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Solar Panels in IV24 (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
15.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£671
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,601
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 798 kWh/kW — 17 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 798 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)
798 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: £671, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1595 kWh 638 kWh 957 kWh £173 £96 £268 £4,069 15.2 yrs £1,299
3 kW 2393 kWh 957 kWh 1436 kWh £259 £144 £403 £6,104 15.2 yrs £1,948
4 kW 3190 kWh 1276 kWh 1914 kWh £345 £191 £537 £8,138 15.2 yrs £2,597
5 kW 3988 kWh 1595 kWh 2393 kWh £432 £239 £671 £10,173 15.2 yrs £3,246
6 kW 4786 kWh 1914 kWh 2871 kWh £518 £287 £805 £12,207 15.2 yrs £3,896
7 kW 5583 kWh 2233 kWh 3350 kWh £604 £335 £939 £14,242 15.2 yrs £4,545
8 kW 6381 kWh 2552 kWh 3828 kWh £691 £383 £1,074 £16,276 15.2 yrs £5,194

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 1595 kWh 957 kWh 638 kWh £259 £64 £323 £6,169 19.1 yrs £287
3 kW 2393 kWh 1436 kWh 957 kWh £388 £96 £484 £8,204 16.9 yrs £1,481
4 kW 3190 kWh 1914 kWh 1276 kWh £518 £128 £646 £10,238 15.9 yrs £2,674
5 kW 3988 kWh 2393 kWh 1595 kWh £647 £160 £807 £12,273 15.2 yrs £3,868
6 kW 4786 kWh 2871 kWh 1914 kWh £777 £191 £968 £14,307 14.8 yrs £5,061
7 kW 5583 kWh 3350 kWh 2233 kWh £906 £223 £1,130 £16,342 14.5 yrs £6,255
8 kW 6381 kWh 3828 kWh 2552 kWh £1,036 £255 £1,291 £18,376 14.2 yrs £7,448

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: £875, 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 1595 kWh 1117 kWh 479 kWh £302 £48 £350 £7,569 21.6 yrs £-569
3 kW 2393 kWh 1675 kWh 718 kWh £453 £72 £525 £9,604 18.3 yrs £897
4 kW 3190 kWh 2233 kWh 957 kWh £604 £96 £700 £11,638 16.6 yrs £2,363
5 kW 3988 kWh 2792 kWh 1196 kWh £755 £120 £875 £13,673 15.6 yrs £3,828
6 kW 4786 kWh 3350 kWh 1436 kWh £906 £144 £1,050 £15,707 15.0 yrs £5,294
7 kW 5583 kWh 3908 kWh 1675 kWh £1,058 £167 £1,225 £17,742 14.5 yrs £6,760
8 kW 6381 kWh 4467 kWh 1914 kWh £1,209 £191 £1,400 £19,776 14.1 yrs £8,225

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: £895, 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 1595 kWh 1164 kWh 431 kWh £315 £43 £358 £9,319 26.0 yrs £-2,155
3 kW 2393 kWh 1747 kWh 646 kWh £473 £65 £537 £11,354 21.1 yrs £-608
4 kW 3190 kWh 2329 kWh 861 kWh £630 £86 £716 £13,388 18.7 yrs £939
5 kW 3988 kWh 2911 kWh 1077 kWh £788 £108 £895 £15,423 17.2 yrs £2,487
6 kW 4786 kWh 3493 kWh 1292 kWh £945 £129 £1,075 £17,457 16.2 yrs £4,034
7 kW 5583 kWh 4076 kWh 1507 kWh £1,103 £151 £1,254 £19,492 15.5 yrs £5,581
8 kW 6381 kWh 4658 kWh 1723 kWh £1,260 £172 £1,433 £21,526 15.0 yrs £7,129

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: £909, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1595 kWh 1196 kWh 399 kWh £324 £40 £364 £11,069 30.4 yrs £-3,797
3 kW 2393 kWh 1795 kWh 598 kWh £486 £60 £545 £13,104 24.0 yrs £-2,195
4 kW 3190 kWh 2393 kWh 798 kWh £647 £80 £727 £15,138 20.8 yrs £-593
5 kW 3988 kWh 2991 kWh 997 kWh £809 £100 £909 £17,173 18.9 yrs £1,009
6 kW 4786 kWh 3589 kWh 1196 kWh £971 £120 £1,091 £19,207 17.6 yrs £2,610
7 kW 5583 kWh 4187 kWh 1396 kWh £1,133 £140 £1,273 £21,242 16.7 yrs £4,212
8 kW 6381 kWh 4786 kWh 1595 kWh £1,295 £160 £1,455 £23,276 16.0 yrs £5,814

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: £923, 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 1595 kWh 1228 kWh 367 kWh £332 £37 £369 £13,519 36.6 yrs £-6,138
3 kW 2393 kWh 1842 kWh 550 kWh £499 £55 £554 £15,554 28.1 yrs £-4,481
4 kW 3190 kWh 2457 kWh 734 kWh £665 £73 £738 £17,588 23.8 yrs £-2,825
5 kW 3988 kWh 3071 kWh 917 kWh £831 £92 £923 £19,623 21.3 yrs £-1,169
6 kW 4786 kWh 3685 kWh 1101 kWh £997 £110 £1,107 £21,657 19.6 yrs £487
7 kW 5583 kWh 4299 kWh 1284 kWh £1,163 £128 £1,292 £23,692 18.3 yrs £2,143
8 kW 6381 kWh 4913 kWh 1468 kWh £1,330 £147 £1,476 £25,726 17.4 yrs £3,799

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 IV24

Figures below are tailored to IV24 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2870 of 2997
13.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£618 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2896 of 2997
36.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£618 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
798kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~798 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

North, West and Central Sutherland, East Sutherland and Edderton

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

IV28 (Highland)
≈16.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~802 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IV24
IV25 (Highland)
≈18.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~822 kWh/kWp · +3% vs IV24
IV19 (Highland)
≈19.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~860 kWh/kWp · +8% vs IV24
IV17 (Highland)
≈22.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~839 kWh/kWp · +5% vs IV24
KW10 (Highland)
≈23.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~801 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV24
IV18 (Highland)
≈24.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +4% vs IV24

Similar sunshine across the UK

G76 (East Renfrewshire)
~799 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV24
PA17 (North Ayrshire)
~796 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV24
BT82 (Derry City and Strabane)
~795 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV24