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Solar Panels in PA66 (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
13.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£752
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,632
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 894 kWh/kW — 79 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 894 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)
894 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: £752, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1788 kWh 715 kWh 1073 kWh £194 £107 £301 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,948
3 kW 2682 kWh 1073 kWh 1609 kWh £290 £161 £451 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,922
4 kW 3577 kWh 1431 kWh 2146 kWh £387 £215 £602 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,897
5 kW 4471 kWh 1788 kWh 2682 kWh £484 £268 £752 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,871
6 kW 5365 kWh 2146 kWh 3219 kWh £581 £322 £903 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,845
7 kW 6259 kWh 2504 kWh 3755 kWh £677 £376 £1,053 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,819
8 kW 7153 kWh 2861 kWh 4292 kWh £774 £429 £1,203 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,793

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: £905, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1788 kWh 1073 kWh 715 kWh £290 £72 £362 £6,169 17.0 yrs £1,069
3 kW 2682 kWh 1609 kWh 1073 kWh £436 £107 £543 £8,204 15.1 yrs £2,653
4 kW 3577 kWh 2146 kWh 1431 kWh £581 £143 £724 £10,238 14.1 yrs £4,237
5 kW 4471 kWh 2682 kWh 1788 kWh £726 £179 £905 £12,273 13.6 yrs £5,822
6 kW 5365 kWh 3219 kWh 2146 kWh £871 £215 £1,086 £14,307 13.2 yrs £7,406
7 kW 6259 kWh 3755 kWh 2504 kWh £1,016 £250 £1,267 £16,342 12.9 yrs £8,990
8 kW 7153 kWh 4292 kWh 2861 kWh £1,161 £286 £1,448 £18,376 12.7 yrs £10,575

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: £981, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1788 kWh 1252 kWh 536 kWh £339 £54 £392 £7,569 19.3 yrs £279
3 kW 2682 kWh 1878 kWh 805 kWh £508 £80 £589 £9,604 16.3 yrs £2,168
4 kW 3577 kWh 2504 kWh 1073 kWh £677 £107 £785 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,058
5 kW 4471 kWh 3130 kWh 1341 kWh £847 £134 £981 £13,673 13.9 yrs £5,947
6 kW 5365 kWh 3755 kWh 1609 kWh £1,016 £161 £1,177 £15,707 13.3 yrs £7,837
7 kW 6259 kWh 4381 kWh 1878 kWh £1,186 £188 £1,373 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,726
8 kW 7153 kWh 5007 kWh 2146 kWh £1,355 £215 £1,570 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,615

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: £1,004, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1788 kWh 1305 kWh 483 kWh £353 £48 £402 £9,319 23.2 yrs £-1,288
3 kW 2682 kWh 1958 kWh 724 kWh £530 £72 £602 £11,354 18.8 yrs £693
4 kW 3577 kWh 2611 kWh 966 kWh £707 £97 £803 £13,388 16.7 yrs £2,674
5 kW 4471 kWh 3264 kWh 1207 kWh £883 £121 £1,004 £15,423 15.4 yrs £4,655
6 kW 5365 kWh 3916 kWh 1449 kWh £1,060 £145 £1,205 £17,457 14.5 yrs £6,636
7 kW 6259 kWh 4569 kWh 1690 kWh £1,236 £169 £1,405 £19,492 13.9 yrs £8,617
8 kW 7153 kWh 5222 kWh 1931 kWh £1,413 £193 £1,606 £21,526 13.4 yrs £10,598

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: £1,019, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1788 kWh 1341 kWh 447 kWh £363 £45 £408 £11,069 27.2 yrs £-2,916
3 kW 2682 kWh 2012 kWh 671 kWh £544 £67 £611 £13,104 21.4 yrs £-874
4 kW 3577 kWh 2682 kWh 894 kWh £726 £89 £815 £15,138 18.6 yrs £1,168
5 kW 4471 kWh 3353 kWh 1118 kWh £907 £112 £1,019 £17,173 16.9 yrs £3,210
6 kW 5365 kWh 4024 kWh 1341 kWh £1,089 £134 £1,223 £19,207 15.7 yrs £5,252
7 kW 6259 kWh 4694 kWh 1565 kWh £1,270 £156 £1,427 £21,242 14.9 yrs £7,294
8 kW 7153 kWh 5365 kWh 1788 kWh £1,452 £179 £1,631 £23,276 14.3 yrs £9,336

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: £1,034, Upfront: £19,623, 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 1788 kWh 1377 kWh 411 kWh £373 £41 £414 £13,519 32.7 yrs £-5,244
3 kW 2682 kWh 2066 kWh 617 kWh £559 £62 £621 £15,554 25.1 yrs £-3,141
4 kW 3577 kWh 2754 kWh 823 kWh £745 £82 £827 £17,588 21.3 yrs £-1,038
5 kW 4471 kWh 3443 kWh 1028 kWh £932 £103 £1,034 £19,623 19.0 yrs £1,065
6 kW 5365 kWh 4131 kWh 1234 kWh £1,118 £123 £1,241 £21,657 17.4 yrs £3,168
7 kW 6259 kWh 4820 kWh 1440 kWh £1,304 £144 £1,448 £23,692 16.4 yrs £5,271
8 kW 7153 kWh 5508 kWh 1645 kWh £1,490 £165 £1,655 £25,726 15.5 yrs £7,374

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 PA66

Figures below are tailored to PA66 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2009 of 2997
11.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£693 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2725 of 2997
32.1% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£693 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
894kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~894 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

PA76 (Argyll and Bute)
≈2.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA66
PA67 (Argyll and Bute)
≈7.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PA66
PA69 (Argyll and Bute)
≈17.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~827 kWh/kWp · -8% vs PA66
PA68 (Argyll and Bute)
≈18.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~809 kWh/kWp · -9% vs PA66
PA70 (Argyll and Bute)
≈21.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~804 kWh/kWp · -10% vs PA66
PA73 (Argyll and Bute)
≈21.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~772 kWh/kWp · -14% vs PA66

Similar sunshine across the UK

CA24 (Cumberland)
~894 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA66
EH11 (City of Edinburgh)
~894 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA66
NE46 (Northumberland)
~894 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA66