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 IV11 (Highland)

See if solar pays off for you in Highland — 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
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£674
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,666
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 Northern Scotland, the current unit rate is 27.06p/kWh with a 61.00p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 801 kWh/kW — 14 below the regional median (815).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 801 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
27.1p/kWh
Standing charge
61.0p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
801 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: £674, 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 1601 kWh 641 kWh 961 kWh £173 £96 £269 £4,069 15.1 yrs £1,319
3 kW 2402 kWh 961 kWh 1441 kWh £260 £144 £404 £6,104 15.1 yrs £1,979
4 kW 3203 kWh 1281 kWh 1922 kWh £347 £192 £539 £8,138 15.1 yrs £2,638
5 kW 4003 kWh 1601 kWh 2402 kWh £433 £240 £674 £10,173 15.1 yrs £3,298
6 kW 4804 kWh 1922 kWh 2882 kWh £520 £288 £808 £12,207 15.1 yrs £3,958
7 kW 5605 kWh 2242 kWh 3363 kWh £607 £336 £943 £14,242 15.1 yrs £4,617
8 kW 6405 kWh 2562 kWh 3843 kWh £693 £384 £1,078 £16,276 15.1 yrs £5,277

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: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1601 kWh 961 kWh 641 kWh £260 £64 £324 £6,169 19.0 yrs £312
3 kW 2402 kWh 1441 kWh 961 kWh £390 £96 £486 £8,204 16.9 yrs £1,518
4 kW 3203 kWh 1922 kWh 1281 kWh £520 £128 £648 £10,238 15.8 yrs £2,724
5 kW 4003 kWh 2402 kWh 1601 kWh £650 £160 £810 £12,273 15.1 yrs £3,930
6 kW 4804 kWh 2882 kWh 1922 kWh £780 £192 £972 £14,307 14.7 yrs £5,136
7 kW 5605 kWh 3363 kWh 2242 kWh £910 £224 £1,134 £16,342 14.4 yrs £6,342
8 kW 6405 kWh 3843 kWh 2562 kWh £1,040 £256 £1,296 £18,376 14.2 yrs £7,548

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: £878, 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 1601 kWh 1121 kWh 480 kWh £303 £48 £351 £7,569 21.5 yrs £-542
3 kW 2402 kWh 1681 kWh 721 kWh £455 £72 £527 £9,604 18.2 yrs £938
4 kW 3203 kWh 2242 kWh 961 kWh £607 £96 £703 £11,638 16.6 yrs £2,417
5 kW 4003 kWh 2802 kWh 1201 kWh £758 £120 £878 £13,673 15.6 yrs £3,896
6 kW 4804 kWh 3363 kWh 1441 kWh £910 £144 £1,054 £15,707 14.9 yrs £5,375
7 kW 5605 kWh 3923 kWh 1681 kWh £1,062 £168 £1,230 £17,742 14.4 yrs £6,854
8 kW 6405 kWh 4484 kWh 1922 kWh £1,213 £192 £1,405 £19,776 14.1 yrs £8,334

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: £899, 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 1601 kWh 1169 kWh 432 kWh £316 £43 £360 £9,319 25.9 yrs £-2,128
3 kW 2402 kWh 1753 kWh 649 kWh £474 £65 £539 £11,354 21.1 yrs £-567
4 kW 3203 kWh 2338 kWh 865 kWh £633 £86 £719 £13,388 18.6 yrs £995
5 kW 4003 kWh 2922 kWh 1081 kWh £791 £108 £899 £15,423 17.2 yrs £2,556
6 kW 4804 kWh 3507 kWh 1297 kWh £949 £130 £1,079 £17,457 16.2 yrs £4,117
7 kW 5605 kWh 4091 kWh 1513 kWh £1,107 £151 £1,258 £19,492 15.5 yrs £5,678
8 kW 6405 kWh 4676 kWh 1729 kWh £1,265 £173 £1,438 £21,526 15.0 yrs £7,239

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: £913, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1601 kWh 1201 kWh 400 kWh £325 £40 £365 £11,069 30.3 yrs £-3,768
3 kW 2402 kWh 1802 kWh 601 kWh £487 £60 £548 £13,104 23.9 yrs £-2,153
4 kW 3203 kWh 2402 kWh 801 kWh £650 £80 £730 £15,138 20.7 yrs £-537
5 kW 4003 kWh 3003 kWh 1001 kWh £812 £100 £913 £17,173 18.8 yrs £1,079
6 kW 4804 kWh 3603 kWh 1201 kWh £975 £120 £1,095 £19,207 17.5 yrs £2,695
7 kW 5605 kWh 4204 kWh 1401 kWh £1,137 £140 £1,278 £21,242 16.6 yrs £4,311
8 kW 6405 kWh 4804 kWh 1601 kWh £1,300 £160 £1,460 £23,276 15.9 yrs £5,926

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: £926, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1601 kWh 1233 kWh 368 kWh £334 £37 £370 £13,519 36.5 yrs £-6,109
3 kW 2402 kWh 1850 kWh 552 kWh £500 £55 £556 £15,554 28.0 yrs £-4,439
4 kW 3203 kWh 2466 kWh 737 kWh £667 £74 £741 £17,588 23.7 yrs £-2,768
5 kW 4003 kWh 3083 kWh 921 kWh £834 £92 £926 £19,623 21.2 yrs £-1,098
6 kW 4804 kWh 3699 kWh 1105 kWh £1,001 £110 £1,111 £21,657 19.5 yrs £573
7 kW 5605 kWh 4316 kWh 1289 kWh £1,168 £129 £1,297 £23,692 18.3 yrs £2,243
8 kW 6405 kWh 4932 kWh 1473 kWh £1,335 £147 £1,482 £25,726 17.4 yrs £3,913

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 IV11

Figures below are tailored to IV11 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2848 of 2997
13.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£621 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2892 of 2997
35.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£621 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
801kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~801 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Highland (100%)

Areas Covered

Black Isle

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 Northern Scotland

IV18 (Highland)
≈8.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +4% vs IV11
IV10 (Highland)
≈12.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~815 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IV11
IV20 (Highland)
≈12.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~814 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IV11
IV17 (Highland)
≈13.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~839 kWh/kWp · +5% vs IV11
IV19 (Highland)
≈14.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~860 kWh/kWp · +7% vs IV11
IV12 (Highland)
≈14.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~834 kWh/kWp · +4% vs IV11

Similar sunshine across the UK

G76 (East Renfrewshire)
~799 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV11
KA16 (East Ayrshire)
~803 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV11
OL5 (Tameside)
~803 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV11