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Solar Panels in PA37 (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
15.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£655
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,211
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 779 kWh/kW — 36 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 779 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)
779 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: £655, 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 1558 kWh 623 kWh 935 kWh £169 £93 £262 £4,069 15.5 yrs £1,174
3 kW 2337 kWh 935 kWh 1402 kWh £253 £140 £393 £6,104 15.5 yrs £1,761
4 kW 3116 kWh 1247 kWh 1870 kWh £337 £187 £524 £8,138 15.5 yrs £2,348
5 kW 3895 kWh 1558 kWh 2337 kWh £422 £234 £655 £10,173 15.5 yrs £2,935
6 kW 4674 kWh 1870 kWh 2805 kWh £506 £280 £786 £12,207 15.5 yrs £3,521
7 kW 5453 kWh 2181 kWh 3272 kWh £590 £327 £917 £14,242 15.5 yrs £4,108
8 kW 6233 kWh 2493 kWh 3740 kWh £675 £374 £1,049 £16,276 15.5 yrs £4,695

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: £788, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1558 kWh 935 kWh 623 kWh £253 £62 £315 £6,169 19.6 yrs £137
3 kW 2337 kWh 1402 kWh 935 kWh £379 £93 £473 £8,204 17.3 yrs £1,256
4 kW 3116 kWh 1870 kWh 1247 kWh £506 £125 £631 £10,238 16.2 yrs £2,374
5 kW 3895 kWh 2337 kWh 1558 kWh £632 £156 £788 £12,273 15.6 yrs £3,493
6 kW 4674 kWh 2805 kWh 1870 kWh £759 £187 £946 £14,307 15.1 yrs £4,611
7 kW 5453 kWh 3272 kWh 2181 kWh £885 £218 £1,104 £16,342 14.8 yrs £5,730
8 kW 6233 kWh 3740 kWh 2493 kWh £1,012 £249 £1,261 £18,376 14.6 yrs £6,848

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: £855, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1558 kWh 1091 kWh 467 kWh £295 £47 £342 £7,569 22.1 yrs £-731
3 kW 2337 kWh 1636 kWh 701 kWh £443 £70 £513 £9,604 18.7 yrs £653
4 kW 3116 kWh 2181 kWh 935 kWh £590 £93 £684 £11,638 17.0 yrs £2,037
5 kW 3895 kWh 2727 kWh 1169 kWh £738 £117 £855 £13,673 16.0 yrs £3,422
6 kW 4674 kWh 3272 kWh 1402 kWh £885 £140 £1,026 £15,707 15.3 yrs £4,806
7 kW 5453 kWh 3817 kWh 1636 kWh £1,033 £164 £1,197 £17,742 14.8 yrs £6,191
8 kW 6233 kWh 4363 kWh 1870 kWh £1,181 £187 £1,368 £19,776 14.5 yrs £7,575

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: £875, 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 1558 kWh 1137 kWh 421 kWh £308 £42 £350 £9,319 26.6 yrs £-2,322
3 kW 2337 kWh 1706 kWh 631 kWh £462 £63 £525 £11,354 21.6 yrs £-858
4 kW 3116 kWh 2275 kWh 841 kWh £616 £84 £700 £13,388 19.1 yrs £606
5 kW 3895 kWh 2844 kWh 1052 kWh £769 £105 £875 £15,423 17.6 yrs £2,071
6 kW 4674 kWh 3412 kWh 1262 kWh £923 £126 £1,050 £17,457 16.6 yrs £3,535
7 kW 5453 kWh 3981 kWh 1472 kWh £1,077 £147 £1,225 £19,492 15.9 yrs £4,999
8 kW 6233 kWh 4550 kWh 1683 kWh £1,231 £168 £1,399 £21,526 15.4 yrs £6,463

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: £888, 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 1558 kWh 1169 kWh 390 kWh £316 £39 £355 £11,069 31.2 yrs £-3,965
3 kW 2337 kWh 1753 kWh 584 kWh £474 £58 £533 £13,104 24.6 yrs £-2,448
4 kW 3116 kWh 2337 kWh 779 kWh £632 £78 £710 £15,138 21.3 yrs £-931
5 kW 3895 kWh 2922 kWh 974 kWh £791 £97 £888 £17,173 19.3 yrs £586
6 kW 4674 kWh 3506 kWh 1169 kWh £949 £117 £1,066 £19,207 18.0 yrs £2,104
7 kW 5453 kWh 4090 kWh 1363 kWh £1,107 £136 £1,243 £21,242 17.1 yrs £3,621
8 kW 6233 kWh 4674 kWh 1558 kWh £1,265 £156 £1,421 £23,276 16.4 yrs £5,138

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: £901, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1558 kWh 1200 kWh 358 kWh £325 £36 £360 £13,519 37.5 yrs £-6,309
3 kW 2337 kWh 1800 kWh 538 kWh £487 £54 £541 £15,554 28.8 yrs £-4,739
4 kW 3116 kWh 2400 kWh 717 kWh £649 £72 £721 £17,588 24.4 yrs £-3,168
5 kW 3895 kWh 2999 kWh 896 kWh £812 £90 £901 £19,623 21.8 yrs £-1,598
6 kW 4674 kWh 3599 kWh 1075 kWh £974 £108 £1,081 £21,657 20.0 yrs £-27
7 kW 5453 kWh 4199 kWh 1254 kWh £1,136 £125 £1,262 £23,692 18.8 yrs £1,543
8 kW 6233 kWh 4799 kWh 1433 kWh £1,299 £143 £1,442 £25,726 17.8 yrs £3,113

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 PA37

Figures below are tailored to PA37 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2919 of 2997
13.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£604 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2926 of 2997
36.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£604 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
779kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~779 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, Oban South and the Isles

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

PA34 (Argyll and Bute)
≈6.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~782 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA37
PA35 (Argyll and Bute)
≈10.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~729 kWh/kWp · -6% vs PA37
PA38 (Argyll and Bute)
≈12.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~694 kWh/kWp · -11% vs PA37
PA64 (Argyll and Bute)
≈18.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~778 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA37
PA65 (Argyll and Bute)
≈19.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~743 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PA37
PA63 (Argyll and Bute)
≈21.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~791 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PA37

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL27 (Conwy)
~777 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA37
LL21 (Denbighshire)
~785 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA37
PA14 (Inverclyde)
~772 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA37