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 PA35 (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
16.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£614
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£5,169
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 729 kWh/kW — 86 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 729 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)
729 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: £614, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1459 kWh 584 kWh 875 kWh £158 £88 £245 £4,069 16.6 yrs £840
3 kW 2188 kWh 875 kWh 1313 kWh £237 £131 £368 £6,104 16.6 yrs £1,260
4 kW 2918 kWh 1167 kWh 1751 kWh £316 £175 £491 £8,138 16.6 yrs £1,680
5 kW 3647 kWh 1459 kWh 2188 kWh £395 £219 £614 £10,173 16.6 yrs £2,100
6 kW 4377 kWh 1751 kWh 2626 kWh £474 £263 £736 £12,207 16.6 yrs £2,520
7 kW 5106 kWh 2043 kWh 3064 kWh £553 £306 £859 £14,242 16.6 yrs £2,941
8 kW 5836 kWh 2334 kWh 3502 kWh £632 £350 £982 £16,276 16.6 yrs £3,361

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: £738, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1459 kWh 875 kWh 584 kWh £237 £58 £295 £6,169 20.9 yrs £-264
3 kW 2188 kWh 1313 kWh 875 kWh £355 £88 £443 £8,204 18.5 yrs £654
4 kW 2918 kWh 1751 kWh 1167 kWh £474 £117 £590 £10,238 17.3 yrs £1,572
5 kW 3647 kWh 2188 kWh 1459 kWh £592 £146 £738 £12,273 16.6 yrs £2,489
6 kW 4377 kWh 2626 kWh 1751 kWh £711 £175 £886 £14,307 16.2 yrs £3,407
7 kW 5106 kWh 3064 kWh 2043 kWh £829 £204 £1,033 £16,342 15.8 yrs £4,325
8 kW 5836 kWh 3502 kWh 2334 kWh £948 £233 £1,181 £18,376 15.6 yrs £5,243

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: £800, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1459 kWh 1021 kWh 438 kWh £276 £44 £320 £7,569 23.6 yrs £-1,166
3 kW 2188 kWh 1532 kWh 657 kWh £415 £66 £480 £9,604 20.0 yrs £0
4 kW 2918 kWh 2043 kWh 875 kWh £553 £88 £640 £11,638 18.2 yrs £1,167
5 kW 3647 kWh 2553 kWh 1094 kWh £691 £109 £800 £13,673 17.1 yrs £2,334
6 kW 4377 kWh 3064 kWh 1313 kWh £829 £131 £960 £15,707 16.4 yrs £3,501
7 kW 5106 kWh 3575 kWh 1532 kWh £967 £153 £1,120 £17,742 15.8 yrs £4,667
8 kW 5836 kWh 4085 kWh 1751 kWh £1,105 £175 £1,281 £19,776 15.4 yrs £5,834

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: £819, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 18.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1459 kWh 1065 kWh 394 kWh £288 £39 £328 £9,319 28.4 yrs £-2,767
3 kW 2188 kWh 1598 kWh 591 kWh £432 £59 £491 £11,354 23.1 yrs £-1,526
4 kW 2918 kWh 2130 kWh 788 kWh £576 £79 £655 £13,388 20.4 yrs £-284
5 kW 3647 kWh 2663 kWh 985 kWh £721 £98 £819 £15,423 18.8 yrs £957
6 kW 4377 kWh 3195 kWh 1182 kWh £865 £118 £983 £17,457 17.8 yrs £2,199
7 kW 5106 kWh 3728 kWh 1379 kWh £1,009 £138 £1,147 £19,492 17.0 yrs £3,440
8 kW 5836 kWh 4260 kWh 1576 kWh £1,153 £158 £1,310 £21,526 16.4 yrs £4,682

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: £831, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 20.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1459 kWh 1094 kWh 365 kWh £296 £36 £333 £11,069 33.3 yrs £-4,418
3 kW 2188 kWh 1641 kWh 547 kWh £444 £55 £499 £13,104 26.3 yrs £-3,126
4 kW 2918 kWh 2188 kWh 729 kWh £592 £73 £665 £15,138 22.8 yrs £-1,835
5 kW 3647 kWh 2736 kWh 912 kWh £740 £91 £831 £17,173 20.7 yrs £-544
6 kW 4377 kWh 3283 kWh 1094 kWh £888 £109 £998 £19,207 19.3 yrs £747
7 kW 5106 kWh 3830 kWh 1277 kWh £1,036 £128 £1,164 £21,242 18.2 yrs £2,039
8 kW 5836 kWh 4377 kWh 1459 kWh £1,184 £146 £1,330 £23,276 17.5 yrs £3,330

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: £844, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 23.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1459 kWh 1123 kWh 336 kWh £304 £34 £338 £13,519 40.1 yrs £-6,768
3 kW 2188 kWh 1685 kWh 503 kWh £456 £50 £506 £15,554 30.7 yrs £-5,427
4 kW 2918 kWh 2247 kWh 671 kWh £608 £67 £675 £17,588 26.1 yrs £-4,086
5 kW 3647 kWh 2809 kWh 839 kWh £760 £84 £844 £19,623 23.3 yrs £-2,745
6 kW 4377 kWh 3370 kWh 1007 kWh £912 £101 £1,013 £21,657 21.4 yrs £-1,404
7 kW 5106 kWh 3932 kWh 1174 kWh £1,064 £117 £1,181 £23,692 20.1 yrs £-63
8 kW 5836 kWh 4494 kWh 1342 kWh £1,216 £134 £1,350 £25,726 19.1 yrs £1,278

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 PA35

Figures below are tailored to PA35 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2965 of 2997
14.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£566 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2961 of 2997
39.3% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£566 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
729kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~729 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

Oban North and Lorn

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)
≈10.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~779 kWh/kWp · +7% vs PA35
PA34 (Argyll and Bute)
≈14.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~782 kWh/kWp · +7% vs PA35
PA33 (Argyll and Bute)
≈15.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~713 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PA35
PA38 (Argyll and Bute)
≈17.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~694 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PA35
PA32 (Argyll and Bute)
≈24.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~719 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA35
PA25 (Argyll and Bute)
≈26.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~713 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PA35

Similar sunshine across the UK

PA19 (Inverclyde)
~756 kWh/kWp · +4% vs PA35
DL11 (North Yorkshire)
~765 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA35
G84 (Argyll and Bute)
~766 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA35