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Solar Panels in PA4 (Renfrewshire)

See if solar pays off for you in Renfrewshire — 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
14.9 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£12,207
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£818
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,255
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 Southern Scotland, the current unit rate is 25.84p/kWh with a 56.55p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 835 kWh/kW — 15 below the regional median (850).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 835 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.8p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.8p/kWh
Standing charge
56.5p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
835 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: £682, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1670 kWh 668 kWh 1002 kWh £173 £100 £273 £4,069 14.9 yrs £1,387
3 kW 2505 kWh 1002 kWh 1503 kWh £259 £150 £409 £6,104 14.9 yrs £2,081
4 kW 3340 kWh 1336 kWh 2004 kWh £345 £200 £546 £8,138 14.9 yrs £2,775
5 kW 4175 kWh 1670 kWh 2505 kWh £432 £251 £682 £10,173 14.9 yrs £3,469
6 kW 5010 kWh 2004 kWh 3006 kWh £518 £301 £818 £12,207 14.9 yrs £4,162
7 kW 5845 kWh 2338 kWh 3507 kWh £604 £351 £955 £14,242 14.9 yrs £4,856
8 kW 6680 kWh 2672 kWh 4008 kWh £690 £401 £1,091 £16,276 14.9 yrs £5,550

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: £814, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1670 kWh 1002 kWh 668 kWh £259 £67 £326 £6,169 18.9 yrs £346
3 kW 2505 kWh 1503 kWh 1002 kWh £388 £100 £489 £8,204 16.8 yrs £1,568
4 kW 3340 kWh 2004 kWh 1336 kWh £518 £134 £651 £10,238 15.7 yrs £2,791
5 kW 4175 kWh 2505 kWh 1670 kWh £647 £167 £814 £12,273 15.1 yrs £4,014
6 kW 5010 kWh 3006 kWh 2004 kWh £777 £200 £977 £14,307 14.6 yrs £5,237
7 kW 5845 kWh 3507 kWh 2338 kWh £906 £234 £1,140 £16,342 14.3 yrs £6,460
8 kW 6680 kWh 4008 kWh 2672 kWh £1,036 £267 £1,303 £18,376 14.1 yrs £7,683

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: £880, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1670 kWh 1169 kWh 501 kWh £302 £50 £352 £7,569 21.5 yrs £-525
3 kW 2505 kWh 1754 kWh 752 kWh £453 £75 £528 £9,604 18.2 yrs £962
4 kW 3340 kWh 2338 kWh 1002 kWh £604 £100 £704 £11,638 16.5 yrs £2,449
5 kW 4175 kWh 2923 kWh 1253 kWh £755 £125 £880 £13,673 15.5 yrs £3,937
6 kW 5010 kWh 3507 kWh 1503 kWh £906 £150 £1,057 £15,707 14.9 yrs £5,424
7 kW 5845 kWh 4092 kWh 1754 kWh £1,057 £175 £1,233 £17,742 14.4 yrs £6,911
8 kW 6680 kWh 4676 kWh 2004 kWh £1,208 £200 £1,409 £19,776 14.0 yrs £8,399

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: £900, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1670 kWh 1219 kWh 451 kWh £315 £45 £360 £9,319 25.9 yrs £-2,117
3 kW 2505 kWh 1829 kWh 676 kWh £473 £68 £540 £11,354 21.0 yrs £-550
4 kW 3340 kWh 2438 kWh 902 kWh £630 £90 £720 £13,388 18.6 yrs £1,017
5 kW 4175 kWh 3048 kWh 1127 kWh £788 £113 £900 £15,423 17.1 yrs £2,584
6 kW 5010 kWh 3657 kWh 1353 kWh £945 £135 £1,080 £17,457 16.2 yrs £4,150
7 kW 5845 kWh 4267 kWh 1578 kWh £1,103 £158 £1,260 £19,492 15.5 yrs £5,717
8 kW 6680 kWh 4877 kWh 1804 kWh £1,260 £180 £1,440 £21,526 14.9 yrs £7,284

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: £914, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1670 kWh 1253 kWh 418 kWh £324 £42 £365 £11,069 30.3 yrs £-3,761
3 kW 2505 kWh 1879 kWh 626 kWh £485 £63 £548 £13,104 23.9 yrs £-2,141
4 kW 3340 kWh 2505 kWh 835 kWh £647 £84 £731 £15,138 20.7 yrs £-521
5 kW 4175 kWh 3131 kWh 1044 kWh £809 £104 £914 £17,173 18.8 yrs £1,098
6 kW 5010 kWh 3758 kWh 1253 kWh £971 £125 £1,096 £19,207 17.5 yrs £2,718
7 kW 5845 kWh 4384 kWh 1461 kWh £1,133 £146 £1,279 £21,242 16.6 yrs £4,337
8 kW 6680 kWh 5010 kWh 1670 kWh £1,295 £167 £1,462 £23,276 15.9 yrs £5,957

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: £927, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1670 kWh 1286 kWh 384 kWh £332 £38 £371 £13,519 36.5 yrs £-6,105
3 kW 2505 kWh 1929 kWh 576 kWh £498 £58 £556 £15,554 28.0 yrs £-4,432
4 kW 3340 kWh 2572 kWh 768 kWh £665 £77 £741 £17,588 23.7 yrs £-2,760
5 kW 4175 kWh 3215 kWh 960 kWh £831 £96 £927 £19,623 21.2 yrs £-1,087
6 kW 5010 kWh 3858 kWh 1152 kWh £997 £115 £1,112 £21,657 19.5 yrs £585
7 kW 5845 kWh 4501 kWh 1344 kWh £1,163 £134 £1,297 £23,692 18.3 yrs £2,258
8 kW 6680 kWh 5144 kWh 1536 kWh £1,329 £154 £1,483 £25,726 17.3 yrs £3,930

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 PA4

Figures below are tailored to PA4 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2823 of 2997
13.0 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£938 /yr • £12,207 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #1837 of 2997
22.0% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£206 fixed • ~£938 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.84p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
56.55p/day
Local Sunshine
835kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~835 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
6.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

No EPC data available for this outcode

Coverage

Renfrewshire (100%)

Areas Covered

Renfrew North and Braehead, Renfrew South and Gallowhill, Erskine and Inchinnan, Paisley Northwest

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 Southern Scotland

G14 (Glasgow City)
≈2.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA4
PA98 (Renfrewshire)
≈3.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~843 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA4
G13 (Glasgow City)
≈3.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~830 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA4
G52 (Glasgow City)
≈3.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~837 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA4
PA1 (Renfrewshire)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~838 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA4
G81 (West Dunbartonshire)
≈4.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~835 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA4

Similar sunshine across the UK

BT94 (Fermanagh and Omagh)
~835 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA4
BT74 (Fermanagh and Omagh)
~835 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA4
LL45 (Gwynedd)
~835 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA4