Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PA34 (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
15.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£658
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,270
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 782 kWh/kW — 33 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 782 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)
782 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: £658, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1564 kWh 625 kWh 938 kWh £169 £94 £263 £4,069 15.5 yrs £1,193
3 kW 2346 kWh 938 kWh 1407 kWh £254 £141 £395 £6,104 15.5 yrs £1,789
4 kW 3127 kWh 1251 kWh 1876 kWh £339 £188 £526 £8,138 15.5 yrs £2,385
5 kW 3909 kWh 1564 kWh 2346 kWh £423 £235 £658 £10,173 15.5 yrs £2,981
6 kW 4691 kWh 1876 kWh 2815 kWh £508 £281 £789 £12,207 15.5 yrs £3,578
7 kW 5473 kWh 2189 kWh 3284 kWh £592 £328 £921 £14,242 15.5 yrs £4,174
8 kW 6255 kWh 2502 kWh 3753 kWh £677 £375 £1,052 £16,276 15.5 yrs £4,770

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: £791, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1564 kWh 938 kWh 625 kWh £254 £63 £316 £6,169 19.5 yrs £160
3 kW 2346 kWh 1407 kWh 938 kWh £381 £94 £475 £8,204 17.3 yrs £1,290
4 kW 3127 kWh 1876 kWh 1251 kWh £508 £125 £633 £10,238 16.2 yrs £2,419
5 kW 3909 kWh 2346 kWh 1564 kWh £635 £156 £791 £12,273 15.5 yrs £3,549
6 kW 4691 kWh 2815 kWh 1876 kWh £762 £188 £949 £14,307 15.1 yrs £4,679
7 kW 5473 kWh 3284 kWh 2189 kWh £889 £219 £1,108 £16,342 14.8 yrs £5,809
8 kW 6255 kWh 3753 kWh 2502 kWh £1,016 £250 £1,266 £18,376 14.5 yrs £6,939

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: £858, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1564 kWh 1095 kWh 469 kWh £296 £47 £343 £7,569 22.1 yrs £-707
3 kW 2346 kWh 1642 kWh 704 kWh £444 £70 £515 £9,604 18.7 yrs £690
4 kW 3127 kWh 2189 kWh 938 kWh £592 £94 £686 £11,638 17.0 yrs £2,086
5 kW 3909 kWh 2737 kWh 1173 kWh £740 £117 £858 £13,673 15.9 yrs £3,483
6 kW 4691 kWh 3284 kWh 1407 kWh £889 £141 £1,029 £15,707 15.3 yrs £4,880
7 kW 5473 kWh 3831 kWh 1642 kWh £1,037 £164 £1,201 £17,742 14.8 yrs £6,276
8 kW 6255 kWh 4378 kWh 1876 kWh £1,185 £188 £1,372 £19,776 14.4 yrs £7,673

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: £878, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1564 kWh 1142 kWh 422 kWh £309 £42 £351 £9,319 26.5 yrs £-2,297
3 kW 2346 kWh 1712 kWh 633 kWh £463 £63 £527 £11,354 21.6 yrs £-820
4 kW 3127 kWh 2283 kWh 844 kWh £618 £84 £702 £13,388 19.1 yrs £657
5 kW 3909 kWh 2854 kWh 1056 kWh £772 £106 £878 £15,423 17.6 yrs £2,133
6 kW 4691 kWh 3425 kWh 1267 kWh £927 £127 £1,053 £17,457 16.6 yrs £3,610
7 kW 5473 kWh 3995 kWh 1478 kWh £1,081 £148 £1,229 £19,492 15.9 yrs £5,086
8 kW 6255 kWh 4566 kWh 1689 kWh £1,236 £169 £1,404 £21,526 15.3 yrs £6,563

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: £891, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1564 kWh 1173 kWh 391 kWh £317 £39 £356 £11,069 31.1 yrs £-3,940
3 kW 2346 kWh 1759 kWh 586 kWh £476 £59 £535 £13,104 24.5 yrs £-2,410
4 kW 3127 kWh 2346 kWh 782 kWh £635 £78 £713 £15,138 21.2 yrs £-880
5 kW 3909 kWh 2932 kWh 977 kWh £793 £98 £891 £17,173 19.3 yrs £650
6 kW 4691 kWh 3518 kWh 1173 kWh £952 £117 £1,069 £19,207 18.0 yrs £2,180
7 kW 5473 kWh 4105 kWh 1368 kWh £1,111 £137 £1,248 £21,242 17.0 yrs £3,710
8 kW 6255 kWh 4691 kWh 1564 kWh £1,269 £156 £1,426 £23,276 16.3 yrs £5,240

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: £904, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1564 kWh 1204 kWh 360 kWh £326 £36 £362 £13,519 37.4 yrs £-6,283
3 kW 2346 kWh 1806 kWh 539 kWh £489 £54 £543 £15,554 28.7 yrs £-4,700
4 kW 3127 kWh 2408 kWh 719 kWh £652 £72 £724 £17,588 24.3 yrs £-3,117
5 kW 3909 kWh 3010 kWh 899 kWh £815 £90 £904 £19,623 21.7 yrs £-1,533
6 kW 4691 kWh 3612 kWh 1079 kWh £977 £108 £1,085 £21,657 20.0 yrs £50
7 kW 5473 kWh 4214 kWh 1259 kWh £1,140 £126 £1,266 £23,692 18.7 yrs £1,633
8 kW 6255 kWh 4816 kWh 1439 kWh £1,303 £144 £1,447 £25,726 17.8 yrs £3,217

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 PA34

Figures below are tailored to PA34 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2910 of 2997
13.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£606 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2917 of 2997
36.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£606 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
782kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~782 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 (96%)|Highland (4%)

Areas Covered

Oban South and the Isles, Oban North and Lorn, Fort William and Ardnamurchan

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

PA37 (Argyll and Bute)
≈6.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~779 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA34
PA64 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~778 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA34
PA35 (Argyll and Bute)
≈14.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~729 kWh/kWp · -7% vs PA34
PA63 (Argyll and Bute)
≈15.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~791 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA34
PA65 (Argyll and Bute)
≈16.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~743 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PA34
PA38 (Argyll and Bute)
≈19.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~694 kWh/kWp · -11% vs PA34

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL21 (Denbighshire)
~785 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA34
CA8 (Cumberland)
~786 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA34
LL27 (Conwy)
~777 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA34