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Solar Panels in IV49 (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
15.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£661
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,350
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 786 kWh/kW — 29 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 786 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)
786 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: £661, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1571 kWh 629 kWh 943 kWh £170 £94 £264 £4,069 15.4 yrs £1,218
3 kW 2357 kWh 943 kWh 1414 kWh £255 £141 £397 £6,104 15.4 yrs £1,827
4 kW 3143 kWh 1257 kWh 1886 kWh £340 £189 £529 £8,138 15.4 yrs £2,436
5 kW 3928 kWh 1571 kWh 2357 kWh £425 £236 £661 £10,173 15.4 yrs £3,046
6 kW 4714 kWh 1886 kWh 2828 kWh £510 £283 £793 £12,207 15.4 yrs £3,655
7 kW 5500 kWh 2200 kWh 3300 kWh £595 £330 £925 £14,242 15.4 yrs £4,264
8 kW 6285 kWh 2514 kWh 3771 kWh £680 £377 £1,057 £16,276 15.4 yrs £4,873

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: £795, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1571 kWh 943 kWh 629 kWh £255 £63 £318 £6,169 19.4 yrs £191
3 kW 2357 kWh 1414 kWh 943 kWh £383 £94 £477 £8,204 17.2 yrs £1,336
4 kW 3143 kWh 1886 kWh 1257 kWh £510 £126 £636 £10,238 16.1 yrs £2,481
5 kW 3928 kWh 2357 kWh 1571 kWh £638 £157 £795 £12,273 15.4 yrs £3,626
6 kW 4714 kWh 2828 kWh 1886 kWh £765 £189 £954 £14,307 15.0 yrs £4,772
7 kW 5500 kWh 3300 kWh 2200 kWh £893 £220 £1,113 £16,342 14.7 yrs £5,917
8 kW 6285 kWh 3771 kWh 2514 kWh £1,020 £251 £1,272 £18,376 14.4 yrs £7,062

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: £862, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1571 kWh 1100 kWh 471 kWh £298 £47 £345 £7,569 22.0 yrs £-673
3 kW 2357 kWh 1650 kWh 707 kWh £446 £71 £517 £9,604 18.6 yrs £740
4 kW 3143 kWh 2200 kWh 943 kWh £595 £94 £690 £11,638 16.9 yrs £2,153
5 kW 3928 kWh 2750 kWh 1179 kWh £744 £118 £862 £13,673 15.9 yrs £3,567
6 kW 4714 kWh 3300 kWh 1414 kWh £893 £141 £1,034 £15,707 15.2 yrs £4,980
7 kW 5500 kWh 3850 kWh 1650 kWh £1,042 £165 £1,207 £17,742 14.7 yrs £6,393
8 kW 6285 kWh 4400 kWh 1886 kWh £1,191 £189 £1,379 £19,776 14.3 yrs £7,807

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: £882, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1571 kWh 1147 kWh 424 kWh £310 £42 £353 £9,319 26.4 yrs £-2,263
3 kW 2357 kWh 1721 kWh 636 kWh £466 £64 £529 £11,354 21.5 yrs £-769
4 kW 3143 kWh 2294 kWh 849 kWh £621 £85 £706 £13,388 19.0 yrs £725
5 kW 3928 kWh 2868 kWh 1061 kWh £776 £106 £882 £15,423 17.5 yrs £2,219
6 kW 4714 kWh 3441 kWh 1273 kWh £931 £127 £1,058 £17,457 16.5 yrs £3,712
7 kW 5500 kWh 4015 kWh 1485 kWh £1,086 £148 £1,235 £19,492 15.8 yrs £5,206
8 kW 6285 kWh 4588 kWh 1697 kWh £1,242 £170 £1,411 £21,526 15.3 yrs £6,700

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: £895, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1571 kWh 1179 kWh 393 kWh £319 £39 £358 £11,069 30.9 yrs £-3,905
3 kW 2357 kWh 1768 kWh 589 kWh £478 £59 £537 £13,104 24.4 yrs £-2,358
4 kW 3143 kWh 2357 kWh 786 kWh £638 £79 £716 £15,138 21.1 yrs £-811
5 kW 3928 kWh 2946 kWh 982 kWh £797 £98 £895 £17,173 19.2 yrs £737
6 kW 4714 kWh 3536 kWh 1179 kWh £957 £118 £1,075 £19,207 17.9 yrs £2,284
7 kW 5500 kWh 4125 kWh 1375 kWh £1,116 £137 £1,254 £21,242 16.9 yrs £3,832
8 kW 6285 kWh 4714 kWh 1571 kWh £1,276 £157 £1,433 £23,276 16.2 yrs £5,379

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: £909, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1571 kWh 1210 kWh 361 kWh £327 £36 £364 £13,519 37.2 yrs £-6,248
3 kW 2357 kWh 1815 kWh 542 kWh £491 £54 £545 £15,554 28.5 yrs £-4,647
4 kW 3143 kWh 2420 kWh 723 kWh £655 £72 £727 £17,588 24.2 yrs £-3,046
5 kW 3928 kWh 3025 kWh 904 kWh £819 £90 £909 £19,623 21.6 yrs £-1,445
6 kW 4714 kWh 3630 kWh 1084 kWh £982 £108 £1,091 £21,657 19.9 yrs £156
7 kW 5500 kWh 4235 kWh 1265 kWh £1,146 £126 £1,272 £23,692 18.6 yrs £1,757
8 kW 6285 kWh 4840 kWh 1446 kWh £1,310 £145 £1,454 £25,726 17.7 yrs £3,358

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 IV49

Figures below are tailored to IV49 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2901 of 2997
13.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£609 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2912 of 2997
36.6% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£609 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
786kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~786 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

Eilean á Chèo

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

IV42 (Highland)
≈3.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~677 kWh/kWp · -14% vs IV49
IV41 (Highland)
≈11.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~712 kWh/kWp · -9% vs IV49
IV43 (Highland)
≈12.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~742 kWh/kWp · -6% vs IV49
IV48 (Highland)
≈12.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~741 kWh/kWp · -6% vs IV49
IV40 (Highland)
≈13.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~717 kWh/kWp · -9% vs IV49
IV46 (Highland)
≈15.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~782 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV49

Similar sunshine across the UK

CA8 (Cumberland)
~786 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV49
LL21 (Denbighshire)
~785 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV49
PA18 (Inverclyde)
~789 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV49