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Solar Panels in KW13 (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
15.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£656
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,229
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 780 kWh/kW — 35 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 780 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)
780 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: £656, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 624 kWh 936 kWh £169 £94 £262 £4,069 15.5 yrs £1,179
3 kW 2340 kWh 936 kWh 1404 kWh £253 £140 £394 £6,104 15.5 yrs £1,769
4 kW 3120 kWh 1248 kWh 1872 kWh £338 £187 £525 £8,138 15.5 yrs £2,359
5 kW 3899 kWh 1560 kWh 2340 kWh £422 £234 £656 £10,173 15.5 yrs £2,948
6 kW 4679 kWh 1872 kWh 2808 kWh £506 £281 £787 £12,207 15.5 yrs £3,538
7 kW 5459 kWh 2184 kWh 3276 kWh £591 £328 £918 £14,242 15.5 yrs £4,128
8 kW 6239 kWh 2496 kWh 3743 kWh £675 £374 £1,050 £16,276 15.5 yrs £4,717

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: £789, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 936 kWh 624 kWh £253 £62 £316 £6,169 19.5 yrs £144
3 kW 2340 kWh 1404 kWh 936 kWh £380 £94 £473 £8,204 17.3 yrs £1,266
4 kW 3120 kWh 1872 kWh 1248 kWh £506 £125 £631 £10,238 16.2 yrs £2,387
5 kW 3899 kWh 2340 kWh 1560 kWh £633 £156 £789 £12,273 15.6 yrs £3,509
6 kW 4679 kWh 2808 kWh 1872 kWh £760 £187 £947 £14,307 15.1 yrs £4,631
7 kW 5459 kWh 3276 kWh 2184 kWh £886 £218 £1,105 £16,342 14.8 yrs £5,753
8 kW 6239 kWh 3743 kWh 2496 kWh £1,013 £250 £1,263 £18,376 14.6 yrs £6,875

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: £856, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 1092 kWh 468 kWh £295 £47 £342 £7,569 22.1 yrs £-724
3 kW 2340 kWh 1638 kWh 702 kWh £443 £70 £513 £9,604 18.7 yrs £664
4 kW 3120 kWh 2184 kWh 936 kWh £591 £94 £684 £11,638 17.0 yrs £2,052
5 kW 3899 kWh 2730 kWh 1170 kWh £739 £117 £856 £13,673 16.0 yrs £3,440
6 kW 4679 kWh 3276 kWh 1404 kWh £886 £140 £1,027 £15,707 15.3 yrs £4,828
7 kW 5459 kWh 3821 kWh 1638 kWh £1,034 £164 £1,198 £17,742 14.8 yrs £6,216
8 kW 6239 kWh 4367 kWh 1872 kWh £1,182 £187 £1,369 £19,776 14.4 yrs £7,604

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: £876, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 1139 kWh 421 kWh £308 £42 £350 £9,319 26.6 yrs £-2,314
3 kW 2340 kWh 1708 kWh 632 kWh £462 £63 £525 £11,354 21.6 yrs £-847
4 kW 3120 kWh 2277 kWh 842 kWh £616 £84 £700 £13,388 19.1 yrs £621
5 kW 3899 kWh 2847 kWh 1053 kWh £770 £105 £876 £15,423 17.6 yrs £2,089
6 kW 4679 kWh 3416 kWh 1263 kWh £924 £126 £1,051 £17,457 16.6 yrs £3,557
7 kW 5459 kWh 3985 kWh 1474 kWh £1,078 £147 £1,226 £19,492 15.9 yrs £5,025
8 kW 6239 kWh 4555 kWh 1685 kWh £1,232 £168 £1,401 £21,526 15.4 yrs £6,492

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: £889, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 1170 kWh 390 kWh £317 £39 £356 £11,069 31.1 yrs £-3,958
3 kW 2340 kWh 1755 kWh 585 kWh £475 £58 £533 £13,104 24.6 yrs £-2,437
4 kW 3120 kWh 2340 kWh 780 kWh £633 £78 £711 £15,138 21.3 yrs £-916
5 kW 3899 kWh 2925 kWh 975 kWh £791 £97 £889 £17,173 19.3 yrs £605
6 kW 4679 kWh 3510 kWh 1170 kWh £950 £117 £1,067 £19,207 18.0 yrs £2,126
7 kW 5459 kWh 4094 kWh 1365 kWh £1,108 £136 £1,244 £21,242 17.1 yrs £3,647
8 kW 6239 kWh 4679 kWh 1560 kWh £1,266 £156 £1,422 £23,276 16.4 yrs £5,168

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: £902, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1560 kWh 1201 kWh 359 kWh £325 £36 £361 £13,519 37.5 yrs £-6,302
3 kW 2340 kWh 1802 kWh 538 kWh £487 £54 £541 £15,554 28.7 yrs £-4,727
4 kW 3120 kWh 2402 kWh 717 kWh £650 £72 £722 £17,588 24.4 yrs £-3,153
5 kW 3899 kWh 3003 kWh 897 kWh £812 £90 £902 £19,623 21.8 yrs £-1,579
6 kW 4679 kWh 3603 kWh 1076 kWh £975 £108 £1,083 £21,657 20.0 yrs £-5
7 kW 5459 kWh 4204 kWh 1256 kWh £1,137 £126 £1,263 £23,692 18.8 yrs £1,570
8 kW 6239 kWh 4804 kWh 1435 kWh £1,300 £143 £1,443 £25,726 17.8 yrs £3,144

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 KW13

Figures below are tailored to KW13 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2918 of 2997
13.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£605 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2924 of 2997
36.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£605 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
780kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~780 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

North, West and Central Sutherland

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

KW11 (Highland)
≈23.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~770 kWh/kWp · -1% vs KW13
KW12 (Highland)
≈23.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~828 kWh/kWp · +6% vs KW13
KW14 (Highland)
≈25.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~813 kWh/kWp · +4% vs KW13
KW6 (Highland)
≈35.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~814 kWh/kWp · +4% vs KW13
KW5 (Highland)
≈36.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~828 kWh/kWp · +6% vs KW13
KW7 (Highland)
≈38.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~819 kWh/kWp · +5% vs KW13

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL27 (Conwy)
~777 kWh/kWp · -0% vs KW13
LL21 (Denbighshire)
~785 kWh/kWp · +1% vs KW13
CA8 (Cumberland)
~786 kWh/kWp · +1% vs KW13