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Solar Panels in G78 (East Renfrewshire)

See if solar pays off for you in East Renfrewshire — 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
14.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£823
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,363
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 839 kWh/kW — 10 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 839 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)
839 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: £686, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1679 kWh 672 kWh 1007 kWh £174 £101 £274 £4,069 14.8 yrs £1,416
3 kW 2518 kWh 1007 kWh 1511 kWh £260 £151 £411 £6,104 14.8 yrs £2,125
4 kW 3358 kWh 1343 kWh 2015 kWh £347 £201 £549 £8,138 14.8 yrs £2,833
5 kW 4197 kWh 1679 kWh 2518 kWh £434 £252 £686 £10,173 14.8 yrs £3,541
6 kW 5037 kWh 2015 kWh 3022 kWh £521 £302 £823 £12,207 14.8 yrs £4,249
7 kW 5876 kWh 2351 kWh 3526 kWh £607 £353 £960 £14,242 14.8 yrs £4,957
8 kW 6716 kWh 2686 kWh 4029 kWh £694 £403 £1,097 £16,276 14.8 yrs £5,666

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: £819, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1679 kWh 1007 kWh 672 kWh £260 £67 £327 £6,169 18.8 yrs £380
3 kW 2518 kWh 1511 kWh 1007 kWh £390 £101 £491 £8,204 16.7 yrs £1,620
4 kW 3358 kWh 2015 kWh 1343 kWh £521 £134 £655 £10,238 15.6 yrs £2,860
5 kW 4197 kWh 2518 kWh 1679 kWh £651 £168 £819 £12,273 15.0 yrs £4,100
6 kW 5037 kWh 3022 kWh 2015 kWh £781 £201 £982 £14,307 14.6 yrs £5,341
7 kW 5876 kWh 3526 kWh 2351 kWh £911 £235 £1,146 £16,342 14.3 yrs £6,581
8 kW 6716 kWh 4029 kWh 2686 kWh £1,041 £269 £1,310 £18,376 14.0 yrs £7,821

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: £885, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1679 kWh 1175 kWh 504 kWh £304 £50 £354 £7,569 21.4 yrs £-488
3 kW 2518 kWh 1763 kWh 756 kWh £456 £76 £531 £9,604 18.1 yrs £1,018
4 kW 3358 kWh 2351 kWh 1007 kWh £607 £101 £708 £11,638 16.4 yrs £2,524
5 kW 4197 kWh 2938 kWh 1259 kWh £759 £126 £885 £13,673 15.4 yrs £4,030
6 kW 5037 kWh 3526 kWh 1511 kWh £911 £151 £1,062 £15,707 14.8 yrs £5,536
7 kW 5876 kWh 4113 kWh 1763 kWh £1,063 £176 £1,239 £17,742 14.3 yrs £7,042
8 kW 6716 kWh 4701 kWh 2015 kWh £1,215 £201 £1,416 £19,776 14.0 yrs £8,548

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: £905, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1679 kWh 1226 kWh 453 kWh £317 £45 £362 £9,319 25.7 yrs £-2,078
3 kW 2518 kWh 1838 kWh 680 kWh £475 £68 £543 £11,354 20.9 yrs £-493
4 kW 3358 kWh 2451 kWh 907 kWh £633 £91 £724 £13,388 18.5 yrs £1,093
5 kW 4197 kWh 3064 kWh 1133 kWh £792 £113 £905 £15,423 17.0 yrs £2,679
6 kW 5037 kWh 3677 kWh 1360 kWh £950 £136 £1,086 £17,457 16.1 yrs £4,265
7 kW 5876 kWh 4290 kWh 1587 kWh £1,108 £159 £1,267 £19,492 15.4 yrs £5,851
8 kW 6716 kWh 4903 kWh 1813 kWh £1,267 £181 £1,448 £21,526 14.9 yrs £7,437

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: £918, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1679 kWh 1259 kWh 420 kWh £325 £42 £367 £11,069 30.1 yrs £-3,722
3 kW 2518 kWh 1889 kWh 630 kWh £488 £63 £551 £13,104 23.8 yrs £-2,083
4 kW 3358 kWh 2518 kWh 839 kWh £651 £84 £735 £15,138 20.6 yrs £-444
5 kW 4197 kWh 3148 kWh 1049 kWh £813 £105 £918 £17,173 18.7 yrs £1,195
6 kW 5037 kWh 3778 kWh 1259 kWh £976 £126 £1,102 £19,207 17.4 yrs £2,834
7 kW 5876 kWh 4407 kWh 1469 kWh £1,139 £147 £1,286 £21,242 16.5 yrs £4,473
8 kW 6716 kWh 5037 kWh 1679 kWh £1,302 £168 £1,469 £23,276 15.8 yrs £6,112

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: £932, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1679 kWh 1293 kWh 386 kWh £334 £39 £373 £13,519 36.3 yrs £-6,066
3 kW 2518 kWh 1939 kWh 579 kWh £501 £58 £559 £15,554 27.8 yrs £-4,373
4 kW 3358 kWh 2586 kWh 772 kWh £668 £77 £745 £17,588 23.6 yrs £-2,681
5 kW 4197 kWh 3232 kWh 965 kWh £835 £97 £932 £19,623 21.1 yrs £-989
6 kW 5037 kWh 3878 kWh 1158 kWh £1,002 £116 £1,118 £21,657 19.4 yrs £703
7 kW 5876 kWh 4525 kWh 1352 kWh £1,169 £135 £1,304 £23,692 18.2 yrs £2,395
8 kW 6716 kWh 5171 kWh 1545 kWh £1,336 £154 £1,491 £25,726 17.3 yrs £4,088

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 G78

Figures below are tailored to G78 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2804 of 2997
13.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£942 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1829 of 2997
21.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£942 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
839kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~839 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

East Renfrewshire (99%)|East Ayrshire (1%)

Areas Covered

Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor, Newton Mearns North and Neilston, Annick, Greater Pollok, Garnock Valley, Paisley Southeast

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

G53 (Glasgow City)
≈4.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~837 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G78
PA2 (Renfrewshire)
≈4.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~825 kWh/kWp · -2% vs G78
G77 (East Renfrewshire)
≈4.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~818 kWh/kWp · -3% vs G78
PA1 (Renfrewshire)
≈5.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~838 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G78
G46 (East Renfrewshire)
≈6.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~833 kWh/kWp · -1% vs G78
G52 (Glasgow City)
≈6.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~837 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G78

Similar sunshine across the UK

PH4 (Perth and Kinross)
~839 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G78
NE48 (Northumberland)
~840 kWh/kWp · +0% vs G78
SK10 (Cheshire East)
~839 kWh/kWp · -0% vs G78