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 G23 (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
£812
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,086
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 828 kWh/kW — 22 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 828 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)
828 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: £676, 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 1656 kWh 663 kWh 994 kWh £171 £99 £271 £4,069 15.0 yrs £1,343
3 kW 2484 kWh 994 kWh 1491 kWh £257 £149 £406 £6,104 15.0 yrs £2,014
4 kW 3313 kWh 1325 kWh 1988 kWh £342 £199 £541 £8,138 15.0 yrs £2,685
5 kW 4141 kWh 1656 kWh 2484 kWh £428 £248 £676 £10,173 15.0 yrs £3,356
6 kW 4969 kWh 1988 kWh 2981 kWh £514 £298 £812 £12,207 15.0 yrs £4,028
7 kW 5797 kWh 2319 kWh 3478 kWh £599 £348 £947 £14,242 15.0 yrs £4,699
8 kW 6625 kWh 2650 kWh 3975 kWh £685 £398 £1,082 £16,276 15.0 yrs £5,370

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: £808, 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 1656 kWh 994 kWh 663 kWh £257 £66 £323 £6,169 19.1 yrs £292
3 kW 2484 kWh 1491 kWh 994 kWh £385 £99 £485 £8,204 16.9 yrs £1,488
4 kW 3313 kWh 1988 kWh 1325 kWh £514 £133 £646 £10,238 15.8 yrs £2,684
5 kW 4141 kWh 2484 kWh 1656 kWh £642 £166 £808 £12,273 15.2 yrs £3,880
6 kW 4969 kWh 2981 kWh 1988 kWh £770 £199 £969 £14,307 14.8 yrs £5,076
7 kW 5797 kWh 3478 kWh 2319 kWh £899 £232 £1,131 £16,342 14.5 yrs £6,272
8 kW 6625 kWh 3975 kWh 2650 kWh £1,027 £265 £1,292 £18,376 14.2 yrs £7,468

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: £873, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1656 kWh 1159 kWh 497 kWh £300 £50 £349 £7,569 21.7 yrs £-583
3 kW 2484 kWh 1739 kWh 745 kWh £449 £75 £524 £9,604 18.3 yrs £875
4 kW 3313 kWh 2319 kWh 994 kWh £599 £99 £699 £11,638 16.7 yrs £2,333
5 kW 4141 kWh 2899 kWh 1242 kWh £749 £124 £873 £13,673 15.7 yrs £3,792
6 kW 4969 kWh 3478 kWh 1491 kWh £899 £149 £1,048 £15,707 15.0 yrs £5,250
7 kW 5797 kWh 4058 kWh 1739 kWh £1,049 £174 £1,222 £17,742 14.5 yrs £6,708
8 kW 6625 kWh 4638 kWh 1988 kWh £1,198 £199 £1,397 £19,776 14.2 yrs £8,167

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: £893, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1656 kWh 1209 kWh 447 kWh £312 £45 £357 £9,319 26.1 yrs £-2,176
3 kW 2484 kWh 1814 kWh 671 kWh £469 £67 £536 £11,354 21.2 yrs £-639
4 kW 3313 kWh 2418 kWh 894 kWh £625 £89 £714 £13,388 18.7 yrs £898
5 kW 4141 kWh 3023 kWh 1118 kWh £781 £112 £893 £15,423 17.3 yrs £2,435
6 kW 4969 kWh 3627 kWh 1342 kWh £937 £134 £1,071 £17,457 16.3 yrs £3,972
7 kW 5797 kWh 4232 kWh 1565 kWh £1,094 £157 £1,250 £19,492 15.6 yrs £5,509
8 kW 6625 kWh 4836 kWh 1789 kWh £1,250 £179 £1,429 £21,526 15.1 yrs £7,046

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: £906, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1656 kWh 1242 kWh 414 kWh £321 £41 £362 £11,069 30.5 yrs £-3,821
3 kW 2484 kWh 1863 kWh 621 kWh £481 £62 £544 £13,104 24.1 yrs £-2,231
4 kW 3313 kWh 2484 kWh 828 kWh £642 £83 £725 £15,138 20.9 yrs £-642
5 kW 4141 kWh 3106 kWh 1035 kWh £802 £104 £906 £17,173 19.0 yrs £948
6 kW 4969 kWh 3727 kWh 1242 kWh £963 £124 £1,087 £19,207 17.7 yrs £2,537
7 kW 5797 kWh 4348 kWh 1449 kWh £1,123 £145 £1,268 £21,242 16.7 yrs £4,127
8 kW 6625 kWh 4969 kWh 1656 kWh £1,284 £166 £1,450 £23,276 16.1 yrs £5,716

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: £919, 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 1656 kWh 1275 kWh 381 kWh £330 £38 £368 £13,519 36.8 yrs £-6,166
3 kW 2484 kWh 1913 kWh 571 kWh £494 £57 £551 £15,554 28.2 yrs £-4,524
4 kW 3313 kWh 2551 kWh 762 kWh £659 £76 £735 £17,588 23.9 yrs £-2,882
5 kW 4141 kWh 3188 kWh 952 kWh £824 £95 £919 £19,623 21.3 yrs £-1,240
6 kW 4969 kWh 3826 kWh 1143 kWh £989 £114 £1,103 £21,657 19.6 yrs £402
7 kW 5797 kWh 4464 kWh 1333 kWh £1,153 £133 £1,287 £23,692 18.4 yrs £2,044
8 kW 6625 kWh 5101 kWh 1524 kWh £1,318 £152 £1,471 £25,726 17.5 yrs £3,686

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 G23

Figures below are tailored to G23 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2839 of 2997
13.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£930 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1943 of 2997
22.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£930 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
828kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~828 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

Maryhill, Canal

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

G20 (Glasgow City)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G23
G22 (Glasgow City)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~828 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G23
G12 (Glasgow City)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G23
G61 (East Dunbartonshire)
≈3.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~832 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G23
G11 (Glasgow City)
≈3.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G23
G13 (Glasgow City)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G23

Similar sunshine across the UK

IV32 (Moray)
~828 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G23
KW12 (Highland)
~828 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G23
KW5 (Highland)
~828 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G23