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Solar Panels in PA71 (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
15.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£646
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£5,969
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 768 kWh/kW — 47 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 768 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)
768 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: £646, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1535 kWh 614 kWh 921 kWh £166 £92 £258 £4,069 15.8 yrs £1,096
3 kW 2303 kWh 921 kWh 1382 kWh £249 £138 £387 £6,104 15.8 yrs £1,644
4 kW 3070 kWh 1228 kWh 1842 kWh £332 £184 £517 £8,138 15.8 yrs £2,193
5 kW 3838 kWh 1535 kWh 2303 kWh £415 £230 £646 £10,173 15.8 yrs £2,741
6 kW 4605 kWh 1842 kWh 2763 kWh £498 £276 £775 £12,207 15.8 yrs £3,289
7 kW 5373 kWh 2149 kWh 3224 kWh £582 £322 £904 £14,242 15.8 yrs £3,837
8 kW 6140 kWh 2456 kWh 3684 kWh £665 £368 £1,033 £16,276 15.8 yrs £4,385

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: £777, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1535 kWh 921 kWh 614 kWh £249 £61 £311 £6,169 19.9 yrs £44
3 kW 2303 kWh 1382 kWh 921 kWh £374 £92 £466 £8,204 17.6 yrs £1,116
4 kW 3070 kWh 1842 kWh 1228 kWh £498 £123 £621 £10,238 16.5 yrs £2,188
5 kW 3838 kWh 2303 kWh 1535 kWh £623 £154 £777 £12,273 15.8 yrs £3,260
6 kW 4605 kWh 2763 kWh 1842 kWh £748 £184 £932 £14,307 15.4 yrs £4,332
7 kW 5373 kWh 3224 kWh 2149 kWh £872 £215 £1,087 £16,342 15.0 yrs £5,403
8 kW 6140 kWh 3684 kWh 2456 kWh £997 £246 £1,243 £18,376 14.8 yrs £6,475

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: £842, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1535 kWh 1075 kWh 461 kWh £291 £46 £337 £7,569 22.5 yrs £-832
3 kW 2303 kWh 1612 kWh 691 kWh £436 £69 £505 £9,604 19.0 yrs £501
4 kW 3070 kWh 2149 kWh 921 kWh £582 £92 £674 £11,638 17.3 yrs £1,835
5 kW 3838 kWh 2686 kWh 1151 kWh £727 £115 £842 £13,673 16.2 yrs £3,169
6 kW 4605 kWh 3224 kWh 1382 kWh £872 £138 £1,010 £15,707 15.5 yrs £4,503
7 kW 5373 kWh 3761 kWh 1612 kWh £1,018 £161 £1,179 £17,742 15.0 yrs £5,837
8 kW 6140 kWh 4298 kWh 1842 kWh £1,163 £184 £1,347 £19,776 14.7 yrs £7,170

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: £862, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1535 kWh 1121 kWh 414 kWh £303 £41 £345 £9,319 27.0 yrs £-2,425
3 kW 2303 kWh 1681 kWh 622 kWh £455 £62 £517 £11,354 22.0 yrs £-1,013
4 kW 3070 kWh 2241 kWh 829 kWh £606 £83 £689 £13,388 19.4 yrs £399
5 kW 3838 kWh 2802 kWh 1036 kWh £758 £104 £862 £15,423 17.9 yrs £1,812
6 kW 4605 kWh 3362 kWh 1243 kWh £910 £124 £1,034 £17,457 16.9 yrs £3,224
7 kW 5373 kWh 3922 kWh 1451 kWh £1,061 £145 £1,206 £19,492 16.2 yrs £4,637
8 kW 6140 kWh 4482 kWh 1658 kWh £1,213 £166 £1,379 £21,526 15.6 yrs £6,049

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: £875, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1535 kWh 1151 kWh 384 kWh £312 £38 £350 £11,069 31.6 yrs £-4,070
3 kW 2303 kWh 1727 kWh 576 kWh £467 £58 £525 £13,104 25.0 yrs £-2,606
4 kW 3070 kWh 2303 kWh 768 kWh £623 £77 £700 £15,138 21.6 yrs £-1,141
5 kW 3838 kWh 2878 kWh 959 kWh £779 £96 £875 £17,173 19.6 yrs £324
6 kW 4605 kWh 3454 kWh 1151 kWh £935 £115 £1,050 £19,207 18.3 yrs £1,789
7 kW 5373 kWh 4030 kWh 1343 kWh £1,090 £134 £1,225 £21,242 17.3 yrs £3,253
8 kW 6140 kWh 4605 kWh 1535 kWh £1,246 £154 £1,400 £23,276 16.6 yrs £4,718

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: £888, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 22.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1535 kWh 1182 kWh 353 kWh £320 £35 £355 £13,519 38.1 yrs £-6,416
3 kW 2303 kWh 1773 kWh 530 kWh £480 £53 £533 £15,554 29.2 yrs £-4,899
4 kW 3070 kWh 2364 kWh 706 kWh £640 £71 £710 £17,588 24.8 yrs £-3,381
5 kW 3838 kWh 2955 kWh 883 kWh £800 £88 £888 £19,623 22.1 yrs £-1,864
6 kW 4605 kWh 3546 kWh 1059 kWh £960 £106 £1,065 £21,657 20.3 yrs £-347
7 kW 5373 kWh 4137 kWh 1236 kWh £1,119 £124 £1,243 £23,692 19.1 yrs £1,170
8 kW 6140 kWh 4728 kWh 1412 kWh £1,279 £141 £1,421 £25,726 18.1 yrs £2,687

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 PA71

Figures below are tailored to PA71 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2938 of 2997
13.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£595 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2936 of 2997
37.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£595 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
768kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~768 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

PA72 (Argyll and Bute)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~745 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PA71
PA68 (Argyll and Bute)
≈10.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~809 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA71
PA73 (Argyll and Bute)
≈11.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~772 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA71
PA69 (Argyll and Bute)
≈12.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~827 kWh/kWp · +8% vs PA71
PA70 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~804 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PA71
PA62 (Argyll and Bute)
≈15.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~829 kWh/kWp · +8% vs PA71

Similar sunshine across the UK

CA12 (Cumberland)
~767 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA71
G84 (Argyll and Bute)
~766 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA71
DL11 (North Yorkshire)
~765 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA71