Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever

Solar Panels in KY3 (Fife)

See if solar pays off for you in Fife — 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
14.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£857
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,211
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

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 874 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)
874 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: £714, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1748 kWh 699 kWh 1049 kWh £181 £105 £286 £4,069 14.2 yrs £1,642
3 kW 2622 kWh 1049 kWh 1573 kWh £271 £157 £428 £6,104 14.2 yrs £2,464
4 kW 3496 kWh 1398 kWh 2098 kWh £361 £210 £571 £8,138 14.2 yrs £3,285
5 kW 4370 kWh 1748 kWh 2622 kWh £452 £262 £714 £10,173 14.2 yrs £4,106
6 kW 5244 kWh 2098 kWh 3147 kWh £542 £315 £857 £12,207 14.2 yrs £4,927
7 kW 6118 kWh 2447 kWh 3671 kWh £632 £367 £1,000 £14,242 14.2 yrs £5,749
8 kW 6992 kWh 2797 kWh 4195 kWh £723 £420 £1,142 £16,276 14.2 yrs £6,570

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: £852, 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 1748 kWh 1049 kWh 699 kWh £271 £70 £341 £6,169 18.1 yrs £650
3 kW 2622 kWh 1573 kWh 1049 kWh £407 £105 £511 £8,204 16.0 yrs £2,025
4 kW 3496 kWh 2098 kWh 1398 kWh £542 £140 £682 £10,238 15.0 yrs £3,400
5 kW 4370 kWh 2622 kWh 1748 kWh £678 £175 £852 £12,273 14.4 yrs £4,775
6 kW 5244 kWh 3147 kWh 2098 kWh £813 £210 £1,023 £14,307 14.0 yrs £6,150
7 kW 6118 kWh 3671 kWh 2447 kWh £949 £245 £1,193 £16,342 13.7 yrs £7,525
8 kW 6992 kWh 4195 kWh 2797 kWh £1,084 £280 £1,364 £18,376 13.5 yrs £8,900

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: £922, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1748 kWh 1224 kWh 524 kWh £316 £52 £369 £7,569 20.5 yrs £-196
3 kW 2622 kWh 1836 kWh 787 kWh £474 £79 £553 £9,604 17.4 yrs £1,456
4 kW 3496 kWh 2447 kWh 1049 kWh £632 £105 £737 £11,638 15.8 yrs £3,108
5 kW 4370 kWh 3059 kWh 1311 kWh £790 £131 £922 £13,673 14.8 yrs £4,760
6 kW 5244 kWh 3671 kWh 1573 kWh £949 £157 £1,106 £15,707 14.2 yrs £6,412
7 kW 6118 kWh 4283 kWh 1836 kWh £1,107 £184 £1,290 £17,742 13.8 yrs £8,063
8 kW 6992 kWh 4895 kWh 2098 kWh £1,265 £210 £1,475 £19,776 13.4 yrs £9,715

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: £942, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1748 kWh 1276 kWh 472 kWh £330 £47 £377 £9,319 24.7 yrs £-1,780
3 kW 2622 kWh 1914 kWh 708 kWh £495 £71 £565 £11,354 20.1 yrs £-45
4 kW 3496 kWh 2552 kWh 944 kWh £660 £94 £754 £13,388 17.8 yrs £1,690
5 kW 4370 kWh 3190 kWh 1180 kWh £824 £118 £942 £15,423 16.4 yrs £3,425
6 kW 5244 kWh 3828 kWh 1416 kWh £989 £142 £1,131 £17,457 15.4 yrs £5,160
7 kW 6118 kWh 4466 kWh 1652 kWh £1,154 £165 £1,319 £19,492 14.8 yrs £6,895
8 kW 6992 kWh 5105 kWh 1888 kWh £1,319 £189 £1,508 £21,526 14.3 yrs £8,630

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: £956, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1748 kWh 1311 kWh 437 kWh £339 £44 £382 £11,069 28.9 yrs £-3,419
3 kW 2622 kWh 1967 kWh 656 kWh £508 £66 £574 £13,104 22.8 yrs £-1,629
4 kW 3496 kWh 2622 kWh 874 kWh £678 £87 £765 £15,138 19.8 yrs £162
5 kW 4370 kWh 3278 kWh 1093 kWh £847 £109 £956 £17,173 18.0 yrs £1,952
6 kW 5244 kWh 3933 kWh 1311 kWh £1,016 £131 £1,147 £19,207 16.7 yrs £3,742
7 kW 6118 kWh 4589 kWh 1530 kWh £1,186 £153 £1,339 £21,242 15.9 yrs £5,533
8 kW 6992 kWh 5244 kWh 1748 kWh £1,355 £175 £1,530 £23,276 15.2 yrs £7,323

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: £970, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1748 kWh 1346 kWh 402 kWh £348 £40 £388 £13,519 34.8 yrs £-5,758
3 kW 2622 kWh 2019 kWh 603 kWh £522 £60 £582 £15,554 26.7 yrs £-3,913
4 kW 3496 kWh 2692 kWh 804 kWh £696 £80 £776 £17,588 22.7 yrs £-2,067
5 kW 4370 kWh 3365 kWh 1005 kWh £870 £101 £970 £19,623 20.2 yrs £-221
6 kW 5244 kWh 4038 kWh 1206 kWh £1,043 £121 £1,164 £21,657 18.6 yrs £1,625
7 kW 6118 kWh 4711 kWh 1407 kWh £1,217 £141 £1,358 £23,692 17.4 yrs £3,470
8 kW 6992 kWh 5384 kWh 1608 kWh £1,391 £161 £1,552 £25,726 16.6 yrs £5,316

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.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
874kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~874 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

Fife (100%)

Areas Covered

Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy, Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay

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.