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Solar panel cost in Argyll and Bute (PA36)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for PA36 (Argyll and Bute) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

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
19.0 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£536
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£3,233
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 23.40p/kWh with a 58.28p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 698 kWh/kW — 117 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 698 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 23.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
23.4p/kWh
Standing charge
58.3p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
698 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: £536, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1396 kWh 559 kWh 838 kWh £131 £84 £214 £4,069 19.0 yrs £221
3 kW 2095 kWh 838 kWh 1257 kWh £196 £126 £322 £6,104 19.0 yrs £331
4 kW 2793 kWh 1117 kWh 1676 kWh £261 £168 £429 £8,138 19.0 yrs £442
5 kW 3491 kWh 1396 kWh 2095 kWh £327 £209 £536 £10,173 19.0 yrs £552
6 kW 4189 kWh 1676 kWh 2514 kWh £392 £251 £643 £12,207 19.0 yrs £663
7 kW 4888 kWh 1955 kWh 2933 kWh £457 £293 £751 £14,242 19.0 yrs £773
8 kW 5586 kWh 2234 kWh 3352 kWh £523 £335 £858 £16,276 19.0 yrs £884

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: £630, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1396 kWh 838 kWh 559 kWh £196 £56 £252 £6,169 24.5 yrs £-1,131
3 kW 2095 kWh 1257 kWh 838 kWh £294 £84 £378 £8,204 21.7 yrs £-646
4 kW 2793 kWh 1676 kWh 1117 kWh £392 £112 £504 £10,238 20.3 yrs £-161
5 kW 3491 kWh 2095 kWh 1396 kWh £490 £140 £630 £12,273 19.5 yrs £324
6 kW 4189 kWh 2514 kWh 1676 kWh £588 £168 £756 £14,307 18.9 yrs £808
7 kW 4888 kWh 2933 kWh 1955 kWh £686 £196 £882 £16,342 18.5 yrs £1,293
8 kW 5586 kWh 3352 kWh 2234 kWh £784 £223 £1,008 £18,376 18.2 yrs £1,778

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: £677, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 20.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1396 kWh 978 kWh 419 kWh £229 £42 £271 £7,569 28.0 yrs £-2,156
3 kW 2095 kWh 1466 kWh 628 kWh £343 £63 £406 £9,604 23.7 yrs £-1,485
4 kW 2793 kWh 1955 kWh 838 kWh £457 £84 £541 £11,638 21.5 yrs £-813
5 kW 3491 kWh 2444 kWh 1047 kWh £572 £105 £677 £13,673 20.2 yrs £-141
6 kW 4189 kWh 2933 kWh 1257 kWh £686 £126 £812 £15,707 19.3 yrs £531
7 kW 4888 kWh 3421 kWh 1466 kWh £801 £147 £947 £17,742 18.7 yrs £1,203
8 kW 5586 kWh 3910 kWh 1676 kWh £915 £168 £1,083 £19,776 18.3 yrs £1,875

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: £691, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 22.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1396 kWh 1019 kWh 377 kWh £239 £38 £276 £9,319 33.7 yrs £-3,794
3 kW 2095 kWh 1529 kWh 566 kWh £358 £57 £414 £11,354 27.4 yrs £-3,066
4 kW 2793 kWh 2039 kWh 754 kWh £477 £75 £552 £13,388 24.2 yrs £-2,338
5 kW 3491 kWh 2549 kWh 943 kWh £596 £94 £691 £15,423 22.3 yrs £-1,610
6 kW 4189 kWh 3058 kWh 1131 kWh £716 £113 £829 £17,457 21.1 yrs £-882
7 kW 4888 kWh 3568 kWh 1320 kWh £835 £132 £967 £19,492 20.2 yrs £-154
8 kW 5586 kWh 4078 kWh 1508 kWh £954 £151 £1,105 £21,526 19.5 yrs £574

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: £700, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 24.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1396 kWh 1047 kWh 349 kWh £245 £35 £280 £11,069 39.5 yrs £-5,469
3 kW 2095 kWh 1571 kWh 524 kWh £368 £52 £420 £13,104 31.2 yrs £-4,704
4 kW 2793 kWh 2095 kWh 698 kWh £490 £70 £560 £15,138 27.0 yrs £-3,938
5 kW 3491 kWh 2618 kWh 873 kWh £613 £87 £700 £17,173 24.5 yrs £-3,173
6 kW 4189 kWh 3142 kWh 1047 kWh £735 £105 £840 £19,207 22.9 yrs £-2,408
7 kW 4888 kWh 3666 kWh 1222 kWh £858 £122 £980 £21,242 21.7 yrs £-1,642
8 kW 5586 kWh 4189 kWh 1396 kWh £980 £140 £1,120 £23,276 20.8 yrs £-877

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: £709, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 27.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1396 kWh 1075 kWh 321 kWh £252 £32 £284 £13,519 47.6 yrs £-7,844
3 kW 2095 kWh 1613 kWh 482 kWh £377 £48 £426 £15,554 36.5 yrs £-7,042
4 kW 2793 kWh 2151 kWh 642 kWh £503 £64 £567 £17,588 31.0 yrs £-6,239
5 kW 3491 kWh 2688 kWh 803 kWh £629 £80 £709 £19,623 27.7 yrs £-5,436
6 kW 4189 kWh 3226 kWh 964 kWh £755 £96 £851 £21,657 25.4 yrs £-4,633
7 kW 4888 kWh 3763 kWh 1124 kWh £881 £112 £993 £23,692 23.9 yrs £-3,830
8 kW 5586 kWh 4301 kWh 1285 kWh £1,006 £128 £1,135 £25,726 22.7 yrs £-3,027

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 PA36

Figures below are tailored to PA36 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2984 of 2997
16.8 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£484 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2982 of 2997
46.8% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£227 fixed • ~£484 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −16.5% West −19.0%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in PA36

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 12 Jan 29 Feb 62 Mar 92 Apr 105 May 97 Jun 97 Jul 83 Aug 59 Sep 37 Oct 19 Nov 7 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 27.9% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: May / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 16 kWh per month; the average month produces around 58 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 65 kWh in winter, or 233 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
23.40p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
58.28p/day
Local Sunshine
698kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~698 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, Q1 2026

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

FK20 (Stirling)
≈16.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~735 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA36
PA33 (Argyll and Bute)
≈19.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~713 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PA36
PH50 (Highland)
≈24.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~653 kWh/kWp · -6% vs PA36
PA40 (Highland)
≈25.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~633 kWh/kWp · -9% vs PA36
FK21 (Stirling)
≈28.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~768 kWh/kWp · +10% vs PA36
PA39 (Highland)
≈28.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~583 kWh/kWp · -16% vs PA36

Similar sunshine across the UK

PH34 (Highland)
~701 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA36
PH21 (Highland)
~701 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA36
IV52 (Highland)
~702 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA36