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Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PA28 (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
13.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£771
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£9,091
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 916 kWh/kW — 101 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 916 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)
916 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: £771, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1832 kWh 733 kWh 1099 kWh £198 £110 £308 £4,069 13.2 yrs £2,095
3 kW 2748 kWh 1099 kWh 1649 kWh £297 £165 £462 £6,104 13.2 yrs £3,143
4 kW 3664 kWh 1466 kWh 2198 kWh £397 £220 £616 £8,138 13.2 yrs £4,191
5 kW 4580 kWh 1832 kWh 2748 kWh £496 £275 £771 £10,173 13.2 yrs £5,239
6 kW 5496 kWh 2198 kWh 3298 kWh £595 £330 £925 £12,207 13.2 yrs £6,286
7 kW 6412 kWh 2565 kWh 3847 kWh £694 £385 £1,079 £14,242 13.2 yrs £7,334
8 kW 7328 kWh 2931 kWh 4397 kWh £793 £440 £1,233 £16,276 13.2 yrs £8,382

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: £927, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1832 kWh 1099 kWh 733 kWh £297 £73 £371 £6,169 16.6 yrs £1,246
3 kW 2748 kWh 1649 kWh 1099 kWh £446 £110 £556 £8,204 14.8 yrs £2,918
4 kW 3664 kWh 2198 kWh 1466 kWh £595 £147 £741 £10,238 13.8 yrs £4,591
5 kW 4580 kWh 2748 kWh 1832 kWh £744 £183 £927 £12,273 13.2 yrs £6,264
6 kW 5496 kWh 3298 kWh 2198 kWh £892 £220 £1,112 £14,307 12.9 yrs £7,937
7 kW 6412 kWh 3847 kWh 2565 kWh £1,041 £256 £1,298 £16,342 12.6 yrs £9,610
8 kW 7328 kWh 4397 kWh 2931 kWh £1,190 £293 £1,483 £18,376 12.4 yrs £11,282

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: £1,005, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1832 kWh 1282 kWh 550 kWh £347 £55 £402 £7,569 18.8 yrs £471
3 kW 2748 kWh 1924 kWh 824 kWh £521 £82 £603 £9,604 15.9 yrs £2,456
4 kW 3664 kWh 2565 kWh 1099 kWh £694 £110 £804 £11,638 14.5 yrs £4,441
5 kW 4580 kWh 3206 kWh 1374 kWh £868 £137 £1,005 £13,673 13.6 yrs £6,427
6 kW 5496 kWh 3847 kWh 1649 kWh £1,041 £165 £1,206 £15,707 13.0 yrs £8,412
7 kW 6412 kWh 4488 kWh 1924 kWh £1,215 £192 £1,407 £17,742 12.6 yrs £10,397
8 kW 7328 kWh 5130 kWh 2198 kWh £1,388 £220 £1,608 £19,776 12.3 yrs £12,383

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: £1,028, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1832 kWh 1337 kWh 495 kWh £362 £49 £411 £9,319 22.7 yrs £-1,092
3 kW 2748 kWh 2006 kWh 742 kWh £543 £74 £617 £11,354 18.4 yrs £987
4 kW 3664 kWh 2675 kWh 989 kWh £724 £99 £823 £13,388 16.3 yrs £3,066
5 kW 4580 kWh 3343 kWh 1237 kWh £905 £124 £1,028 £15,423 15.0 yrs £5,146
6 kW 5496 kWh 4012 kWh 1484 kWh £1,086 £148 £1,234 £17,457 14.1 yrs £7,225
7 kW 6412 kWh 4681 kWh 1731 kWh £1,267 £173 £1,440 £19,492 13.5 yrs £9,304
8 kW 7328 kWh 5350 kWh 1979 kWh £1,448 £198 £1,645 £21,526 13.1 yrs £11,383

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: £1,044, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1832 kWh 1374 kWh 458 kWh £372 £46 £418 £11,069 26.5 yrs £-2,717
3 kW 2748 kWh 2061 kWh 687 kWh £558 £69 £626 £13,104 20.9 yrs £-575
4 kW 3664 kWh 2748 kWh 916 kWh £744 £92 £835 £15,138 18.1 yrs £1,567
5 kW 4580 kWh 3435 kWh 1145 kWh £930 £115 £1,044 £17,173 16.4 yrs £3,708
6 kW 5496 kWh 4122 kWh 1374 kWh £1,115 £137 £1,253 £19,207 15.3 yrs £5,850
7 kW 6412 kWh 4809 kWh 1603 kWh £1,301 £160 £1,462 £21,242 14.5 yrs £7,991
8 kW 7328 kWh 5496 kWh 1832 kWh £1,487 £183 £1,670 £23,276 13.9 yrs £10,133

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: £1,060, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1832 kWh 1411 kWh 421 kWh £382 £42 £424 £13,519 31.9 yrs £-5,042
3 kW 2748 kWh 2116 kWh 632 kWh £573 £63 £636 £15,554 24.5 yrs £-2,838
4 kW 3664 kWh 2821 kWh 843 kWh £763 £84 £848 £17,588 20.7 yrs £-633
5 kW 4580 kWh 3527 kWh 1053 kWh £954 £105 £1,060 £19,623 18.5 yrs £1,571
6 kW 5496 kWh 4232 kWh 1264 kWh £1,145 £126 £1,272 £21,657 17.0 yrs £3,775
7 kW 6412 kWh 4937 kWh 1475 kWh £1,336 £147 £1,484 £23,692 16.0 yrs £5,979
8 kW 7328 kWh 5643 kWh 1685 kWh £1,527 £169 £1,695 £25,726 15.2 yrs £8,183

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 PA28

Figures below are tailored to PA28 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #1800 of 2997
11.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£710 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2683 of 2997
31.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£710 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
916kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~916 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

South Kintyre, Kintyre and the Islands

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

PA41 (Argyll and Bute)
≈29.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~847 kWh/kWp · -8% vs PA28
KA27 (North Ayrshire)
≈31.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~879 kWh/kWp · -4% vs PA28
PA42 (Argyll and Bute)
≈43.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~890 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PA28
PA29 (Argyll and Bute)
≈50.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~820 kWh/kWp · -10% vs PA28
PA60 (Argyll and Bute)
≈51.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~864 kWh/kWp · -6% vs PA28
PA45 (Argyll and Bute)
≈55.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~855 kWh/kWp · -7% vs PA28

Similar sunshine across the UK

TS8 (Middlesbrough)
~916 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA28
ST11 (Staffordshire Moorlands)
~916 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA28
DL14 (County Durham)
~916 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA28