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Solar Panels in G3 (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
15.1 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£811
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,060
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

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 827 kWh/kW — 23 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 827 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)
827 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: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1654 kWh 662 kWh 993 kWh £171 £99 £270 £4,069 15.1 yrs £1,336
3 kW 2481 kWh 993 kWh 1489 kWh £256 £149 £405 £6,104 15.1 yrs £2,003
4 kW 3308 kWh 1323 kWh 1985 kWh £342 £199 £540 £8,138 15.1 yrs £2,671
5 kW 4136 kWh 1654 kWh 2481 kWh £427 £248 £676 £10,173 15.1 yrs £3,339
6 kW 4963 kWh 1985 kWh 2978 kWh £513 £298 £811 £12,207 15.1 yrs £4,007
7 kW 5790 kWh 2316 kWh 3474 kWh £598 £347 £946 £14,242 15.1 yrs £4,675
8 kW 6617 kWh 2647 kWh 3970 kWh £684 £397 £1,081 £16,276 15.1 yrs £5,342

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: £807, 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 1654 kWh 993 kWh 662 kWh £256 £66 £323 £6,169 19.1 yrs £284
3 kW 2481 kWh 1489 kWh 993 kWh £385 £99 £484 £8,204 17.0 yrs £1,476
4 kW 3308 kWh 1985 kWh 1323 kWh £513 £132 £645 £10,238 15.9 yrs £2,667
5 kW 4136 kWh 2481 kWh 1654 kWh £641 £165 £807 £12,273 15.2 yrs £3,859
6 kW 4963 kWh 2978 kWh 1985 kWh £769 £199 £968 £14,307 14.8 yrs £5,051
7 kW 5790 kWh 3474 kWh 2316 kWh £898 £232 £1,129 £16,342 14.5 yrs £6,243
8 kW 6617 kWh 3970 kWh 2647 kWh £1,026 £265 £1,291 £18,376 14.2 yrs £7,435

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: £872, 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 1654 kWh 1158 kWh 496 kWh £299 £50 £349 £7,569 21.7 yrs £-592
3 kW 2481 kWh 1737 kWh 744 kWh £449 £74 £523 £9,604 18.4 yrs £862
4 kW 3308 kWh 2316 kWh 993 kWh £598 £99 £698 £11,638 16.7 yrs £2,315
5 kW 4136 kWh 2895 kWh 1241 kWh £748 £124 £872 £13,673 15.7 yrs £3,769
6 kW 4963 kWh 3474 kWh 1489 kWh £898 £149 £1,047 £15,707 15.0 yrs £5,223
7 kW 5790 kWh 4053 kWh 1737 kWh £1,047 £174 £1,221 £17,742 14.5 yrs £6,677
8 kW 6617 kWh 4632 kWh 1985 kWh £1,197 £199 £1,395 £19,776 14.2 yrs £8,131

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: £892, 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 1654 kWh 1208 kWh 447 kWh £312 £45 £357 £9,319 26.1 yrs £-2,185
3 kW 2481 kWh 1811 kWh 670 kWh £468 £67 £535 £11,354 21.2 yrs £-653
4 kW 3308 kWh 2415 kWh 893 kWh £624 £89 £713 £13,388 18.8 yrs £880
5 kW 4136 kWh 3019 kWh 1117 kWh £780 £112 £892 £15,423 17.3 yrs £2,412
6 kW 4963 kWh 3623 kWh 1340 kWh £936 £134 £1,070 £17,457 16.3 yrs £3,945
7 kW 5790 kWh 4226 kWh 1563 kWh £1,092 £156 £1,248 £19,492 15.6 yrs £5,477
8 kW 6617 kWh 4830 kWh 1787 kWh £1,248 £179 £1,427 £21,526 15.1 yrs £7,010

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: £905, 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 1654 kWh 1241 kWh 414 kWh £321 £41 £362 £11,069 30.6 yrs £-3,830
3 kW 2481 kWh 1861 kWh 620 kWh £481 £62 £543 £13,104 24.1 yrs £-2,245
4 kW 3308 kWh 2481 kWh 827 kWh £641 £83 £724 £15,138 20.9 yrs £-660
5 kW 4136 kWh 3102 kWh 1034 kWh £801 £103 £905 £17,173 19.0 yrs £924
6 kW 4963 kWh 3722 kWh 1241 kWh £962 £124 £1,086 £19,207 17.7 yrs £2,509
7 kW 5790 kWh 4342 kWh 1447 kWh £1,122 £145 £1,267 £21,242 16.8 yrs £4,094
8 kW 6617 kWh 4963 kWh 1654 kWh £1,282 £165 £1,448 £23,276 16.1 yrs £5,679

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: £918, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1654 kWh 1274 kWh 380 kWh £329 £38 £367 £13,519 36.8 yrs £-6,175
3 kW 2481 kWh 1911 kWh 571 kWh £494 £57 £551 £15,554 28.2 yrs £-4,538
4 kW 3308 kWh 2547 kWh 761 kWh £658 £76 £734 £17,588 24.0 yrs £-2,901
5 kW 4136 kWh 3184 kWh 951 kWh £823 £95 £918 £19,623 21.4 yrs £-1,264
6 kW 4963 kWh 3821 kWh 1141 kWh £987 £114 £1,102 £21,657 19.7 yrs £374
7 kW 5790 kWh 4458 kWh 1332 kWh £1,152 £133 £1,285 £23,692 18.4 yrs £2,011
8 kW 6617 kWh 5095 kWh 1522 kWh £1,317 £152 £1,469 £25,726 17.5 yrs £3,648

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 G3

Figures below are tailored to G3 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2840 of 2997
13.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£929 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1947 of 2997
22.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£929 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
827kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~827 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

Anderston/City/Yorkhill, 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

G2 (Glasgow City)
≈1.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~835 kWh/kWp · +1% vs G3
G1 (Glasgow City)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~835 kWh/kWp · +1% vs G3
G4 (Glasgow City)
≈1.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~835 kWh/kWp · +1% vs G3
G80 (Glasgow City)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~835 kWh/kWp · +1% vs G3
G9 (Glasgow City)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~835 kWh/kWp · +1% vs G3
G90 (Glasgow City)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~835 kWh/kWp · +1% vs G3

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL49 (Gwynedd)
~827 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G3
PH44 (Highland)
~827 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G3
PA69 (Argyll and Bute)
~827 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G3