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Solar Panels in KA21 (North Ayrshire)

See if solar pays off for you in North Ayrshire — 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
14.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£849
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,007
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 Southern Scotland, the current unit rate is 25.84p/kWh with a 56.55p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 866 kWh/kW — 16 above the regional median (850).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 866 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.8p/kWh
Standing charge
56.5p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
866 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: £707, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1732 kWh 693 kWh 1039 kWh £179 £104 £283 £4,069 14.4 yrs £1,588
3 kW 2597 kWh 1039 kWh 1558 kWh £268 £156 £424 £6,104 14.4 yrs £2,382
4 kW 3463 kWh 1385 kWh 2078 kWh £358 £208 £566 £8,138 14.4 yrs £3,176
5 kW 4329 kWh 1732 kWh 2597 kWh £447 £260 £707 £10,173 14.4 yrs £3,970
6 kW 5194 kWh 2078 kWh 3117 kWh £537 £312 £849 £12,207 14.4 yrs £4,764
7 kW 6060 kWh 2424 kWh 3636 kWh £626 £364 £990 £14,242 14.4 yrs £5,558
8 kW 6926 kWh 2770 kWh 4156 kWh £716 £416 £1,131 £16,276 14.4 yrs £6,353

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: £844, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1732 kWh 1039 kWh 693 kWh £268 £69 £338 £6,169 18.3 yrs £585
3 kW 2597 kWh 1558 kWh 1039 kWh £403 £104 £507 £8,204 16.2 yrs £1,928
4 kW 3463 kWh 2078 kWh 1385 kWh £537 £139 £675 £10,238 15.2 yrs £3,270
5 kW 4329 kWh 2597 kWh 1732 kWh £671 £173 £844 £12,273 14.5 yrs £4,613
6 kW 5194 kWh 3117 kWh 2078 kWh £805 £208 £1,013 £14,307 14.1 yrs £5,956
7 kW 6060 kWh 3636 kWh 2424 kWh £940 £242 £1,182 £16,342 13.8 yrs £7,298
8 kW 6926 kWh 4156 kWh 2770 kWh £1,074 £277 £1,351 £18,376 13.6 yrs £8,641

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: £913, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1732 kWh 1212 kWh 519 kWh £313 £52 £365 £7,569 20.7 yrs £-266
3 kW 2597 kWh 1818 kWh 779 kWh £470 £78 £548 £9,604 17.5 yrs £1,351
4 kW 3463 kWh 2424 kWh 1039 kWh £626 £104 £730 £11,638 15.9 yrs £2,968
5 kW 4329 kWh 3030 kWh 1299 kWh £783 £130 £913 £13,673 15.0 yrs £4,584
6 kW 5194 kWh 3636 kWh 1558 kWh £940 £156 £1,095 £15,707 14.3 yrs £6,201
7 kW 6060 kWh 4242 kWh 1818 kWh £1,096 £182 £1,278 £17,742 13.9 yrs £7,818
8 kW 6926 kWh 4848 kWh 2078 kWh £1,253 £208 £1,461 £19,776 13.5 yrs £9,435

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: £933, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1732 kWh 1264 kWh 468 kWh £327 £47 £373 £9,319 25.0 yrs £-1,852
3 kW 2597 kWh 1896 kWh 701 kWh £490 £70 £560 £11,354 20.3 yrs £-153
4 kW 3463 kWh 2528 kWh 935 kWh £653 £94 £747 £13,388 17.9 yrs £1,547
5 kW 4329 kWh 3160 kWh 1169 kWh £817 £117 £933 £15,423 16.5 yrs £3,246
6 kW 5194 kWh 3792 kWh 1403 kWh £980 £140 £1,120 £17,457 15.6 yrs £4,945
7 kW 6060 kWh 4424 kWh 1636 kWh £1,143 £164 £1,307 £19,492 14.9 yrs £6,644
8 kW 6926 kWh 5056 kWh 1870 kWh £1,306 £187 £1,493 £21,526 14.4 yrs £8,343

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: £947, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1732 kWh 1299 kWh 433 kWh £336 £43 £379 £11,069 29.2 yrs £-3,492
3 kW 2597 kWh 1948 kWh 649 kWh £503 £65 £568 £13,104 23.1 yrs £-1,738
4 kW 3463 kWh 2597 kWh 866 kWh £671 £87 £758 £15,138 20.0 yrs £16
5 kW 4329 kWh 3247 kWh 1082 kWh £839 £108 £947 £17,173 18.1 yrs £1,770
6 kW 5194 kWh 3896 kWh 1299 kWh £1,007 £130 £1,137 £19,207 16.9 yrs £3,524
7 kW 6060 kWh 4545 kWh 1515 kWh £1,174 £152 £1,326 £21,242 16.0 yrs £5,278
8 kW 6926 kWh 5194 kWh 1732 kWh £1,342 £173 £1,515 £23,276 15.4 yrs £7,032

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: £961, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1732 kWh 1333 kWh 398 kWh £345 £40 £384 £13,519 35.2 yrs £-5,832
3 kW 2597 kWh 2000 kWh 597 kWh £517 £60 £577 £15,554 27.0 yrs £-4,023
4 kW 3463 kWh 2667 kWh 796 kWh £689 £80 £769 £17,588 22.9 yrs £-2,215
5 kW 4329 kWh 3333 kWh 996 kWh £861 £100 £961 £19,623 20.4 yrs £-406
6 kW 5194 kWh 4000 kWh 1195 kWh £1,034 £119 £1,153 £21,657 18.8 yrs £1,403
7 kW 6060 kWh 4666 kWh 1394 kWh £1,206 £139 £1,345 £23,692 17.6 yrs £3,212
8 kW 6926 kWh 5333 kWh 1593 kWh £1,378 £159 £1,537 £25,726 16.7 yrs £5,021

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 KA21

Figures below are tailored to KA21 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2678 of 2997
12.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£972 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1643 of 2997
21.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£972 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
866kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~866 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

North Ayrshire (100%)

Areas Covered

Saltcoats and Stevenston, Kilwinning, Ardrossan

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 Southern Scotland

KA22 (North Ayrshire)
≈1.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~866 kWh/kWp · +0% vs KA21
KA20 (North Ayrshire)
≈2.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~868 kWh/kWp · +0% vs KA21
KA13 (North Ayrshire)
≈5.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~880 kWh/kWp · +2% vs KA21
KA23 (North Ayrshire)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~878 kWh/kWp · +1% vs KA21
KA12 (North Ayrshire)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~897 kWh/kWp · +4% vs KA21
KA24 (North Ayrshire)
≈8.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~892 kWh/kWp · +3% vs KA21

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT57 (Causeway Coast and Glens)
~866 kWh/kWp · +0% vs KA21
BT41 (Antrim and Newtownabbey)
~866 kWh/kWp · -0% vs KA21
PA44 (Argyll and Bute)
~866 kWh/kWp · +0% vs KA21