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,141
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 25.84p/kWh with a 56.55p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 830 kWh/kW — 19 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 830 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)
830 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: £678, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1661 kWh 664 kWh 996 kWh £172 £100 £271 £4,069 15.0 yrs £1,357
3 kW 2491 kWh 996 kWh 1495 kWh £257 £149 £407 £6,104 15.0 yrs £2,036
4 kW 3322 kWh 1329 kWh 1993 kWh £343 £199 £543 £8,138 15.0 yrs £2,714
5 kW 4152 kWh 1661 kWh 2491 kWh £429 £249 £678 £10,173 15.0 yrs £3,393
6 kW 4982 kWh 1993 kWh 2989 kWh £515 £299 £814 £12,207 15.0 yrs £4,071
7 kW 5813 kWh 2325 kWh 3488 kWh £601 £349 £950 £14,242 15.0 yrs £4,750
8 kW 6643 kWh 2657 kWh 3986 kWh £687 £399 £1,085 £16,276 15.0 yrs £5,429

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: £810, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1661 kWh 996 kWh 664 kWh £257 £66 £324 £6,169 19.0 yrs £309
3 kW 2491 kWh 1495 kWh 996 kWh £386 £100 £486 £8,204 16.9 yrs £1,514
4 kW 3322 kWh 1993 kWh 1329 kWh £515 £133 £648 £10,238 15.8 yrs £2,719
5 kW 4152 kWh 2491 kWh 1661 kWh £644 £166 £810 £12,273 15.2 yrs £3,924
6 kW 4982 kWh 2989 kWh 1993 kWh £772 £199 £972 £14,307 14.7 yrs £5,128
7 kW 5813 kWh 3488 kWh 2325 kWh £901 £233 £1,134 £16,342 14.4 yrs £6,333
8 kW 6643 kWh 3986 kWh 2657 kWh £1,030 £266 £1,296 £18,376 14.2 yrs £7,538

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: £876, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1661 kWh 1163 kWh 498 kWh £300 £50 £350 £7,569 21.6 yrs £-564
3 kW 2491 kWh 1744 kWh 747 kWh £451 £75 £525 £9,604 18.3 yrs £903
4 kW 3322 kWh 2325 kWh 996 kWh £601 £100 £700 £11,638 16.6 yrs £2,371
5 kW 4152 kWh 2906 kWh 1246 kWh £751 £125 £876 £13,673 15.6 yrs £3,839
6 kW 4982 kWh 3488 kWh 1495 kWh £901 £149 £1,051 £15,707 14.9 yrs £5,307
7 kW 5813 kWh 4069 kWh 1744 kWh £1,051 £174 £1,226 £17,742 14.5 yrs £6,774
8 kW 6643 kWh 4650 kWh 1993 kWh £1,202 £199 £1,401 £19,776 14.1 yrs £8,242

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: £895, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1661 kWh 1212 kWh 448 kWh £313 £45 £358 £9,319 26.0 yrs £-2,157
3 kW 2491 kWh 1819 kWh 673 kWh £470 £67 £537 £11,354 21.1 yrs £-610
4 kW 3322 kWh 2425 kWh 897 kWh £627 £90 £716 £13,388 18.7 yrs £937
5 kW 4152 kWh 3031 kWh 1121 kWh £783 £112 £895 £15,423 17.2 yrs £2,484
6 kW 4982 kWh 3637 kWh 1345 kWh £940 £135 £1,074 £17,457 16.2 yrs £4,030
7 kW 5813 kWh 4243 kWh 1569 kWh £1,096 £157 £1,253 £19,492 15.6 yrs £5,577
8 kW 6643 kWh 4850 kWh 1794 kWh £1,253 £179 £1,432 £21,526 15.0 yrs £7,124

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: £908, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1661 kWh 1246 kWh 415 kWh £322 £42 £363 £11,069 30.5 yrs £-3,801
3 kW 2491 kWh 1868 kWh 623 kWh £483 £62 £545 £13,104 24.0 yrs £-2,202
4 kW 3322 kWh 2491 kWh 830 kWh £644 £83 £727 £15,138 20.8 yrs £-603
5 kW 4152 kWh 3114 kWh 1038 kWh £805 £104 £908 £17,173 18.9 yrs £997
6 kW 4982 kWh 3737 kWh 1246 kWh £966 £125 £1,090 £19,207 17.6 yrs £2,596
7 kW 5813 kWh 4360 kWh 1453 kWh £1,127 £145 £1,272 £21,242 16.7 yrs £4,195
8 kW 6643 kWh 4982 kWh 1661 kWh £1,287 £166 £1,454 £23,276 16.0 yrs £5,795

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: £922, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1661 kWh 1279 kWh 382 kWh £330 £38 £369 £13,519 36.7 yrs £-6,146
3 kW 2491 kWh 1918 kWh 573 kWh £496 £57 £553 £15,554 28.1 yrs £-4,494
4 kW 3322 kWh 2558 kWh 764 kWh £661 £76 £737 £17,588 23.9 yrs £-2,842
5 kW 4152 kWh 3197 kWh 955 kWh £826 £95 £922 £19,623 21.3 yrs £-1,190
6 kW 4982 kWh 3836 kWh 1146 kWh £991 £115 £1,106 £21,657 19.6 yrs £462
7 kW 5813 kWh 4476 kWh 1337 kWh £1,157 £134 £1,290 £23,692 18.4 yrs £2,114
8 kW 6643 kWh 5115 kWh 1528 kWh £1,322 £153 £1,475 £25,726 17.4 yrs £3,765

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 G12

Figures below are tailored to G12 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2834 of 2997
13.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£932 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1904 of 2997
22.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£932 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
830kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~830 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

Glasgow City (100%)

Areas Covered

Partick East/Kelvindale, Hillhead, Victoria Park

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.

Compare nearby areas

Nearby in Southern Scotland

G11 (Glasgow City)
≈1.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G12
G20 (Glasgow City)
≈1.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G12
G3 (Glasgow City)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~827 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G12
G51 (Glasgow City)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~828 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G12
G14 (Glasgow City)
≈2.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G12
G23 (Glasgow City)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~828 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G12

Similar sunshine across the UK

SY25 (Ceredigion)
~830 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G12
OL95 (Oldham)
~830 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G12
AB36 (Aberdeenshire)
~830 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G12