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Solar Panels in IV52 (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
17.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£590
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£4,585
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 702 kWh/kW — 113 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 702 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)
702 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: £590, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1404 kWh 561 kWh 842 kWh £152 £84 £236 £4,069 17.2 yrs £653
3 kW 2105 kWh 842 kWh 1263 kWh £228 £126 £354 £6,104 17.2 yrs £980
4 kW 2807 kWh 1123 kWh 1684 kWh £304 £168 £472 £8,138 17.2 yrs £1,307
5 kW 3509 kWh 1404 kWh 2105 kWh £380 £211 £590 £10,173 17.2 yrs £1,634
6 kW 4210 kWh 1684 kWh 2526 kWh £456 £253 £708 £12,207 17.2 yrs £1,960
7 kW 4912 kWh 1965 kWh 2947 kWh £532 £295 £826 £14,242 17.2 yrs £2,287
8 kW 5614 kWh 2246 kWh 3368 kWh £608 £337 £944 £16,276 17.2 yrs £2,614

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: £710, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1404 kWh 842 kWh 561 kWh £228 £56 £284 £6,169 21.7 yrs £-489
3 kW 2105 kWh 1263 kWh 842 kWh £342 £84 £426 £8,204 19.3 yrs £317
4 kW 2807 kWh 1684 kWh 1123 kWh £456 £112 £568 £10,238 18.0 yrs £1,122
5 kW 3509 kWh 2105 kWh 1404 kWh £570 £140 £710 £12,273 17.3 yrs £1,928
6 kW 4210 kWh 2526 kWh 1684 kWh £684 £168 £852 £14,307 16.8 yrs £2,734
7 kW 4912 kWh 2947 kWh 1965 kWh £798 £196 £994 £16,342 16.4 yrs £3,539
8 kW 5614 kWh 3368 kWh 2246 kWh £911 £225 £1,136 £18,376 16.2 yrs £4,345

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: £770, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 17.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1404 kWh 982 kWh 421 kWh £266 £42 £308 £7,569 24.6 yrs £-1,410
3 kW 2105 kWh 1474 kWh 632 kWh £399 £63 £462 £9,604 20.8 yrs £-365
4 kW 2807 kWh 1965 kWh 842 kWh £532 £84 £616 £11,638 18.9 yrs £680
5 kW 3509 kWh 2456 kWh 1053 kWh £665 £105 £770 £13,673 17.8 yrs £1,725
6 kW 4210 kWh 2947 kWh 1263 kWh £798 £126 £924 £15,707 17.0 yrs £2,770
7 kW 4912 kWh 3439 kWh 1474 kWh £930 £147 £1,078 £17,742 16.5 yrs £3,815
8 kW 5614 kWh 3930 kWh 1684 kWh £1,063 £168 £1,232 £19,776 16.1 yrs £4,860

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: £788, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 19.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1404 kWh 1025 kWh 379 kWh £277 £38 £315 £9,319 29.6 yrs £-3,016
3 kW 2105 kWh 1537 kWh 568 kWh £416 £57 £473 £11,354 24.0 yrs £-1,899
4 kW 2807 kWh 2049 kWh 758 kWh £554 £76 £630 £13,388 21.2 yrs £-782
5 kW 3509 kWh 2561 kWh 947 kWh £693 £95 £788 £15,423 19.6 yrs £334
6 kW 4210 kWh 3074 kWh 1137 kWh £832 £114 £945 £17,457 18.5 yrs £1,451
7 kW 4912 kWh 3586 kWh 1326 kWh £970 £133 £1,103 £19,492 17.7 yrs £2,568
8 kW 5614 kWh 4098 kWh 1516 kWh £1,109 £152 £1,261 £21,526 17.1 yrs £3,685

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: £800, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 21.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1404 kWh 1053 kWh 351 kWh £285 £35 £320 £11,069 34.6 yrs £-4,670
3 kW 2105 kWh 1579 kWh 526 kWh £427 £53 £480 £13,104 27.3 yrs £-3,506
4 kW 2807 kWh 2105 kWh 702 kWh £570 £70 £640 £15,138 23.7 yrs £-2,341
5 kW 3509 kWh 2632 kWh 877 kWh £712 £88 £800 £17,173 21.5 yrs £-1,176
6 kW 4210 kWh 3158 kWh 1053 kWh £855 £105 £960 £19,207 20.0 yrs £-11
7 kW 4912 kWh 3684 kWh 1228 kWh £997 £123 £1,120 £21,242 19.0 yrs £1,153
8 kW 5614 kWh 4210 kWh 1404 kWh £1,139 £140 £1,280 £23,276 18.2 yrs £2,318

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: £812, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 24.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1404 kWh 1081 kWh 323 kWh £292 £32 £325 £13,519 41.6 yrs £-7,025
3 kW 2105 kWh 1621 kWh 484 kWh £439 £48 £487 £15,554 31.9 yrs £-5,812
4 kW 2807 kWh 2161 kWh 646 kWh £585 £65 £649 £17,588 27.1 yrs £-4,599
5 kW 3509 kWh 2702 kWh 807 kWh £731 £81 £812 £19,623 24.2 yrs £-3,387
6 kW 4210 kWh 3242 kWh 968 kWh £877 £97 £974 £21,657 22.2 yrs £-2,174
7 kW 4912 kWh 3782 kWh 1130 kWh £1,024 £113 £1,137 £23,692 20.8 yrs £-961
8 kW 5614 kWh 4323 kWh 1291 kWh £1,170 £129 £1,299 £25,726 19.8 yrs £251

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 IV52

Figures below are tailored to IV52 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2981 of 2997
15.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£544 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2981 of 2997
40.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£544 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
702kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~702 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

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

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

IV53 (Highland)
≈5.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~678 kWh/kWp · -3% vs IV52
IV40 (Highland)
≈6.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~717 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IV52
IV54 (Highland)
≈8.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~689 kWh/kWp · -2% vs IV52
IV41 (Highland)
≈8.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~712 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IV52
IV42 (Highland)
≈16.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~677 kWh/kWp · -3% vs IV52
IV49 (Highland)
≈19.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~786 kWh/kWp · +12% vs IV52

Similar sunshine across the UK

PH21 (Highland)
~701 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV52
PH34 (Highland)
~701 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV52
PA36 (Argyll and Bute)
~698 kWh/kWp · -1% vs IV52