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Solar Panels in PA65 (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
16.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£625
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£5,460
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 743 kWh/kW — 72 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 743 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)
743 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: £625, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1487 kWh 595 kWh 892 kWh £161 £89 £250 £4,069 16.3 yrs £933
3 kW 2230 kWh 892 kWh 1338 kWh £241 £134 £375 £6,104 16.3 yrs £1,400
4 kW 2973 kWh 1189 kWh 1784 kWh £322 £178 £500 £8,138 16.3 yrs £1,867
5 kW 3717 kWh 1487 kWh 2230 kWh £402 £223 £625 £10,173 16.3 yrs £2,334
6 kW 4460 kWh 1784 kWh 2676 kWh £483 £268 £750 £12,207 16.3 yrs £2,800
7 kW 5204 kWh 2081 kWh 3122 kWh £563 £312 £875 £14,242 16.3 yrs £3,267
8 kW 5947 kWh 2379 kWh 3568 kWh £644 £357 £1,001 £16,276 16.3 yrs £3,734

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: £752, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1487 kWh 892 kWh 595 kWh £241 £59 £301 £6,169 20.5 yrs £-152
3 kW 2230 kWh 1338 kWh 892 kWh £362 £89 £451 £8,204 18.2 yrs £822
4 kW 2973 kWh 1784 kWh 1189 kWh £483 £119 £602 £10,238 17.0 yrs £1,796
5 kW 3717 kWh 2230 kWh 1487 kWh £603 £149 £752 £12,273 16.3 yrs £2,770
6 kW 4460 kWh 2676 kWh 1784 kWh £724 £178 £903 £14,307 15.9 yrs £3,744
7 kW 5204 kWh 3122 kWh 2081 kWh £845 £208 £1,053 £16,342 15.5 yrs £4,718
8 kW 5947 kWh 3568 kWh 2379 kWh £966 £238 £1,203 £18,376 15.3 yrs £5,692

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: £816, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1487 kWh 1041 kWh 446 kWh £282 £45 £326 £7,569 23.2 yrs £-1,045
3 kW 2230 kWh 1561 kWh 669 kWh £422 £67 £489 £9,604 19.6 yrs £183
4 kW 2973 kWh 2081 kWh 892 kWh £563 £89 £652 £11,638 17.8 yrs £1,411
5 kW 3717 kWh 2602 kWh 1115 kWh £704 £112 £816 £13,673 16.8 yrs £2,638
6 kW 4460 kWh 3122 kWh 1338 kWh £845 £134 £979 £15,707 16.0 yrs £3,866
7 kW 5204 kWh 3642 kWh 1561 kWh £986 £156 £1,142 £17,742 15.5 yrs £5,094
8 kW 5947 kWh 4163 kWh 1784 kWh £1,126 £178 £1,305 £19,776 15.2 yrs £6,321

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: £835, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1487 kWh 1085 kWh 401 kWh £294 £40 £334 £9,319 27.9 yrs £-2,643
3 kW 2230 kWh 1628 kWh 602 kWh £441 £60 £501 £11,354 22.7 yrs £-1,339
4 kW 2973 kWh 2171 kWh 803 kWh £587 £80 £668 £13,388 20.1 yrs £-35
5 kW 3717 kWh 2713 kWh 1004 kWh £734 £100 £835 £15,423 18.5 yrs £1,269
6 kW 4460 kWh 3256 kWh 1204 kWh £881 £120 £1,001 £17,457 17.4 yrs £2,572
7 kW 5204 kWh 3799 kWh 1405 kWh £1,028 £140 £1,168 £19,492 16.7 yrs £3,876
8 kW 5947 kWh 4341 kWh 1606 kWh £1,175 £161 £1,335 £21,526 16.1 yrs £5,180

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: £847, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 20.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1487 kWh 1115 kWh 372 kWh £302 £37 £339 £11,069 32.7 yrs £-4,291
3 kW 2230 kWh 1673 kWh 558 kWh £453 £56 £508 £13,104 25.8 yrs £-2,937
4 kW 2973 kWh 2230 kWh 743 kWh £603 £74 £678 £15,138 22.3 yrs £-1,582
5 kW 3717 kWh 2788 kWh 929 kWh £754 £93 £847 £17,173 20.3 yrs £-228
6 kW 4460 kWh 3345 kWh 1115 kWh £905 £112 £1,017 £19,207 18.9 yrs £1,127
7 kW 5204 kWh 3903 kWh 1301 kWh £1,056 £130 £1,186 £21,242 17.9 yrs £2,481
8 kW 5947 kWh 4460 kWh 1487 kWh £1,207 £149 £1,356 £23,276 17.2 yrs £3,836

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: £860, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 22.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1487 kWh 1145 kWh 342 kWh £310 £34 £344 £13,519 39.3 yrs £-6,640
3 kW 2230 kWh 1717 kWh 513 kWh £465 £51 £516 £15,554 30.1 yrs £-5,234
4 kW 2973 kWh 2290 kWh 684 kWh £620 £68 £688 £17,588 25.6 yrs £-3,829
5 kW 3717 kWh 2862 kWh 855 kWh £774 £85 £860 £19,623 22.8 yrs £-2,424
6 kW 4460 kWh 3434 kWh 1026 kWh £929 £103 £1,032 £21,657 21.0 yrs £-1,019
7 kW 5204 kWh 4007 kWh 1197 kWh £1,084 £120 £1,204 £23,692 19.7 yrs £386
8 kW 5947 kWh 4579 kWh 1368 kWh £1,239 £137 £1,376 £25,726 18.7 yrs £1,792

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 PA65

Figures below are tailored to PA65 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2951 of 2997
14.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£576 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2954 of 2997
38.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£576 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
743kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~743 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

PA64 (Argyll and Bute)
≈4.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~778 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA65
PA63 (Argyll and Bute)
≈10.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~791 kWh/kWp · +6% vs PA65
PA72 (Argyll and Bute)
≈15.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~745 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA65
PA62 (Argyll and Bute)
≈15.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +12% vs PA65
PA71 (Argyll and Bute)
≈16.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~768 kWh/kWp · +3% vs PA65
PA34 (Argyll and Bute)
≈16.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~782 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA65

Similar sunshine across the UK

PA19 (Inverclyde)
~756 kWh/kWp · +2% vs PA65
DL11 (North Yorkshire)
~765 kWh/kWp · +3% vs PA65
G84 (Argyll and Bute)
~766 kWh/kWp · +3% vs PA65