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Solar Panels in PA41 (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
14.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£712
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,633
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 847 kWh/kW — 32 above 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 847 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)
847 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: £712, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1693 kWh 677 kWh 1016 kWh £183 £102 £285 £4,069 14.3 yrs £1,629
3 kW 2540 kWh 1016 kWh 1524 kWh £275 £152 £427 £6,104 14.3 yrs £2,443
4 kW 3387 kWh 1355 kWh 2032 kWh £367 £203 £570 £8,138 14.3 yrs £3,258
5 kW 4233 kWh 1693 kWh 2540 kWh £458 £254 £712 £10,173 14.3 yrs £4,072
6 kW 5080 kWh 2032 kWh 3048 kWh £550 £305 £855 £12,207 14.3 yrs £4,887
7 kW 5927 kWh 2371 kWh 3556 kWh £642 £356 £997 £14,242 14.3 yrs £5,701
8 kW 6774 kWh 2709 kWh 4064 kWh £733 £406 £1,140 £16,276 14.3 yrs £6,515

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: £857, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1693 kWh 1016 kWh 677 kWh £275 £68 £343 £6,169 18.0 yrs £684
3 kW 2540 kWh 1524 kWh 1016 kWh £412 £102 £514 £8,204 16.0 yrs £2,077
4 kW 3387 kWh 2032 kWh 1355 kWh £550 £135 £685 £10,238 14.9 yrs £3,469
5 kW 4233 kWh 2540 kWh 1693 kWh £687 £169 £857 £12,273 14.3 yrs £4,861
6 kW 5080 kWh 3048 kWh 2032 kWh £825 £203 £1,028 £14,307 13.9 yrs £6,253
7 kW 5927 kWh 3556 kWh 2371 kWh £962 £237 £1,199 £16,342 13.6 yrs £7,645
8 kW 6774 kWh 4064 kWh 2709 kWh £1,100 £271 £1,371 £18,376 13.4 yrs £9,038

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: £929, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1693 kWh 1185 kWh 508 kWh £321 £51 £372 £7,569 20.4 yrs £-138
3 kW 2540 kWh 1778 kWh 762 kWh £481 £76 £557 £9,604 17.2 yrs £1,543
4 kW 3387 kWh 2371 kWh 1016 kWh £642 £102 £743 £11,638 15.7 yrs £3,224
5 kW 4233 kWh 2963 kWh 1270 kWh £802 £127 £929 £13,673 14.7 yrs £4,906
6 kW 5080 kWh 3556 kWh 1524 kWh £962 £152 £1,115 £15,707 14.1 yrs £6,587
7 kW 5927 kWh 4149 kWh 1778 kWh £1,123 £178 £1,300 £17,742 13.6 yrs £8,268
8 kW 6774 kWh 4741 kWh 2032 kWh £1,283 £203 £1,486 £19,776 13.3 yrs £9,949

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: £951, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1693 kWh 1236 kWh 457 kWh £335 £46 £380 £9,319 24.5 yrs £-1,714
3 kW 2540 kWh 1854 kWh 686 kWh £502 £69 £570 £11,354 19.9 yrs £53
4 kW 3387 kWh 2472 kWh 914 kWh £669 £91 £760 £13,388 17.6 yrs £1,821
5 kW 4233 kWh 3090 kWh 1143 kWh £836 £114 £951 £15,423 16.2 yrs £3,589
6 kW 5080 kWh 3709 kWh 1372 kWh £1,004 £137 £1,141 £17,457 15.3 yrs £5,357
7 kW 5927 kWh 4327 kWh 1600 kWh £1,171 £160 £1,331 £19,492 14.6 yrs £7,124
8 kW 6774 kWh 4945 kWh 1829 kWh £1,338 £183 £1,521 £21,526 14.2 yrs £8,892

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: £965, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1693 kWh 1270 kWh 423 kWh £344 £42 £386 £11,069 28.7 yrs £-3,349
3 kW 2540 kWh 1905 kWh 635 kWh £516 £64 £579 £13,104 22.6 yrs £-1,523
4 kW 3387 kWh 2540 kWh 847 kWh £687 £85 £772 £15,138 19.6 yrs £302
5 kW 4233 kWh 3175 kWh 1058 kWh £859 £106 £965 £17,173 17.8 yrs £2,128
6 kW 5080 kWh 3810 kWh 1270 kWh £1,031 £127 £1,158 £19,207 16.6 yrs £3,953
7 kW 5927 kWh 4445 kWh 1482 kWh £1,203 £148 £1,351 £21,242 15.7 yrs £5,779
8 kW 6774 kWh 5080 kWh 1693 kWh £1,375 £169 £1,544 £23,276 15.1 yrs £7,604

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: £979, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1693 kWh 1304 kWh 389 kWh £353 £39 £392 £13,519 34.5 yrs £-5,683
3 kW 2540 kWh 1956 kWh 584 kWh £529 £58 £588 £15,554 26.5 yrs £-3,800
4 kW 3387 kWh 2608 kWh 779 kWh £706 £78 £784 £17,588 22.4 yrs £-1,917
5 kW 4233 kWh 3260 kWh 974 kWh £882 £97 £979 £19,623 20.0 yrs £-33
6 kW 5080 kWh 3912 kWh 1168 kWh £1,059 £117 £1,175 £21,657 18.4 yrs £1,850
7 kW 5927 kWh 4564 kWh 1363 kWh £1,235 £136 £1,371 £23,692 17.3 yrs £3,733
8 kW 6774 kWh 5216 kWh 1558 kWh £1,411 £156 £1,567 £25,726 16.4 yrs £5,617

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 PA41

Figures below are tailored to PA41 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2624 of 2997
12.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£656 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2796 of 2997
33.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£656 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
847kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~847 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

Kintyre and the Islands

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

PA60 (Argyll and Bute)
≈22.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~864 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PA41
PA42 (Argyll and Bute)
≈28.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~890 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA41
PA28 (Argyll and Bute)
≈29.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~916 kWh/kWp · +8% vs PA41
PA29 (Argyll and Bute)
≈29.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~820 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PA41
PA45 (Argyll and Bute)
≈30.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~855 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA41
PA46 (Argyll and Bute)
≈31.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~848 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA41

Similar sunshine across the UK

G60 (West Dunbartonshire)
~847 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA41
KA5 (East Ayrshire)
~847 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA41
KA15 (North Ayrshire)
~847 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA41