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Solar Panels in PA69 (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
14.6 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£696
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£7,218
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 827 kWh/kW — 12 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 827 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)
827 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: £696, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1654 kWh 662 kWh 992 kWh £179 £99 £278 £4,069 14.6 yrs £1,496
3 kW 2481 kWh 992 kWh 1489 kWh £269 £149 £417 £6,104 14.6 yrs £2,244
4 kW 3308 kWh 1323 kWh 1985 kWh £358 £198 £557 £8,138 14.6 yrs £2,992
5 kW 4135 kWh 1654 kWh 2481 kWh £448 £248 £696 £10,173 14.6 yrs £3,740
6 kW 4962 kWh 1985 kWh 2977 kWh £537 £298 £835 £12,207 14.6 yrs £4,488
7 kW 5789 kWh 2315 kWh 3473 kWh £627 £347 £974 £14,242 14.6 yrs £5,236
8 kW 6616 kWh 2646 kWh 3969 kWh £716 £397 £1,113 £16,276 14.6 yrs £5,984

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: £837, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1654 kWh 992 kWh 662 kWh £269 £66 £335 £6,169 18.4 yrs £525
3 kW 2481 kWh 1489 kWh 992 kWh £403 £99 £502 £8,204 16.3 yrs £1,837
4 kW 3308 kWh 1985 kWh 1323 kWh £537 £132 £669 £10,238 15.3 yrs £3,149
5 kW 4135 kWh 2481 kWh 1654 kWh £671 £165 £837 £12,273 14.7 yrs £4,462
6 kW 4962 kWh 2977 kWh 1985 kWh £806 £198 £1,004 £14,307 14.2 yrs £5,774
7 kW 5789 kWh 3473 kWh 2315 kWh £940 £232 £1,171 £16,342 14.0 yrs £7,086
8 kW 6616 kWh 3969 kWh 2646 kWh £1,074 £265 £1,339 £18,376 13.7 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.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £907, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1654 kWh 1158 kWh 496 kWh £313 £50 £363 £7,569 20.9 yrs £-311
3 kW 2481 kWh 1737 kWh 744 kWh £470 £74 £544 £9,604 17.6 yrs £1,283
4 kW 3308 kWh 2315 kWh 992 kWh £627 £99 £726 £11,638 16.0 yrs £2,878
5 kW 4135 kWh 2894 kWh 1240 kWh £783 £124 £907 £13,673 15.1 yrs £4,472
6 kW 4962 kWh 3473 kWh 1489 kWh £940 £149 £1,089 £15,707 14.4 yrs £6,067
7 kW 5789 kWh 4052 kWh 1737 kWh £1,096 £174 £1,270 £17,742 14.0 yrs £7,661
8 kW 6616 kWh 4631 kWh 1985 kWh £1,253 £198 £1,452 £19,776 13.6 yrs £9,256

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: £928, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1654 kWh 1207 kWh 447 kWh £327 £45 £371 £9,319 25.1 yrs £-1,892
3 kW 2481 kWh 1811 kWh 670 kWh £490 £67 £557 £11,354 20.4 yrs £-213
4 kW 3308 kWh 2415 kWh 893 kWh £653 £89 £743 £13,388 18.0 yrs £1,466
5 kW 4135 kWh 3018 kWh 1116 kWh £817 £112 £928 £15,423 16.6 yrs £3,146
6 kW 4962 kWh 3622 kWh 1340 kWh £980 £134 £1,114 £17,457 15.7 yrs £4,825
7 kW 5789 kWh 4226 kWh 1563 kWh £1,143 £156 £1,300 £19,492 15.0 yrs £6,504
8 kW 6616 kWh 4829 kWh 1786 kWh £1,307 £179 £1,485 £21,526 14.5 yrs £8,183

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: £943, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1654 kWh 1240 kWh 413 kWh £336 £41 £377 £11,069 29.4 yrs £-3,529
3 kW 2481 kWh 1861 kWh 620 kWh £503 £62 £566 £13,104 23.2 yrs £-1,793
4 kW 3308 kWh 2481 kWh 827 kWh £671 £83 £754 £15,138 20.1 yrs £-58
5 kW 4135 kWh 3101 kWh 1034 kWh £839 £103 £943 £17,173 18.2 yrs £1,678
6 kW 4962 kWh 3721 kWh 1240 kWh £1,007 £124 £1,131 £19,207 17.0 yrs £3,413
7 kW 5789 kWh 4341 kWh 1447 kWh £1,175 £145 £1,320 £21,242 16.1 yrs £5,149
8 kW 6616 kWh 4962 kWh 1654 kWh £1,343 £165 £1,508 £23,276 15.4 yrs £6,884

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: £957, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1654 kWh 1274 kWh 380 kWh £345 £38 £383 £13,519 35.3 yrs £-5,866
3 kW 2481 kWh 1910 kWh 571 kWh £517 £57 £574 £15,554 27.1 yrs £-4,074
4 kW 3308 kWh 2547 kWh 761 kWh £689 £76 £765 £17,588 23.0 yrs £-2,282
5 kW 4135 kWh 3184 kWh 951 kWh £862 £95 £957 £19,623 20.5 yrs £-490
6 kW 4962 kWh 3821 kWh 1141 kWh £1,034 £114 £1,148 £21,657 18.9 yrs £1,302
7 kW 5789 kWh 4457 kWh 1331 kWh £1,206 £133 £1,339 £23,692 17.7 yrs £3,094
8 kW 6616 kWh 5094 kWh 1522 kWh £1,378 £152 £1,531 £25,726 16.8 yrs £4,886

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 PA69

Figures below are tailored to PA69 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2711 of 2997
12.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£641 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2836 of 2997
34.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£641 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
827kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~827 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

PA70 (Argyll and Bute)
≈4.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~804 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PA69
PA68 (Argyll and Bute)
≈7.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~809 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PA69
PA67 (Argyll and Bute)
≈11.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA69
PA71 (Argyll and Bute)
≈12.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~768 kWh/kWp · -7% vs PA69
PA73 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~772 kWh/kWp · -7% vs PA69
PA62 (Argyll and Bute)
≈14.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA69

Similar sunshine across the UK

SK11 (Cheshire East)
~827 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA69
G3 (Glasgow City)
~827 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA69
LL49 (Gwynedd)
~827 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA69