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Solar panel cost in Argyll and Bute (PA38)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for PA38 (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
16.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£602
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£4,872
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 28.36p/kWh with a 62.07p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 694 kWh/kW — 121 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 694 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 28.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
28.4p/kWh
Standing charge
62.1p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
694 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: £602, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1388 kWh 555 kWh 833 kWh £157 £83 £241 £4,069 16.9 yrs £745
3 kW 2082 kWh 833 kWh 1249 kWh £236 £125 £361 £6,104 16.9 yrs £1,118
4 kW 2776 kWh 1110 kWh 1665 kWh £315 £167 £481 £8,138 16.9 yrs £1,490
5 kW 3470 kWh 1388 kWh 2082 kWh £394 £208 £602 £10,173 16.9 yrs £1,863
6 kW 4164 kWh 1665 kWh 2498 kWh £472 £250 £722 £12,207 16.9 yrs £2,235
7 kW 4857 kWh 1943 kWh 2914 kWh £551 £291 £842 £14,242 16.9 yrs £2,608
8 kW 5551 kWh 2221 kWh 3331 kWh £630 £333 £963 £16,276 16.9 yrs £2,980

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: £729, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1388 kWh 833 kWh 555 kWh £236 £56 £292 £6,169 21.2 yrs £-336
3 kW 2082 kWh 1249 kWh 833 kWh £354 £83 £438 £8,204 18.8 yrs £547
4 kW 2776 kWh 1665 kWh 1110 kWh £472 £111 £583 £10,238 17.6 yrs £1,429
5 kW 3470 kWh 2082 kWh 1388 kWh £590 £139 £729 £12,273 16.8 yrs £2,311
6 kW 4164 kWh 2498 kWh 1665 kWh £708 £167 £875 £14,307 16.4 yrs £3,193
7 kW 4857 kWh 2914 kWh 1943 kWh £827 £194 £1,021 £16,342 16.0 yrs £4,075
8 kW 5551 kWh 3331 kWh 2221 kWh £945 £222 £1,167 £18,376 15.8 yrs £4,957

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: £793, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1388 kWh 971 kWh 416 kWh £276 £42 £317 £7,569 23.9 yrs £-1,226
3 kW 2082 kWh 1457 kWh 625 kWh £413 £62 £476 £9,604 20.2 yrs £-89
4 kW 2776 kWh 1943 kWh 833 kWh £551 £83 £634 £11,638 18.3 yrs £1,048
5 kW 3470 kWh 2429 kWh 1041 kWh £689 £104 £793 £13,673 17.2 yrs £2,185
6 kW 4164 kWh 2914 kWh 1249 kWh £827 £125 £951 £15,707 16.5 yrs £3,322
7 kW 4857 kWh 3400 kWh 1457 kWh £964 £146 £1,110 £17,742 16.0 yrs £4,459
8 kW 5551 kWh 3886 kWh 1665 kWh £1,102 £167 £1,269 £19,776 15.6 yrs £5,596

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: £812, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1388 kWh 1013 kWh 375 kWh £287 £37 £325 £9,319 28.7 yrs £-2,823
3 kW 2082 kWh 1520 kWh 562 kWh £431 £56 £487 £11,354 23.3 yrs £-1,610
4 kW 2776 kWh 2026 kWh 749 kWh £575 £75 £650 £13,388 20.6 yrs £-396
5 kW 3470 kWh 2533 kWh 937 kWh £718 £94 £812 £15,423 19.0 yrs £817
6 kW 4164 kWh 3039 kWh 1124 kWh £862 £112 £974 £17,457 17.9 yrs £2,031
7 kW 4857 kWh 3546 kWh 1312 kWh £1,006 £131 £1,137 £19,492 17.1 yrs £3,244
8 kW 5551 kWh 4052 kWh 1499 kWh £1,149 £150 £1,299 £21,526 16.6 yrs £4,457

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: £825, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 20.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1388 kWh 1041 kWh 347 kWh £295 £35 £330 £11,069 33.6 yrs £-4,471
3 kW 2082 kWh 1561 kWh 520 kWh £443 £52 £495 £13,104 26.5 yrs £-3,207
4 kW 2776 kWh 2082 kWh 694 kWh £590 £69 £660 £15,138 22.9 yrs £-1,942
5 kW 3470 kWh 2602 kWh 867 kWh £738 £87 £825 £17,173 20.8 yrs £-678
6 kW 4164 kWh 3123 kWh 1041 kWh £886 £104 £990 £19,207 19.4 yrs £586
7 kW 4857 kWh 3643 kWh 1214 kWh £1,033 £121 £1,155 £21,242 18.4 yrs £1,851
8 kW 5551 kWh 4164 kWh 1388 kWh £1,181 £139 £1,320 £23,276 17.6 yrs £3,115

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: £837, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 23.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1388 kWh 1069 kWh 319 kWh £303 £32 £335 £13,519 40.4 yrs £-6,819
3 kW 2082 kWh 1603 kWh 479 kWh £455 £48 £502 £15,554 31.0 yrs £-5,504
4 kW 2776 kWh 2137 kWh 638 kWh £606 £64 £670 £17,588 26.3 yrs £-4,189
5 kW 3470 kWh 2672 kWh 798 kWh £758 £80 £837 £19,623 23.4 yrs £-2,873
6 kW 4164 kWh 3206 kWh 958 kWh £909 £96 £1,005 £21,657 21.6 yrs £-1,558
7 kW 4857 kWh 3740 kWh 1117 kWh £1,061 £112 £1,172 £23,692 20.2 yrs £-243
8 kW 5551 kWh 4275 kWh 1277 kWh £1,212 £128 £1,340 £25,726 19.2 yrs £1,073

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 PA38

Figures below are tailored to PA38 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2985 of 2997
16.9 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£481 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2985 of 2997
47.1% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£227 fixed • ~£481 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −18.9% West −19.2%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
28.36p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
62.07p/day
Local Sunshine
694kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~694 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 (67%)|Highland (33%)

Areas Covered

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, 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

PA37 (Argyll and Bute)
≈12.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~779 kWh/kWp · +12% vs PA38
PA35 (Argyll and Bute)
≈17.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~729 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA38
PH49 (Highland)
≈18.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~627 kWh/kWp · -10% vs PA38
PA39 (Highland)
≈18.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~583 kWh/kWp · -16% vs PA38
PA34 (Argyll and Bute)
≈19.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~782 kWh/kWp · +13% vs PA38
PA65 (Argyll and Bute)
≈24.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~743 kWh/kWp · +7% vs PA38

Similar sunshine across the UK

PH37 (Highland)
~693 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA38
PA36 (Argyll and Bute)
~698 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA38
IV54 (Highland)
~689 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA38