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Solar Panels in PA32 (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
16.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£605
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£4,947
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 719 kWh/kW — 96 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 719 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)
719 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: £605, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1438 kWh 575 kWh 863 kWh £156 £86 £242 £4,069 16.8 yrs £769
3 kW 2157 kWh 863 kWh 1294 kWh £233 £129 £363 £6,104 16.8 yrs £1,154
4 kW 2876 kWh 1150 kWh 1725 kWh £311 £173 £484 £8,138 16.8 yrs £1,538
5 kW 3595 kWh 1438 kWh 2157 kWh £389 £216 £605 £10,173 16.8 yrs £1,923
6 kW 4314 kWh 1725 kWh 2588 kWh £467 £259 £726 £12,207 16.8 yrs £2,308
7 kW 5033 kWh 2013 kWh 3020 kWh £545 £302 £847 £14,242 16.8 yrs £2,692
8 kW 5752 kWh 2301 kWh 3451 kWh £623 £345 £968 £16,276 16.8 yrs £3,077

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: £727, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1438 kWh 863 kWh 575 kWh £233 £58 £291 £6,169 21.2 yrs £-350
3 kW 2157 kWh 1294 kWh 863 kWh £350 £86 £436 £8,204 18.8 yrs £526
4 kW 2876 kWh 1725 kWh 1150 kWh £467 £115 £582 £10,238 17.6 yrs £1,401
5 kW 3595 kWh 2157 kWh 1438 kWh £584 £144 £727 £12,273 16.9 yrs £2,276
6 kW 4314 kWh 2588 kWh 1725 kWh £700 £173 £873 £14,307 16.4 yrs £3,151
7 kW 5033 kWh 3020 kWh 2013 kWh £817 £201 £1,018 £16,342 16.0 yrs £4,027
8 kW 5752 kWh 3451 kWh 2301 kWh £934 £230 £1,164 £18,376 15.8 yrs £4,902

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: £789, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1438 kWh 1007 kWh 431 kWh £272 £43 £316 £7,569 24.0 yrs £-1,259
3 kW 2157 kWh 1510 kWh 647 kWh £409 £65 £473 £9,604 20.3 yrs £-138
4 kW 2876 kWh 2013 kWh 863 kWh £545 £86 £631 £11,638 18.4 yrs £982
5 kW 3595 kWh 2516 kWh 1078 kWh £681 £108 £789 £13,673 17.3 yrs £2,103
6 kW 4314 kWh 3020 kWh 1294 kWh £817 £129 £947 £15,707 16.6 yrs £3,223
7 kW 5033 kWh 3523 kWh 1510 kWh £953 £151 £1,104 £17,742 16.1 yrs £4,344
8 kW 5752 kWh 4026 kWh 1725 kWh £1,089 £173 £1,262 £19,776 15.7 yrs £5,464

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: £807, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 19.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1438 kWh 1050 kWh 388 kWh £284 £39 £323 £9,319 28.9 yrs £-2,862
3 kW 2157 kWh 1575 kWh 582 kWh £426 £58 £484 £11,354 23.4 yrs £-1,668
4 kW 2876 kWh 2099 kWh 776 kWh £568 £78 £646 £13,388 20.7 yrs £-474
5 kW 3595 kWh 2624 kWh 971 kWh £710 £97 £807 £15,423 19.1 yrs £721
6 kW 4314 kWh 3149 kWh 1165 kWh £852 £116 £969 £17,457 18.0 yrs £1,915
7 kW 5033 kWh 3674 kWh 1359 kWh £994 £136 £1,130 £19,492 17.2 yrs £3,109
8 kW 5752 kWh 4199 kWh 1553 kWh £1,136 £155 £1,291 £21,526 16.7 yrs £4,303

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: £819, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 21.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1438 kWh 1078 kWh 359 kWh £292 £36 £328 £11,069 33.8 yrs £-4,514
3 kW 2157 kWh 1618 kWh 539 kWh £438 £54 £492 £13,104 26.7 yrs £-3,270
4 kW 2876 kWh 2157 kWh 719 kWh £584 £72 £656 £15,138 23.1 yrs £-2,027
5 kW 3595 kWh 2696 kWh 899 kWh £730 £90 £819 £17,173 21.0 yrs £-784
6 kW 4314 kWh 3235 kWh 1078 kWh £875 £108 £983 £19,207 19.5 yrs £459
7 kW 5033 kWh 3774 kWh 1258 kWh £1,021 £126 £1,147 £21,242 18.5 yrs £1,702
8 kW 5752 kWh 4314 kWh 1438 kWh £1,167 £144 £1,311 £23,276 17.8 yrs £2,945

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: £832, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 23.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1438 kWh 1107 kWh 331 kWh £300 £33 £333 £13,519 40.6 yrs £-6,866
3 kW 2157 kWh 1661 kWh 496 kWh £449 £50 £499 £15,554 31.2 yrs £-5,573
4 kW 2876 kWh 2214 kWh 661 kWh £599 £66 £665 £17,588 26.4 yrs £-4,281
5 kW 3595 kWh 2768 kWh 827 kWh £749 £83 £832 £19,623 23.6 yrs £-2,989
6 kW 4314 kWh 3322 kWh 992 kWh £899 £99 £998 £21,657 21.7 yrs £-1,697
7 kW 5033 kWh 3875 kWh 1158 kWh £1,049 £116 £1,164 £23,692 20.3 yrs £-404
8 kW 5752 kWh 4429 kWh 1323 kWh £1,198 £132 £1,331 £25,726 19.3 yrs £888

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 PA32

Figures below are tailored to PA32 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2972 of 2997
14.6 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£557 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2966 of 2997
40.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£557 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
719kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~719 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

Mid Argyll, 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)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~713 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA32
PA27 (Argyll and Bute)
≈7.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~723 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA32
PA26 (Argyll and Bute)
≈9.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~684 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PA32
PA24 (Argyll and Bute)
≈12.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~719 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA32
PA33 (Argyll and Bute)
≈20.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~713 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA32
PA35 (Argyll and Bute)
≈24.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~729 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA32

Similar sunshine across the UK

PA19 (Inverclyde)
~756 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA32
DL11 (North Yorkshire)
~765 kWh/kWp · +6% vs PA32
G84 (Argyll and Bute)
~766 kWh/kWp · +7% vs PA32