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Solar Panels in PA64 (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
£654
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,188
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 778 kWh/kW — 37 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 778 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)
778 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: £654, 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 1556 kWh 622 kWh 934 kWh £168 £93 £262 £4,069 15.5 yrs £1,166
3 kW 2334 kWh 934 kWh 1400 kWh £253 £140 £393 £6,104 15.5 yrs £1,750
4 kW 3112 kWh 1245 kWh 1867 kWh £337 £187 £524 £8,138 15.5 yrs £2,333
5 kW 3890 kWh 1556 kWh 2334 kWh £421 £233 £654 £10,173 15.5 yrs £2,916
6 kW 4668 kWh 1867 kWh 2801 kWh £505 £280 £785 £12,207 15.5 yrs £3,499
7 kW 5446 kWh 2178 kWh 3268 kWh £589 £327 £916 £14,242 15.5 yrs £4,083
8 kW 6224 kWh 2490 kWh 3734 kWh £674 £373 £1,047 £16,276 15.5 yrs £4,666

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: £787, 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 1556 kWh 934 kWh 622 kWh £253 £62 £315 £6,169 19.6 yrs £128
3 kW 2334 kWh 1400 kWh 934 kWh £379 £93 £472 £8,204 17.4 yrs £1,242
4 kW 3112 kWh 1867 kWh 1245 kWh £505 £124 £630 £10,238 16.3 yrs £2,357
5 kW 3890 kWh 2334 kWh 1556 kWh £632 £156 £787 £12,273 15.6 yrs £3,471
6 kW 4668 kWh 2801 kWh 1867 kWh £758 £187 £945 £14,307 15.1 yrs £4,585
7 kW 5446 kWh 3268 kWh 2178 kWh £884 £218 £1,102 £16,342 14.8 yrs £5,699
8 kW 6224 kWh 3734 kWh 2490 kWh £1,011 £249 £1,259 £18,376 14.6 yrs £6,813

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: £854, 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 1556 kWh 1089 kWh 467 kWh £295 £47 £341 £7,569 22.2 yrs £-741
3 kW 2334 kWh 1634 kWh 700 kWh £442 £70 £512 £9,604 18.8 yrs £639
4 kW 3112 kWh 2178 kWh 934 kWh £589 £93 £683 £11,638 17.0 yrs £2,018
5 kW 3890 kWh 2723 kWh 1167 kWh £737 £117 £854 £13,673 16.0 yrs £3,398
6 kW 4668 kWh 3268 kWh 1400 kWh £884 £140 £1,024 £15,707 15.3 yrs £4,777
7 kW 5446 kWh 3812 kWh 1634 kWh £1,032 £163 £1,195 £17,742 14.8 yrs £6,157
8 kW 6224 kWh 4357 kWh 1867 kWh £1,179 £187 £1,366 £19,776 14.5 yrs £7,537

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: £873, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1556 kWh 1136 kWh 420 kWh £307 £42 £349 £9,319 26.7 yrs £-2,332
3 kW 2334 kWh 1704 kWh 630 kWh £461 £63 £524 £11,354 21.7 yrs £-872
4 kW 3112 kWh 2272 kWh 840 kWh £615 £84 £699 £13,388 19.2 yrs £587
5 kW 3890 kWh 2840 kWh 1050 kWh £768 £105 £873 £15,423 17.7 yrs £2,046
6 kW 4668 kWh 3408 kWh 1260 kWh £922 £126 £1,048 £17,457 16.7 yrs £3,505
7 kW 5446 kWh 3975 kWh 1470 kWh £1,076 £147 £1,223 £19,492 15.9 yrs £4,964
8 kW 6224 kWh 4543 kWh 1680 kWh £1,229 £168 £1,397 £21,526 15.4 yrs £6,424

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: £887, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1556 kWh 1167 kWh 389 kWh £316 £39 £355 £11,069 31.2 yrs £-3,975
3 kW 2334 kWh 1750 kWh 583 kWh £474 £58 £532 £13,104 24.6 yrs £-2,463
4 kW 3112 kWh 2334 kWh 778 kWh £632 £78 £709 £15,138 21.3 yrs £-951
5 kW 3890 kWh 2917 kWh 972 kWh £789 £97 £887 £17,173 19.4 yrs £562
6 kW 4668 kWh 3501 kWh 1167 kWh £947 £117 £1,064 £19,207 18.1 yrs £2,074
7 kW 5446 kWh 4084 kWh 1361 kWh £1,105 £136 £1,241 £21,242 17.1 yrs £3,586
8 kW 6224 kWh 4668 kWh 1556 kWh £1,263 £156 £1,419 £23,276 16.4 yrs £5,098

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: £900, 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 1556 kWh 1198 kWh 358 kWh £324 £36 £360 £13,519 37.6 yrs £-6,319
3 kW 2334 kWh 1797 kWh 537 kWh £486 £54 £540 £15,554 28.8 yrs £-4,754
4 kW 3112 kWh 2396 kWh 716 kWh £648 £72 £720 £17,588 24.4 yrs £-3,188
5 kW 3890 kWh 2995 kWh 895 kWh £811 £89 £900 £19,623 21.8 yrs £-1,623
6 kW 4668 kWh 3594 kWh 1074 kWh £973 £107 £1,080 £21,657 20.1 yrs £-58
7 kW 5446 kWh 4193 kWh 1253 kWh £1,135 £125 £1,260 £23,692 18.8 yrs £1,508
8 kW 6224 kWh 4792 kWh 1431 kWh £1,297 £143 £1,440 £25,726 17.9 yrs £3,073

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 PA64

Figures below are tailored to PA64 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2920 of 2997
13.5 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£603 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2925 of 2997
36.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£603 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
778kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~778 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 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

PA65 (Argyll and Bute)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~743 kWh/kWp · -4% vs PA64
PA63 (Argyll and Bute)
≈6.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~791 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PA64
PA62 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +7% vs PA64
PA34 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~782 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA64
PA37 (Argyll and Bute)
≈18.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~779 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA64
PA72 (Argyll and Bute)
≈18.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~745 kWh/kWp · -4% vs PA64

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL27 (Conwy)
~777 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA64
PA14 (Inverclyde)
~772 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA64
LL21 (Denbighshire)
~785 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA64