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Solar Panels in PA27 (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
16.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£608
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£5,029
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 723 kWh/kW — 92 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 723 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)
723 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: £608, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1446 kWh 578 kWh 867 kWh £156 £87 £243 £4,069 16.7 yrs £796
3 kW 2169 kWh 867 kWh 1301 kWh £235 £130 £365 £6,104 16.7 yrs £1,193
4 kW 2891 kWh 1157 kWh 1735 kWh £313 £173 £486 £8,138 16.7 yrs £1,591
5 kW 3614 kWh 1446 kWh 2169 kWh £391 £217 £608 £10,173 16.7 yrs £1,989
6 kW 4337 kWh 1735 kWh 2602 kWh £469 £260 £730 £12,207 16.7 yrs £2,387
7 kW 5060 kWh 2024 kWh 3036 kWh £548 £304 £851 £14,242 16.7 yrs £2,784
8 kW 5783 kWh 2313 kWh 3470 kWh £626 £347 £973 £16,276 16.7 yrs £3,182

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: £731, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1446 kWh 867 kWh 578 kWh £235 £58 £293 £6,169 21.1 yrs £-318
3 kW 2169 kWh 1301 kWh 867 kWh £352 £87 £439 £8,204 18.7 yrs £573
4 kW 2891 kWh 1735 kWh 1157 kWh £469 £116 £585 £10,238 17.5 yrs £1,464
5 kW 3614 kWh 2169 kWh 1446 kWh £587 £145 £731 £12,273 16.8 yrs £2,355
6 kW 4337 kWh 2602 kWh 1735 kWh £704 £173 £878 £14,307 16.3 yrs £3,246
7 kW 5060 kWh 3036 kWh 2024 kWh £822 £202 £1,024 £16,342 16.0 yrs £4,137
8 kW 5783 kWh 3470 kWh 2313 kWh £939 £231 £1,170 £18,376 15.7 yrs £5,028

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: £793, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1446 kWh 1012 kWh 434 kWh £274 £43 £317 £7,569 23.9 yrs £-1,225
3 kW 2169 kWh 1518 kWh 651 kWh £411 £65 £476 £9,604 20.2 yrs £-87
4 kW 2891 kWh 2024 kWh 867 kWh £548 £87 £634 £11,638 18.3 yrs £1,051
5 kW 3614 kWh 2530 kWh 1084 kWh £685 £108 £793 £13,673 17.2 yrs £2,188
6 kW 4337 kWh 3036 kWh 1301 kWh £822 £130 £952 £15,707 16.5 yrs £3,326
7 kW 5060 kWh 3542 kWh 1518 kWh £958 £152 £1,110 £17,742 16.0 yrs £4,464
8 kW 5783 kWh 4048 kWh 1735 kWh £1,095 £173 £1,269 £19,776 15.6 yrs £5,602

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: £812, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1446 kWh 1055 kWh 390 kWh £286 £39 £325 £9,319 28.7 yrs £-2,827
3 kW 2169 kWh 1583 kWh 586 kWh £428 £59 £487 £11,354 23.3 yrs £-1,615
4 kW 2891 kWh 2111 kWh 781 kWh £571 £78 £649 £13,388 20.6 yrs £-403
5 kW 3614 kWh 2638 kWh 976 kWh £714 £98 £812 £15,423 19.0 yrs £808
6 kW 4337 kWh 3166 kWh 1171 kWh £857 £117 £974 £17,457 17.9 yrs £2,020
7 kW 5060 kWh 3694 kWh 1366 kWh £1,000 £137 £1,136 £19,492 17.2 yrs £3,232
8 kW 5783 kWh 4222 kWh 1561 kWh £1,142 £156 £1,298 £21,526 16.6 yrs £4,443

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: £824, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 20.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1446 kWh 1084 kWh 361 kWh £293 £36 £330 £11,069 33.6 yrs £-4,478
3 kW 2169 kWh 1626 kWh 542 kWh £440 £54 £494 £13,104 26.5 yrs £-3,217
4 kW 2891 kWh 2169 kWh 723 kWh £587 £72 £659 £15,138 23.0 yrs £-1,956
5 kW 3614 kWh 2711 kWh 904 kWh £734 £90 £824 £17,173 20.8 yrs £-695
6 kW 4337 kWh 3253 kWh 1084 kWh £880 £108 £989 £19,207 19.4 yrs £566
7 kW 5060 kWh 3795 kWh 1265 kWh £1,027 £127 £1,153 £21,242 18.4 yrs £1,827
8 kW 5783 kWh 4337 kWh 1446 kWh £1,174 £145 £1,318 £23,276 17.7 yrs £3,088

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: £836, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 23.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1446 kWh 1113 kWh 333 kWh £301 £33 £334 £13,519 40.4 yrs £-6,829
3 kW 2169 kWh 1670 kWh 499 kWh £452 £50 £502 £15,554 31.0 yrs £-5,519
4 kW 2891 kWh 2226 kWh 665 kWh £602 £67 £669 £17,588 26.3 yrs £-4,209
5 kW 3614 kWh 2783 kWh 831 kWh £753 £83 £836 £19,623 23.5 yrs £-2,898
6 kW 4337 kWh 3340 kWh 998 kWh £904 £100 £1,003 £21,657 21.6 yrs £-1,588
7 kW 5060 kWh 3896 kWh 1164 kWh £1,054 £116 £1,171 £23,692 20.2 yrs £-278
8 kW 5783 kWh 4453 kWh 1330 kWh £1,205 £133 £1,338 £25,726 19.2 yrs £1,033

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 PA27

Figures below are tailored to PA27 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2967 of 2997
14.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£560 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2964 of 2997
39.8% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£560 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
723kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~723 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, Dunoon

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

PA32 (Argyll and Bute)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~719 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA27
PA25 (Argyll and Bute)
≈7.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~713 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA27
PA24 (Argyll and Bute)
≈11.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~719 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA27
PA26 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~684 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PA27
PA22 (Argyll and Bute)
≈24.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~766 kWh/kWp · +6% vs PA27
PA23 (Argyll and Bute)
≈25.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~789 kWh/kWp · +9% vs PA27

Similar sunshine across the UK

PA19 (Inverclyde)
~756 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA27
DL11 (North Yorkshire)
~765 kWh/kWp · +6% vs PA27
G84 (Argyll and Bute)
~766 kWh/kWp · +6% vs PA27