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Solar panel cost in Highland (KW14)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for KW14 (Highland) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

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
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£705
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,460
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 28.36p/kWh with a 62.07p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 813 kWh/kW — 2 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 813 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 28.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
28.4p/kWh
Standing charge
62.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
813 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: £705, 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 1627 kWh 651 kWh 976 kWh £185 £98 £282 £4,069 14.4 yrs £1,573
3 kW 2440 kWh 976 kWh 1464 kWh £277 £146 £423 £6,104 14.4 yrs £2,360
4 kW 3253 kWh 1301 kWh 1952 kWh £369 £195 £564 £8,138 14.4 yrs £3,147
5 kW 4067 kWh 1627 kWh 2440 kWh £461 £244 £705 £10,173 14.4 yrs £3,933
6 kW 4880 kWh 1952 kWh 2928 kWh £554 £293 £846 £12,207 14.4 yrs £4,720
7 kW 5693 kWh 2277 kWh 3416 kWh £646 £342 £987 £14,242 14.4 yrs £5,507
8 kW 6506 kWh 2603 kWh 3904 kWh £738 £390 £1,128 £16,276 14.4 yrs £6,294

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: £855, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1627 kWh 976 kWh 651 kWh £277 £65 £342 £6,169 18.0 yrs £668
3 kW 2440 kWh 1464 kWh 976 kWh £415 £98 £513 £8,204 16.0 yrs £2,052
4 kW 3253 kWh 1952 kWh 1301 kWh £554 £130 £684 £10,238 15.0 yrs £3,436
5 kW 4067 kWh 2440 kWh 1627 kWh £692 £163 £855 £12,273 14.4 yrs £4,820
6 kW 4880 kWh 2928 kWh 1952 kWh £830 £195 £1,026 £14,307 14.0 yrs £6,204
7 kW 5693 kWh 3416 kWh 2277 kWh £969 £228 £1,196 £16,342 13.7 yrs £7,588
8 kW 6506 kWh 3904 kWh 2603 kWh £1,107 £260 £1,367 £18,376 13.4 yrs £8,972

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: £929, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1627 kWh 1139 kWh 488 kWh £323 £49 £372 £7,569 20.4 yrs £-135
3 kW 2440 kWh 1708 kWh 732 kWh £484 £73 £558 £9,604 17.2 yrs £1,548
4 kW 3253 kWh 2277 kWh 976 kWh £646 £98 £743 £11,638 15.7 yrs £3,231
5 kW 4067 kWh 2847 kWh 1220 kWh £807 £122 £929 £13,673 14.7 yrs £4,913
6 kW 4880 kWh 3416 kWh 1464 kWh £969 £146 £1,115 £15,707 14.1 yrs £6,596
7 kW 5693 kWh 3985 kWh 1708 kWh £1,130 £171 £1,301 £17,742 13.6 yrs £8,278
8 kW 6506 kWh 4555 kWh 1952 kWh £1,292 £195 £1,487 £19,776 13.3 yrs £9,961

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: £952, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1627 kWh 1187 kWh 439 kWh £337 £44 £381 £9,319 24.5 yrs £-1,706
3 kW 2440 kWh 1781 kWh 659 kWh £505 £66 £571 £11,354 19.9 yrs £67
4 kW 3253 kWh 2375 kWh 878 kWh £674 £88 £761 £13,388 17.6 yrs £1,839
5 kW 4067 kWh 2969 kWh 1098 kWh £842 £110 £952 £15,423 16.2 yrs £3,611
6 kW 4880 kWh 3562 kWh 1318 kWh £1,010 £132 £1,142 £17,457 15.3 yrs £5,383
7 kW 5693 kWh 4156 kWh 1537 kWh £1,179 £154 £1,332 £19,492 14.6 yrs £7,156
8 kW 6506 kWh 4750 kWh 1757 kWh £1,347 £176 £1,523 £21,526 14.1 yrs £8,928

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: £967, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1627 kWh 1220 kWh 407 kWh £346 £41 £387 £11,069 28.6 yrs £-3,336
3 kW 2440 kWh 1830 kWh 610 kWh £519 £61 £580 £13,104 22.6 yrs £-1,504
4 kW 3253 kWh 2440 kWh 813 kWh £692 £81 £773 £15,138 19.6 yrs £328
5 kW 4067 kWh 3050 kWh 1017 kWh £865 £102 £967 £17,173 17.8 yrs £2,160
6 kW 4880 kWh 3660 kWh 1220 kWh £1,038 £122 £1,160 £19,207 16.6 yrs £3,992
7 kW 5693 kWh 4270 kWh 1423 kWh £1,211 £142 £1,353 £21,242 15.7 yrs £5,824
8 kW 6506 kWh 4880 kWh 1627 kWh £1,384 £163 £1,547 £23,276 15.0 yrs £7,656

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: £982, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1627 kWh 1252 kWh 374 kWh £355 £37 £393 £13,519 34.4 yrs £-5,667
3 kW 2440 kWh 1879 kWh 561 kWh £533 £56 £589 £15,554 26.4 yrs £-3,775
4 kW 3253 kWh 2505 kWh 748 kWh £710 £75 £785 £17,588 22.4 yrs £-1,883
5 kW 4067 kWh 3131 kWh 935 kWh £888 £94 £982 £19,623 20.0 yrs £8
6 kW 4880 kWh 3757 kWh 1122 kWh £1,066 £112 £1,178 £21,657 18.4 yrs £1,900
7 kW 5693 kWh 4384 kWh 1309 kWh £1,243 £131 £1,374 £23,692 17.2 yrs £3,792
8 kW 6506 kWh 5010 kWh 1496 kWh £1,421 £150 £1,570 £25,726 16.4 yrs £5,684

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 KW14

Figures below are tailored to KW14 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2798 of 2997
14.4 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£564 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2871 of 2997
40.2% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£227 fixed • ~£564 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.1% West −22.0%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
28.36p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
62.07p/day
Local Sunshine
813kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~813 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

Thurso and Northwest Caithness, North, West and Central Sutherland, Wick and East Caithness

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q1 2026

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

KW12 (Highland)
≈9.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~828 kWh/kWp · +2% vs KW14
KW13 (Highland)
≈25.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~780 kWh/kWp · -4% vs KW14
KW1 (Highland)
≈30.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~815 kWh/kWp · +0% vs KW14
KW2 (Highland)
≈34.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~832 kWh/kWp · +2% vs KW14
KW3 (Highland)
≈35.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~838 kWh/kWp · +3% vs KW14
KW5 (Highland)
≈35.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~828 kWh/kWp · +2% vs KW14

Similar sunshine across the UK

KA17 (East Ayrshire)
~813 kWh/kWp · -0% vs KW14
CA13 (Cumberland)
~812 kWh/kWp · -0% vs KW14
KA4 (East Ayrshire)
~814 kWh/kWp · +0% vs KW14