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Solar Panels in IV20 (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
14.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£685
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,944
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 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 814 kWh/kW — 1 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 814 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)
814 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: £685, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1628 kWh 651 kWh 977 kWh £176 £98 £274 £4,069 14.9 yrs £1,408
3 kW 2442 kWh 977 kWh 1465 kWh £264 £147 £411 £6,104 14.9 yrs £2,112
4 kW 3256 kWh 1302 kWh 1953 kWh £352 £195 £548 £8,138 14.9 yrs £2,817
5 kW 4070 kWh 1628 kWh 2442 kWh £440 £244 £685 £10,173 14.9 yrs £3,521
6 kW 4883 kWh 1953 kWh 2930 kWh £529 £293 £822 £12,207 14.9 yrs £4,225
7 kW 5697 kWh 2279 kWh 3418 kWh £617 £342 £959 £14,242 14.9 yrs £4,929
8 kW 6511 kWh 2605 kWh 3907 kWh £705 £391 £1,095 £16,276 14.9 yrs £5,633

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: £824, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1628 kWh 977 kWh 651 kWh £264 £65 £329 £6,169 18.7 yrs £419
3 kW 2442 kWh 1465 kWh 977 kWh £396 £98 £494 £8,204 16.6 yrs £1,679
4 kW 3256 kWh 1953 kWh 1302 kWh £529 £130 £659 £10,238 15.5 yrs £2,938
5 kW 4070 kWh 2442 kWh 1628 kWh £661 £163 £824 £12,273 14.9 yrs £4,198
6 kW 4883 kWh 2930 kWh 1953 kWh £793 £195 £988 £14,307 14.5 yrs £5,457
7 kW 5697 kWh 3418 kWh 2279 kWh £925 £228 £1,153 £16,342 14.2 yrs £6,717
8 kW 6511 kWh 3907 kWh 2605 kWh £1,057 £260 £1,318 £18,376 13.9 yrs £7,976

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: £893, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1628 kWh 1139 kWh 488 kWh £308 £49 £357 £7,569 21.2 yrs £-425
3 kW 2442 kWh 1709 kWh 733 kWh £463 £73 £536 £9,604 17.9 yrs £1,112
4 kW 3256 kWh 2279 kWh 977 kWh £617 £98 £714 £11,638 16.3 yrs £2,649
5 kW 4070 kWh 2849 kWh 1221 kWh £771 £122 £893 £13,673 15.3 yrs £4,186
6 kW 4883 kWh 3418 kWh 1465 kWh £925 £147 £1,072 £15,707 14.7 yrs £5,724
7 kW 5697 kWh 3988 kWh 1709 kWh £1,079 £171 £1,250 £17,742 14.2 yrs £7,261
8 kW 6511 kWh 4558 kWh 1953 kWh £1,233 £195 £1,429 £19,776 13.8 yrs £8,798

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: £914, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1628 kWh 1188 kWh 440 kWh £322 £44 £366 £9,319 25.5 yrs £-2,009
3 kW 2442 kWh 1782 kWh 659 kWh £482 £66 £548 £11,354 20.7 yrs £-388
4 kW 3256 kWh 2377 kWh 879 kWh £643 £88 £731 £13,388 18.3 yrs £1,232
5 kW 4070 kWh 2971 kWh 1099 kWh £804 £110 £914 £15,423 16.9 yrs £2,853
6 kW 4883 kWh 3565 kWh 1319 kWh £965 £132 £1,097 £17,457 15.9 yrs £4,473
7 kW 5697 kWh 4159 kWh 1538 kWh £1,125 £154 £1,279 £19,492 15.2 yrs £6,094
8 kW 6511 kWh 4753 kWh 1758 kWh £1,286 £176 £1,462 £21,526 14.7 yrs £7,715

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: £928, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1628 kWh 1221 kWh 407 kWh £330 £41 £371 £11,069 29.8 yrs £-3,648
3 kW 2442 kWh 1831 kWh 610 kWh £496 £61 £557 £13,104 23.5 yrs £-1,972
4 kW 3256 kWh 2442 kWh 814 kWh £661 £81 £742 £15,138 20.4 yrs £-296
5 kW 4070 kWh 3052 kWh 1017 kWh £826 £102 £928 £17,173 18.5 yrs £1,381
6 kW 4883 kWh 3663 kWh 1221 kWh £991 £122 £1,113 £19,207 17.3 yrs £3,057
7 kW 5697 kWh 4273 kWh 1424 kWh £1,156 £142 £1,299 £21,242 16.4 yrs £4,733
8 kW 6511 kWh 4883 kWh 1628 kWh £1,321 £163 £1,484 £23,276 15.7 yrs £6,409

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: £942, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1628 kWh 1253 kWh 374 kWh £339 £37 £377 £13,519 35.9 yrs £-5,987
3 kW 2442 kWh 1880 kWh 562 kWh £509 £56 £565 £15,554 27.5 yrs £-4,255
4 kW 3256 kWh 2507 kWh 749 kWh £678 £75 £753 £17,588 23.4 yrs £-2,523
5 kW 4070 kWh 3134 kWh 936 kWh £848 £94 £942 £19,623 20.8 yrs £-792
6 kW 4883 kWh 3760 kWh 1123 kWh £1,018 £112 £1,130 £21,657 19.2 yrs £940
7 kW 5697 kWh 4387 kWh 1310 kWh £1,187 £131 £1,318 £23,692 18.0 yrs £2,672
8 kW 6511 kWh 5014 kWh 1498 kWh £1,357 £150 £1,506 £25,726 17.1 yrs £4,403

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 IV20

Figures below are tailored to IV20 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2760 of 2997
12.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£631 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2870 of 2997
35.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£631 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
814kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~814 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

Tain and Easter Ross

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

IV19 (Highland)
≈9.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~860 kWh/kWp · +6% vs IV20
IV11 (Highland)
≈12.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~801 kWh/kWp · -2% vs IV20
IV25 (Highland)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~822 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IV20
IV18 (Highland)
≈17.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IV20
IV12 (Highland)
≈21.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~834 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IV20
IV17 (Highland)
≈22.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~839 kWh/kWp · +3% vs IV20

Similar sunshine across the UK

KA4 (East Ayrshire)
~814 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV20
OL3 (Oldham)
~815 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV20
KA17 (East Ayrshire)
~813 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV20