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Solar panel cost in North Ayrshire (PA17)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for PA17 (North Ayrshire) 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
12.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£9,767
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£780
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,739
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: The official cost per kW is lower above 4 kW, so a 5–6 kW system can pay back a little faster than a 3–4 kW system on otherwise identical assumptions.
  • 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

Panel costs: Uses March 2026 TIC mean installation costs: £1,827/kW up to 4 kW and £1,628/kW above 4 kW.

Other costs: Battery prices are modelled at £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 25.85p/kWh with a 64.17p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 796 kWh/kW — 54 below 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 796 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.9p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.9p/kWh
Standing charge
64.2p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
796 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: £650, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1592 kWh 637 kWh 955 kWh £165 £95 £260 £3,256 12.5 yrs £1,946
3 kW 2387 kWh 955 kWh 1432 kWh £247 £143 £390 £4,883 12.5 yrs £2,919
4 kW 3183 kWh 1273 kWh 1910 kWh £329 £191 £520 £6,511 12.5 yrs £3,892
5 kW 3979 kWh 1592 kWh 2387 kWh £411 £239 £650 £8,139 12.5 yrs £4,865
6 kW 4775 kWh 1910 kWh 2865 kWh £494 £286 £780 £9,767 12.5 yrs £5,838
7 kW 5571 kWh 2228 kWh 3342 kWh £576 £334 £910 £11,394 12.5 yrs £6,811
8 kW 6366 kWh 2547 kWh 3820 kWh £658 £382 £1,040 £13,022 12.5 yrs £7,784

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £776, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1592 kWh 955 kWh 637 kWh £247 £64 £311 £5,356 17.2 yrs £855
3 kW 2387 kWh 1432 kWh 955 kWh £370 £95 £466 £6,983 15.0 yrs £2,332
4 kW 3183 kWh 1910 kWh 1273 kWh £494 £127 £621 £8,611 13.9 yrs £3,810
5 kW 3979 kWh 2387 kWh 1592 kWh £617 £159 £776 £10,239 13.2 yrs £5,287
6 kW 4775 kWh 2865 kWh 1910 kWh £741 £191 £932 £11,867 12.7 yrs £6,765
7 kW 5571 kWh 3342 kWh 2228 kWh £864 £223 £1,087 £13,494 12.4 yrs £8,242
8 kW 6366 kWh 3820 kWh 2547 kWh £987 £255 £1,242 £15,122 12.2 yrs £9,720

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £839, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1592 kWh 1114 kWh 477 kWh £288 £48 £336 £6,756 20.1 yrs £-40
3 kW 2387 kWh 1671 kWh 716 kWh £432 £72 £504 £8,383 16.6 yrs £1,689
4 kW 3183 kWh 2228 kWh 955 kWh £576 £95 £672 £10,011 14.9 yrs £3,419
5 kW 3979 kWh 2785 kWh 1194 kWh £720 £119 £839 £11,639 13.9 yrs £5,149
6 kW 4775 kWh 3342 kWh 1432 kWh £864 £143 £1,007 £13,267 13.2 yrs £6,879
7 kW 5571 kWh 3899 kWh 1671 kWh £1,008 £167 £1,175 £14,894 12.7 yrs £8,608
8 kW 6366 kWh 4457 kWh 1910 kWh £1,152 £191 £1,343 £16,522 12.3 yrs £10,338

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £858, Upfront: £13,389, 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 1592 kWh 1162 kWh 430 kWh £300 £43 £343 £8,506 24.8 yrs £-1,639
3 kW 2387 kWh 1743 kWh 645 kWh £451 £64 £515 £10,133 19.7 yrs £166
4 kW 3183 kWh 2324 kWh 859 kWh £601 £86 £687 £11,761 17.1 yrs £1,972
5 kW 3979 kWh 2905 kWh 1074 kWh £751 £107 £858 £13,389 15.6 yrs £3,777
6 kW 4775 kWh 3486 kWh 1289 kWh £901 £129 £1,030 £15,017 14.6 yrs £5,583
7 kW 5571 kWh 4067 kWh 1504 kWh £1,051 £150 £1,202 £16,644 13.9 yrs £7,388
8 kW 6366 kWh 4648 kWh 1719 kWh £1,201 £172 £1,373 £18,272 13.3 yrs £9,194

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £871, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 17.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1592 kWh 1194 kWh 398 kWh £309 £40 £348 £10,256 29.4 yrs £-3,288
3 kW 2387 kWh 1791 kWh 597 kWh £463 £60 £523 £11,883 22.7 yrs £-1,432
4 kW 3183 kWh 2387 kWh 796 kWh £617 £80 £697 £13,511 19.4 yrs £424
5 kW 3979 kWh 2984 kWh 995 kWh £771 £99 £871 £15,139 17.4 yrs £2,279
6 kW 4775 kWh 3581 kWh 1194 kWh £926 £119 £1,045 £16,767 16.0 yrs £4,135
7 kW 5571 kWh 4178 kWh 1393 kWh £1,080 £139 £1,219 £18,394 15.1 yrs £5,991
8 kW 6366 kWh 4775 kWh 1592 kWh £1,234 £159 £1,393 £20,022 14.4 yrs £7,847

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £884, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 19.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1592 kWh 1226 kWh 366 kWh £317 £37 £353 £12,706 36.0 yrs £-5,637
3 kW 2387 kWh 1838 kWh 549 kWh £475 £55 £530 £14,333 27.0 yrs £-3,731
4 kW 3183 kWh 2451 kWh 732 kWh £634 £73 £707 £15,961 22.6 yrs £-1,825
5 kW 3979 kWh 3064 kWh 915 kWh £792 £92 £884 £17,589 19.9 yrs £82
6 kW 4775 kWh 3677 kWh 1098 kWh £950 £110 £1,060 £19,217 18.1 yrs £1,988
7 kW 5571 kWh 4289 kWh 1281 kWh £1,109 £128 £1,237 £20,844 16.9 yrs £3,894
8 kW 6366 kWh 4902 kWh 1464 kWh £1,267 £146 £1,414 £22,472 15.9 yrs £5,801

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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.

Before you request quotes in North Ayrshire

Use the numbers above to sanity-check installer quotes. The main things to compare are system size, battery assumptions, payback claims, MCS certification, DNO paperwork and export assumptions.

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Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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Insights for PA17

Figures below are tailored to PA17 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2720 of 2996
12.5 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£780 /yr • £9,767 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2145 of 2996
30.0% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£234 fixed • ~£780 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −17.2% West −21.3%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in PA17

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 18 Jan 35 Feb 66 Mar 102 Apr 114 May 108 Jun 106 Jul 94 Aug 68 Sep 45 Oct 26 Nov 14 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 33.6% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: May / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 22 kWh per month; the average month produces around 66 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 89 kWh in winter, or 265 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.85p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
64.17p/day
Local Sunshine
796kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~796 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 (93%)|Inverclyde (7%)

Areas Covered

North Coast, Inverclyde Central

Data Sources & Assumptions

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

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q3 2026

Installation costs: DESNZ/MCS data, March 2026 (TIC)

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

PA18 (Inverclyde)
≈2.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~789 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA17
KA30 (North Ayrshire)
≈8.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~851 kWh/kWp · +7% vs PA17
PA19 (Inverclyde)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~756 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PA17
PA16 (Inverclyde)
≈10.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~808 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PA17
PA15 (Inverclyde)
≈12.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~835 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA17
KA29 (North Ayrshire)
≈12.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~845 kWh/kWp · +6% vs PA17

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT82 (Derry City and Strabane)
~795 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA17
LL47 (Gwynedd)
~795 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA17
IV6 (Highland)
~798 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA17