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Solar Panels in IV5 (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
£667
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,507
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 793 kWh/kW — 22 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 793 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)
793 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: £667, 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 1586 kWh 634 kWh 952 kWh £172 £95 £267 £4,069 15.2 yrs £1,268
3 kW 2379 kWh 952 kWh 1428 kWh £258 £143 £400 £6,104 15.2 yrs £1,903
4 kW 3172 kWh 1269 kWh 1903 kWh £343 £190 £534 £8,138 15.2 yrs £2,537
5 kW 3966 kWh 1586 kWh 2379 kWh £429 £238 £667 £10,173 15.2 yrs £3,171
6 kW 4759 kWh 1903 kWh 2855 kWh £515 £286 £801 £12,207 15.2 yrs £3,805
7 kW 5552 kWh 2221 kWh 3331 kWh £601 £333 £934 £14,242 15.2 yrs £4,439
8 kW 6345 kWh 2538 kWh 3807 kWh £687 £381 £1,067 £16,276 15.2 yrs £5,073

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: £802, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1586 kWh 952 kWh 634 kWh £258 £63 £321 £6,169 19.2 yrs £251
3 kW 2379 kWh 1428 kWh 952 kWh £386 £95 £481 £8,204 17.0 yrs £1,426
4 kW 3172 kWh 1903 kWh 1269 kWh £515 £127 £642 £10,238 15.9 yrs £2,602
5 kW 3966 kWh 2379 kWh 1586 kWh £644 £159 £802 £12,273 15.3 yrs £3,777
6 kW 4759 kWh 2855 kWh 1903 kWh £773 £190 £963 £14,307 14.9 yrs £4,952
7 kW 5552 kWh 3331 kWh 2221 kWh £901 £222 £1,123 £16,342 14.5 yrs £6,128
8 kW 6345 kWh 3807 kWh 2538 kWh £1,030 £254 £1,284 £18,376 14.3 yrs £7,303

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: £870, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1586 kWh 1110 kWh 476 kWh £300 £48 £348 £7,569 21.7 yrs £-608
3 kW 2379 kWh 1666 kWh 714 kWh £451 £71 £522 £9,604 18.4 yrs £838
4 kW 3172 kWh 2221 kWh 952 kWh £601 £95 £696 £11,638 16.7 yrs £2,284
5 kW 3966 kWh 2776 kWh 1190 kWh £751 £119 £870 £13,673 15.7 yrs £3,730
6 kW 4759 kWh 3331 kWh 1428 kWh £901 £143 £1,044 £15,707 15.0 yrs £5,176
7 kW 5552 kWh 3886 kWh 1666 kWh £1,052 £167 £1,218 £17,742 14.6 yrs £6,622
8 kW 6345 kWh 4441 kWh 1903 kWh £1,202 £190 £1,392 £19,776 14.2 yrs £8,068

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: £890, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1586 kWh 1158 kWh 428 kWh £313 £43 £356 £9,319 26.2 yrs £-2,196
3 kW 2379 kWh 1737 kWh 642 kWh £470 £64 £534 £11,354 21.3 yrs £-668
4 kW 3172 kWh 2316 kWh 857 kWh £627 £86 £712 £13,388 18.8 yrs £859
5 kW 3966 kWh 2895 kWh 1071 kWh £783 £107 £890 £15,423 17.3 yrs £2,386
6 kW 4759 kWh 3474 kWh 1285 kWh £940 £128 £1,069 £17,457 16.3 yrs £3,913
7 kW 5552 kWh 4053 kWh 1499 kWh £1,097 £150 £1,247 £19,492 15.6 yrs £5,440
8 kW 6345 kWh 4632 kWh 1713 kWh £1,253 £171 £1,425 £21,526 15.1 yrs £6,968

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: £904, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1586 kWh 1190 kWh 397 kWh £322 £40 £362 £11,069 30.6 yrs £-3,837
3 kW 2379 kWh 1785 kWh 595 kWh £483 £59 £542 £13,104 24.2 yrs £-2,256
4 kW 3172 kWh 2379 kWh 793 kWh £644 £79 £723 £15,138 20.9 yrs £-675
5 kW 3966 kWh 2974 kWh 991 kWh £805 £99 £904 £17,173 19.0 yrs £907
6 kW 4759 kWh 3569 kWh 1190 kWh £966 £119 £1,085 £19,207 17.7 yrs £2,488
7 kW 5552 kWh 4164 kWh 1388 kWh £1,127 £139 £1,266 £21,242 16.8 yrs £4,069
8 kW 6345 kWh 4759 kWh 1586 kWh £1,288 £159 £1,446 £23,276 16.1 yrs £5,651

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: £917, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1586 kWh 1221 kWh 365 kWh £331 £36 £367 £13,519 36.8 yrs £-6,179
3 kW 2379 kWh 1832 kWh 547 kWh £496 £55 £550 £15,554 28.3 yrs £-4,544
4 kW 3172 kWh 2443 kWh 730 kWh £661 £73 £734 £17,588 24.0 yrs £-2,908
5 kW 3966 kWh 3054 kWh 912 kWh £826 £91 £917 £19,623 21.4 yrs £-1,273
6 kW 4759 kWh 3664 kWh 1095 kWh £992 £109 £1,101 £21,657 19.7 yrs £363
7 kW 5552 kWh 4275 kWh 1277 kWh £1,157 £128 £1,284 £23,692 18.4 yrs £1,998
8 kW 6345 kWh 4886 kWh 1459 kWh £1,322 £146 £1,468 £25,726 17.5 yrs £3,634

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 IV5

Figures below are tailored to IV5 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2871 of 2997
13.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£615 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2899 of 2997
36.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£615 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
793kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~793 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

Aird and Loch Ness

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

IV4 (Highland)
≈3.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~809 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IV5
IV6 (Highland)
≈5.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~798 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IV5
IV3 (Highland)
≈10.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~789 kWh/kWp · -1% vs IV5
IV7 (Highland)
≈11.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~817 kWh/kWp · +3% vs IV5
IV1 (Highland)
≈11.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~789 kWh/kWp · -1% vs IV5
IV99 (Highland)
≈11.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~789 kWh/kWp · -1% vs IV5

Similar sunshine across the UK

DG10 (Dumfries and Galloway)
~794 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV5
CA17 (Westmorland and Furness)
~792 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV5
LL57 (Gwynedd)
~792 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV5