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Solar Panels in PA26 (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).

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
17.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£576
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£4,221
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 684 kWh/kW — 131 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 684 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)
684 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: £576, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1369 kWh 548 kWh 821 kWh £148 £82 £230 £4,069 17.7 yrs £537
3 kW 2053 kWh 821 kWh 1232 kWh £222 £123 £345 £6,104 17.7 yrs £805
4 kW 2738 kWh 1095 kWh 1643 kWh £296 £164 £461 £8,138 17.7 yrs £1,074
5 kW 3422 kWh 1369 kWh 2053 kWh £370 £205 £576 £10,173 17.7 yrs £1,342
6 kW 4106 kWh 1643 kWh 2464 kWh £444 £246 £691 £12,207 17.7 yrs £1,610
7 kW 4791 kWh 1916 kWh 2875 kWh £519 £287 £806 £14,242 17.7 yrs £1,879
8 kW 5475 kWh 2190 kWh 3285 kWh £593 £329 £921 £16,276 17.7 yrs £2,147

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: £692, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1369 kWh 821 kWh 548 kWh £222 £55 £277 £6,169 22.3 yrs £-629
3 kW 2053 kWh 1232 kWh 821 kWh £333 £82 £415 £8,204 19.7 yrs £106
4 kW 2738 kWh 1643 kWh 1095 kWh £444 £110 £554 £10,238 18.5 yrs £842
5 kW 3422 kWh 2053 kWh 1369 kWh £556 £137 £692 £12,273 17.7 yrs £1,577
6 kW 4106 kWh 2464 kWh 1643 kWh £667 £164 £831 £14,307 17.2 yrs £2,313
7 kW 4791 kWh 2875 kWh 1916 kWh £778 £192 £969 £16,342 16.9 yrs £3,048
8 kW 5475 kWh 3285 kWh 2190 kWh £889 £219 £1,108 £18,376 16.6 yrs £3,783

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: £751, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 18.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1369 kWh 958 kWh 411 kWh £259 £41 £300 £7,569 25.2 yrs £-1,562
3 kW 2053 kWh 1437 kWh 616 kWh £389 £62 £451 £9,604 21.3 yrs £-593
4 kW 2738 kWh 1916 kWh 821 kWh £519 £82 £601 £11,638 19.4 yrs £376
5 kW 3422 kWh 2395 kWh 1027 kWh £648 £103 £751 £13,673 18.2 yrs £1,345
6 kW 4106 kWh 2875 kWh 1232 kWh £778 £123 £901 £15,707 17.4 yrs £2,314
7 kW 4791 kWh 3354 kWh 1437 kWh £907 £144 £1,051 £17,742 16.9 yrs £3,283
8 kW 5475 kWh 3833 kWh 1643 kWh £1,037 £164 £1,201 £19,776 16.5 yrs £4,252

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: £768, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1369 kWh 999 kWh 370 kWh £270 £37 £307 £9,319 30.3 yrs £-3,172
3 kW 2053 kWh 1499 kWh 554 kWh £406 £55 £461 £11,354 24.6 yrs £-2,133
4 kW 2738 kWh 1998 kWh 739 kWh £541 £74 £615 £13,388 21.8 yrs £-1,094
5 kW 3422 kWh 2498 kWh 924 kWh £676 £92 £768 £15,423 20.1 yrs £-55
6 kW 4106 kWh 2998 kWh 1109 kWh £811 £111 £922 £17,457 18.9 yrs £984
7 kW 4791 kWh 3497 kWh 1294 kWh £946 £129 £1,076 £19,492 18.1 yrs £2,023
8 kW 5475 kWh 3997 kWh 1478 kWh £1,082 £148 £1,229 £21,526 17.5 yrs £3,062

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: £780, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 22.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1369 kWh 1027 kWh 342 kWh £278 £34 £312 £11,069 35.5 yrs £-4,829
3 kW 2053 kWh 1540 kWh 513 kWh £417 £51 £468 £13,104 28.0 yrs £-3,743
4 kW 2738 kWh 2053 kWh 684 kWh £556 £68 £624 £15,138 24.3 yrs £-2,657
5 kW 3422 kWh 2567 kWh 856 kWh £695 £86 £780 £17,173 22.0 yrs £-1,571
6 kW 4106 kWh 3080 kWh 1027 kWh £833 £103 £936 £19,207 20.5 yrs £-486
7 kW 4791 kWh 3593 kWh 1198 kWh £972 £120 £1,092 £21,242 19.5 yrs £600
8 kW 5475 kWh 4106 kWh 1369 kWh £1,111 £137 £1,248 £23,276 18.6 yrs £1,686

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: £792, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 24.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1369 kWh 1054 kWh 315 kWh £285 £31 £317 £13,519 42.7 yrs £-7,185
3 kW 2053 kWh 1581 kWh 472 kWh £428 £47 £475 £15,554 32.7 yrs £-6,053
4 kW 2738 kWh 2108 kWh 630 kWh £570 £63 £633 £17,588 27.8 yrs £-4,920
5 kW 3422 kWh 2635 kWh 787 kWh £713 £79 £792 £19,623 24.8 yrs £-3,788
6 kW 4106 kWh 3162 kWh 944 kWh £856 £94 £950 £21,657 22.8 yrs £-2,655
7 kW 4791 kWh 3689 kWh 1102 kWh £998 £110 £1,108 £23,692 21.4 yrs £-1,523
8 kW 5475 kWh 4216 kWh 1259 kWh £1,141 £126 £1,267 £25,726 20.3 yrs £-391

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 PA26

Figures below are tailored to PA26 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2988 of 2997
15.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£531 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2988 of 2997
41.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£531 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
684kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~684 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

PA25 (Argyll and Bute)
≈6.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~713 kWh/kWp · +4% vs PA26
PA32 (Argyll and Bute)
≈9.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~719 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA26
PA24 (Argyll and Bute)
≈9.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~719 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA26
PA27 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~723 kWh/kWp · +6% vs PA26
PA33 (Argyll and Bute)
≈16.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~713 kWh/kWp · +4% vs PA26
FK20 (Stirling)
≈25.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~735 kWh/kWp · +7% vs PA26

Similar sunshine across the UK

PH35 (Highland)
~687 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA26
IV54 (Highland)
~689 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA26
IV53 (Highland)
~678 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA26