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Solar Panels in IV56 (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
15.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£647
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,007
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 769 kWh/kW — 46 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 769 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)
769 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: £647, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1539 kWh 615 kWh 923 kWh £167 £92 £259 £4,069 15.7 yrs £1,108
3 kW 2308 kWh 923 kWh 1385 kWh £250 £138 £388 £6,104 15.7 yrs £1,663
4 kW 3077 kWh 1231 kWh 1846 kWh £333 £185 £518 £8,138 15.7 yrs £2,217
5 kW 3847 kWh 1539 kWh 2308 kWh £416 £231 £647 £10,173 15.7 yrs £2,771
6 kW 4616 kWh 1846 kWh 2770 kWh £500 £277 £777 £12,207 15.7 yrs £3,325
7 kW 5386 kWh 2154 kWh 3231 kWh £583 £323 £906 £14,242 15.7 yrs £3,880
8 kW 6155 kWh 2462 kWh 3693 kWh £666 £369 £1,035 £16,276 15.7 yrs £4,434

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: £778, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1539 kWh 923 kWh 615 kWh £250 £62 £311 £6,169 19.8 yrs £58
3 kW 2308 kWh 1385 kWh 923 kWh £375 £92 £467 £8,204 17.6 yrs £1,138
4 kW 3077 kWh 1846 kWh 1231 kWh £500 £123 £623 £10,238 16.4 yrs £2,217
5 kW 3847 kWh 2308 kWh 1539 kWh £625 £154 £778 £12,273 15.8 yrs £3,296
6 kW 4616 kWh 2770 kWh 1846 kWh £749 £185 £934 £14,307 15.3 yrs £4,375
7 kW 5386 kWh 3231 kWh 2154 kWh £874 £215 £1,090 £16,342 15.0 yrs £5,455
8 kW 6155 kWh 3693 kWh 2462 kWh £999 £246 £1,246 £18,376 14.8 yrs £6,534

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: £844, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1539 kWh 1077 kWh 462 kWh £291 £46 £338 £7,569 22.4 yrs £-817
3 kW 2308 kWh 1616 kWh 692 kWh £437 £69 £506 £9,604 19.0 yrs £525
4 kW 3077 kWh 2154 kWh 923 kWh £583 £92 £675 £11,638 17.2 yrs £1,867
5 kW 3847 kWh 2693 kWh 1154 kWh £729 £115 £844 £13,673 16.2 yrs £3,209
6 kW 4616 kWh 3231 kWh 1385 kWh £874 £138 £1,013 £15,707 15.5 yrs £4,550
7 kW 5386 kWh 3770 kWh 1616 kWh £1,020 £162 £1,182 £17,742 15.0 yrs £5,892
8 kW 6155 kWh 4308 kWh 1846 kWh £1,166 £185 £1,351 £19,776 14.6 yrs £7,234

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: £864, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1539 kWh 1123 kWh 415 kWh £304 £42 £346 £9,319 27.0 yrs £-2,409
3 kW 2308 kWh 1685 kWh 623 kWh £456 £62 £518 £11,354 21.9 yrs £-988
4 kW 3077 kWh 2247 kWh 831 kWh £608 £83 £691 £13,388 19.4 yrs £432
5 kW 3847 kWh 2808 kWh 1039 kWh £760 £104 £864 £15,423 17.9 yrs £1,853
6 kW 4616 kWh 3370 kWh 1246 kWh £912 £125 £1,037 £17,457 16.8 yrs £3,273
7 kW 5386 kWh 3931 kWh 1454 kWh £1,064 £145 £1,209 £19,492 16.1 yrs £4,694
8 kW 6155 kWh 4493 kWh 1662 kWh £1,216 £166 £1,382 £21,526 15.6 yrs £6,114

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: £877, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1539 kWh 1154 kWh 385 kWh £312 £38 £351 £11,069 31.6 yrs £-4,054
3 kW 2308 kWh 1731 kWh 577 kWh £468 £58 £526 £13,104 24.9 yrs £-2,581
4 kW 3077 kWh 2308 kWh 769 kWh £625 £77 £702 £15,138 21.6 yrs £-1,108
5 kW 3847 kWh 2885 kWh 962 kWh £781 £96 £877 £17,173 19.6 yrs £365
6 kW 4616 kWh 3462 kWh 1154 kWh £937 £115 £1,052 £19,207 18.3 yrs £1,838
7 kW 5386 kWh 4039 kWh 1346 kWh £1,093 £135 £1,228 £21,242 17.3 yrs £3,311
8 kW 6155 kWh 4616 kWh 1539 kWh £1,249 £154 £1,403 £23,276 16.6 yrs £4,784

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: £890, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 22.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1539 kWh 1185 kWh 354 kWh £321 £35 £356 £13,519 38.0 yrs £-6,399
3 kW 2308 kWh 1777 kWh 531 kWh £481 £53 £534 £15,554 29.1 yrs £-4,873
4 kW 3077 kWh 2370 kWh 708 kWh £641 £71 £712 £17,588 24.7 yrs £-3,348
5 kW 3847 kWh 2962 kWh 885 kWh £802 £88 £890 £19,623 22.0 yrs £-1,822
6 kW 4616 kWh 3554 kWh 1062 kWh £962 £106 £1,068 £21,657 20.3 yrs £-297
7 kW 5386 kWh 4147 kWh 1239 kWh £1,122 £124 £1,246 £23,692 19.0 yrs £1,229
8 kW 6155 kWh 4739 kWh 1416 kWh £1,282 £142 £1,424 £25,726 18.1 yrs £2,754

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 IV56

Figures below are tailored to IV56 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2927 of 2997
13.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£597 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2935 of 2997
37.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£597 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
769kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~769 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

IV47 (Highland)
≈8.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~766 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV56
IV55 (Highland)
≈11.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~779 kWh/kWp · +1% vs IV56
IV51 (Highland)
≈15.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~757 kWh/kWp · -2% vs IV56
IV48 (Highland)
≈22.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~741 kWh/kWp · -4% vs IV56
PH44 (Highland)
≈34.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~827 kWh/kWp · +8% vs IV56
IV49 (Highland)
≈35.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~786 kWh/kWp · +2% vs IV56

Similar sunshine across the UK

CA12 (Cumberland)
~767 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV56
PA14 (Inverclyde)
~772 kWh/kWp · +0% vs IV56
G84 (Argyll and Bute)
~766 kWh/kWp · -0% vs IV56