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Solar Panels in PA21 (Argyll and Bute)

See if solar pays off for you in Argyll and Bute — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

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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
14.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£710
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,583
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 844 kWh/kW — 29 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 844 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)
844 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: £710, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1689 kWh 675 kWh 1013 kWh £183 £101 £284 £4,069 14.3 yrs £1,613
3 kW 2533 kWh 1013 kWh 1520 kWh £274 £152 £426 £6,104 14.3 yrs £2,419
4 kW 3377 kWh 1351 kWh 2026 kWh £366 £203 £568 £8,138 14.3 yrs £3,225
5 kW 4221 kWh 1689 kWh 2533 kWh £457 £253 £710 £10,173 14.3 yrs £4,032
6 kW 5066 kWh 2026 kWh 3039 kWh £548 £304 £852 £12,207 14.3 yrs £4,838
7 kW 5910 kWh 2364 kWh 3546 kWh £640 £355 £994 £14,242 14.3 yrs £5,644
8 kW 6754 kWh 2702 kWh 4053 kWh £731 £405 £1,136 £16,276 14.3 yrs £6,451

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: £854, 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 1689 kWh 1013 kWh 675 kWh £274 £68 £342 £6,169 18.1 yrs £665
3 kW 2533 kWh 1520 kWh 1013 kWh £411 £101 £513 £8,204 16.0 yrs £2,048
4 kW 3377 kWh 2026 kWh 1351 kWh £548 £135 £683 £10,238 15.0 yrs £3,430
5 kW 4221 kWh 2533 kWh 1689 kWh £685 £169 £854 £12,273 14.4 yrs £4,813
6 kW 5066 kWh 3039 kWh 2026 kWh £822 £203 £1,025 £14,307 14.0 yrs £6,195
7 kW 5910 kWh 3546 kWh 2364 kWh £960 £236 £1,196 £16,342 13.7 yrs £7,578
8 kW 6754 kWh 4053 kWh 2702 kWh £1,097 £270 £1,367 £18,376 13.4 yrs £8,960

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: £926, 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 1689 kWh 1182 kWh 507 kWh £320 £51 £371 £7,569 20.4 yrs £-159
3 kW 2533 kWh 1773 kWh 760 kWh £480 £76 £556 £9,604 17.3 yrs £1,512
4 kW 3377 kWh 2364 kWh 1013 kWh £640 £101 £741 £11,638 15.7 yrs £3,182
5 kW 4221 kWh 2955 kWh 1266 kWh £800 £127 £926 £13,673 14.8 yrs £4,853
6 kW 5066 kWh 3546 kWh 1520 kWh £960 £152 £1,112 £15,707 14.1 yrs £6,523
7 kW 5910 kWh 4137 kWh 1773 kWh £1,119 £177 £1,297 £17,742 13.7 yrs £8,194
8 kW 6754 kWh 4728 kWh 2026 kWh £1,279 £203 £1,482 £19,776 13.3 yrs £9,865

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: £948, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1689 kWh 1233 kWh 456 kWh £334 £46 £379 £9,319 24.6 yrs £-1,736
3 kW 2533 kWh 1849 kWh 684 kWh £500 £68 £569 £11,354 20.0 yrs £21
4 kW 3377 kWh 2465 kWh 912 kWh £667 £91 £758 £13,388 17.7 yrs £1,778
5 kW 4221 kWh 3082 kWh 1140 kWh £834 £114 £948 £15,423 16.3 yrs £3,535
6 kW 5066 kWh 3698 kWh 1368 kWh £1,001 £137 £1,137 £17,457 15.3 yrs £5,292
7 kW 5910 kWh 4314 kWh 1596 kWh £1,167 £160 £1,327 £19,492 14.7 yrs £7,049
8 kW 6754 kWh 4931 kWh 1824 kWh £1,334 £182 £1,517 £21,526 14.2 yrs £8,806

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: £962, 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 1689 kWh 1266 kWh 422 kWh £343 £42 £385 £11,069 28.8 yrs £-3,371
3 kW 2533 kWh 1900 kWh 633 kWh £514 £63 £577 £13,104 22.7 yrs £-1,556
4 kW 3377 kWh 2533 kWh 844 kWh £685 £84 £770 £15,138 19.7 yrs £258
5 kW 4221 kWh 3166 kWh 1055 kWh £857 £106 £962 £17,173 17.8 yrs £2,073
6 kW 5066 kWh 3799 kWh 1266 kWh £1,028 £127 £1,155 £19,207 16.6 yrs £3,888
7 kW 5910 kWh 4433 kWh 1478 kWh £1,199 £148 £1,347 £21,242 15.8 yrs £5,702
8 kW 6754 kWh 5066 kWh 1689 kWh £1,371 £169 £1,540 £23,276 15.1 yrs £7,517

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: £977, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1689 kWh 1300 kWh 388 kWh £352 £39 £391 £13,519 34.6 yrs £-5,706
3 kW 2533 kWh 1950 kWh 583 kWh £528 £58 £586 £15,554 26.5 yrs £-3,833
4 kW 3377 kWh 2600 kWh 777 kWh £704 £78 £781 £17,588 22.5 yrs £-1,961
5 kW 4221 kWh 3251 kWh 971 kWh £880 £97 £977 £19,623 20.1 yrs £-89
6 kW 5066 kWh 3901 kWh 1165 kWh £1,056 £117 £1,172 £21,657 18.5 yrs £1,783
7 kW 5910 kWh 4551 kWh 1359 kWh £1,231 £136 £1,367 £23,692 17.3 yrs £3,656
8 kW 6754 kWh 5201 kWh 1553 kWh £1,407 £155 £1,563 £25,726 16.5 yrs £5,528

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 PA21

Figures below are tailored to PA21 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2623 of 2997
12.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£655 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2800 of 2997
34.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£655 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
844kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~844 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

Argyll and Bute (100%)

Areas Covered

Cowal

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

PA22 (Argyll and Bute)
≈7.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~766 kWh/kWp · -9% vs PA21
PA29 (Argyll and Bute)
≈12.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~820 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PA21
PA20 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~841 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA21
PA30 (Argyll and Bute)
≈17.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~785 kWh/kWp · -7% vs PA21
PA31 (Argyll and Bute)
≈19.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~787 kWh/kWp · -7% vs PA21
PA23 (Argyll and Bute)
≈20.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~789 kWh/kWp · -7% vs PA21

Similar sunshine across the UK

ML1 (North Lanarkshire)
~844 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA21
ML10 (South Lanarkshire)
~844 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA21
BB18 (Pendle)
~844 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA21