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Solar Panels in KW8 (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
14.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£692
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,128
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 823 kWh/kW — 8 above 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 823 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)
823 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: £692, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1645 kWh 658 kWh 987 kWh £178 £99 £277 £4,069 14.7 yrs £1,467
3 kW 2468 kWh 987 kWh 1481 kWh £267 £148 £415 £6,104 14.7 yrs £2,201
4 kW 3291 kWh 1316 kWh 1974 kWh £356 £197 £554 £8,138 14.7 yrs £2,935
5 kW 4113 kWh 1645 kWh 2468 kWh £445 £247 £692 £10,173 14.7 yrs £3,668
6 kW 4936 kWh 1974 kWh 2962 kWh £534 £296 £830 £12,207 14.7 yrs £4,402
7 kW 5759 kWh 2304 kWh 3455 kWh £623 £346 £969 £14,242 14.7 yrs £5,136
8 kW 6581 kWh 2633 kWh 3949 kWh £712 £395 £1,107 £16,276 14.7 yrs £5,869

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: £832, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1645 kWh 987 kWh 658 kWh £267 £66 £333 £6,169 18.5 yrs £490
3 kW 2468 kWh 1481 kWh 987 kWh £401 £99 £499 £8,204 16.4 yrs £1,785
4 kW 3291 kWh 1974 kWh 1316 kWh £534 £132 £666 £10,238 15.4 yrs £3,080
5 kW 4113 kWh 2468 kWh 1645 kWh £668 £165 £832 £12,273 14.7 yrs £4,375
6 kW 4936 kWh 2962 kWh 1974 kWh £801 £197 £999 £14,307 14.3 yrs £5,670
7 kW 5759 kWh 3455 kWh 2304 kWh £935 £230 £1,165 £16,342 14.0 yrs £6,965
8 kW 6581 kWh 3949 kWh 2633 kWh £1,069 £263 £1,332 £18,376 13.8 yrs £8,260

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: £903, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1645 kWh 1152 kWh 494 kWh £312 £49 £361 £7,569 21.0 yrs £-349
3 kW 2468 kWh 1728 kWh 740 kWh £467 £74 £542 £9,604 17.7 yrs £1,227
4 kW 3291 kWh 2304 kWh 987 kWh £623 £99 £722 £11,638 16.1 yrs £2,803
5 kW 4113 kWh 2879 kWh 1234 kWh £779 £123 £903 £13,673 15.1 yrs £4,379
6 kW 4936 kWh 3455 kWh 1481 kWh £935 £148 £1,083 £15,707 14.5 yrs £5,954
7 kW 5759 kWh 4031 kWh 1728 kWh £1,091 £173 £1,264 £17,742 14.0 yrs £7,530
8 kW 6581 kWh 4607 kWh 1974 kWh £1,247 £197 £1,444 £19,776 13.7 yrs £9,106

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: £924, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1645 kWh 1201 kWh 444 kWh £325 £44 £369 £9,319 25.2 yrs £-1,930
3 kW 2468 kWh 1802 kWh 666 kWh £488 £67 £554 £11,354 20.5 yrs £-270
4 kW 3291 kWh 2402 kWh 888 kWh £650 £89 £739 £13,388 18.1 yrs £1,390
5 kW 4113 kWh 3003 kWh 1111 kWh £813 £111 £924 £15,423 16.7 yrs £3,050
6 kW 4936 kWh 3603 kWh 1333 kWh £975 £133 £1,108 £17,457 15.8 yrs £4,710
7 kW 5759 kWh 4204 kWh 1555 kWh £1,138 £155 £1,293 £19,492 15.1 yrs £6,370
8 kW 6581 kWh 4804 kWh 1777 kWh £1,300 £178 £1,478 £21,526 14.6 yrs £8,030

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: £938, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1645 kWh 1234 kWh 411 kWh £334 £41 £375 £11,069 29.5 yrs £-3,568
3 kW 2468 kWh 1851 kWh 617 kWh £501 £62 £563 £13,104 23.3 yrs £-1,852
4 kW 3291 kWh 2468 kWh 823 kWh £668 £82 £750 £15,138 20.2 yrs £-136
5 kW 4113 kWh 3085 kWh 1028 kWh £835 £103 £938 £17,173 18.3 yrs £1,580
6 kW 4936 kWh 3702 kWh 1234 kWh £1,002 £123 £1,125 £19,207 17.1 yrs £3,297
7 kW 5759 kWh 4319 kWh 1440 kWh £1,169 £144 £1,313 £21,242 16.2 yrs £5,013
8 kW 6581 kWh 4936 kWh 1645 kWh £1,336 £165 £1,500 £23,276 15.5 yrs £6,729

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: £952, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1645 kWh 1267 kWh 378 kWh £343 £38 £381 £13,519 35.5 yrs £-5,906
3 kW 2468 kWh 1900 kWh 568 kWh £514 £57 £571 £15,554 27.2 yrs £-4,133
4 kW 3291 kWh 2534 kWh 757 kWh £686 £76 £761 £17,588 23.1 yrs £-2,361
5 kW 4113 kWh 3167 kWh 946 kWh £857 £95 £952 £19,623 20.6 yrs £-589
6 kW 4936 kWh 3801 kWh 1135 kWh £1,028 £114 £1,142 £21,657 19.0 yrs £1,183
7 kW 5759 kWh 4434 kWh 1325 kWh £1,200 £132 £1,332 £23,692 17.8 yrs £2,956
8 kW 6581 kWh 5068 kWh 1514 kWh £1,371 £151 £1,523 £25,726 16.9 yrs £4,728

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 KW8

Figures below are tailored to KW8 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2739 of 2997
12.8 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£638 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2848 of 2997
34.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£638 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
823kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~823 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

East Sutherland and Edderton

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

KW7 (Highland)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~819 kWh/kWp · -0% vs KW8
KW9 (Highland)
≈16.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +1% vs KW8
KW6 (Highland)
≈19.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~814 kWh/kWp · -1% vs KW8
KW5 (Highland)
≈23.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~828 kWh/kWp · +1% vs KW8
KW10 (Highland)
≈24.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~801 kWh/kWp · -3% vs KW8
KW3 (Highland)
≈29.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~838 kWh/kWp · +2% vs KW8

Similar sunshine across the UK

OL14 (Calderdale)
~822 kWh/kWp · -0% vs KW8
G65 (North Lanarkshire)
~822 kWh/kWp · -0% vs KW8
LL25 (Conwy)
~823 kWh/kWp · +0% vs KW8