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Solar Panels in PA74 (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
14.8 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£686
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,985
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 816 kWh/kW — 1 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 816 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)
816 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: £686, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1632 kWh 653 kWh 979 kWh £177 £98 £275 £4,069 14.8 yrs £1,422
3 kW 2448 kWh 979 kWh 1469 kWh £265 £147 £412 £6,104 14.8 yrs £2,132
4 kW 3264 kWh 1305 kWh 1958 kWh £353 £196 £549 £8,138 14.8 yrs £2,843
5 kW 4079 kWh 1632 kWh 2448 kWh £442 £245 £686 £10,173 14.8 yrs £3,554
6 kW 4895 kWh 1958 kWh 2937 kWh £530 £294 £824 £12,207 14.8 yrs £4,265
7 kW 5711 kWh 2284 kWh 3427 kWh £618 £343 £961 £14,242 14.8 yrs £4,975
8 kW 6527 kWh 2611 kWh 3916 kWh £706 £392 £1,098 £16,276 14.8 yrs £5,686

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: £826, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1632 kWh 979 kWh 653 kWh £265 £65 £330 £6,169 18.7 yrs £435
3 kW 2448 kWh 1469 kWh 979 kWh £397 £98 £495 £8,204 16.6 yrs £1,703
4 kW 3264 kWh 1958 kWh 1305 kWh £530 £131 £660 £10,238 15.5 yrs £2,970
5 kW 4079 kWh 2448 kWh 1632 kWh £662 £163 £826 £12,273 14.9 yrs £4,238
6 kW 4895 kWh 2937 kWh 1958 kWh £795 £196 £991 £14,307 14.4 yrs £5,505
7 kW 5711 kWh 3427 kWh 2284 kWh £927 £228 £1,156 £16,342 14.1 yrs £6,773
8 kW 6527 kWh 3916 kWh 2611 kWh £1,060 £261 £1,321 £18,376 13.9 yrs £8,040

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: £895, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1632 kWh 1142 kWh 490 kWh £309 £49 £358 £7,569 21.1 yrs £-408
3 kW 2448 kWh 1713 kWh 734 kWh £464 £73 £537 £9,604 17.9 yrs £1,138
4 kW 3264 kWh 2284 kWh 979 kWh £618 £98 £716 £11,638 16.3 yrs £2,684
5 kW 4079 kWh 2856 kWh 1224 kWh £773 £122 £895 £13,673 15.3 yrs £4,229
6 kW 4895 kWh 3427 kWh 1469 kWh £927 £147 £1,074 £15,707 14.6 yrs £5,775
7 kW 5711 kWh 3998 kWh 1713 kWh £1,082 £171 £1,253 £17,742 14.2 yrs £7,321
8 kW 6527 kWh 4569 kWh 1958 kWh £1,236 £196 £1,432 £19,776 13.8 yrs £8,867

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: £916, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1632 kWh 1191 kWh 441 kWh £322 £44 £366 £9,319 25.4 yrs £-1,991
3 kW 2448 kWh 1787 kWh 661 kWh £484 £66 £550 £11,354 20.7 yrs £-362
4 kW 3264 kWh 2382 kWh 881 kWh £645 £88 £733 £13,388 18.3 yrs £1,268
5 kW 4079 kWh 2978 kWh 1101 kWh £806 £110 £916 £15,423 16.8 yrs £2,897
6 kW 4895 kWh 3574 kWh 1322 kWh £967 £132 £1,099 £17,457 15.9 yrs £4,526
7 kW 5711 kWh 4169 kWh 1542 kWh £1,128 £154 £1,282 £19,492 15.2 yrs £6,156
8 kW 6527 kWh 4765 kWh 1762 kWh £1,289 £176 £1,466 £21,526 14.7 yrs £7,785

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: £930, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1632 kWh 1224 kWh 408 kWh £331 £41 £372 £11,069 29.8 yrs £-3,630
3 kW 2448 kWh 1836 kWh 612 kWh £497 £61 £558 £13,104 23.5 yrs £-1,945
4 kW 3264 kWh 2448 kWh 816 kWh £662 £82 £744 £15,138 20.3 yrs £-260
5 kW 4079 kWh 3060 kWh 1020 kWh £828 £102 £930 £17,173 18.5 yrs £1,425
6 kW 4895 kWh 3671 kWh 1224 kWh £993 £122 £1,116 £19,207 17.2 yrs £3,111
7 kW 5711 kWh 4283 kWh 1428 kWh £1,159 £143 £1,302 £21,242 16.3 yrs £4,796
8 kW 6527 kWh 4895 kWh 1632 kWh £1,325 £163 £1,488 £23,276 15.6 yrs £6,481

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: £944, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1632 kWh 1256 kWh 375 kWh £340 £38 £378 £13,519 35.8 yrs £-5,968
3 kW 2448 kWh 1885 kWh 563 kWh £510 £56 £566 £15,554 27.5 yrs £-4,228
4 kW 3264 kWh 2513 kWh 751 kWh £680 £75 £755 £17,588 23.3 yrs £-2,487
5 kW 4079 kWh 3141 kWh 938 kWh £850 £94 £944 £19,623 20.8 yrs £-746
6 kW 4895 kWh 3769 kWh 1126 kWh £1,020 £113 £1,133 £21,657 19.1 yrs £995
7 kW 5711 kWh 4398 kWh 1314 kWh £1,190 £131 £1,321 £23,692 17.9 yrs £2,735
8 kW 6527 kWh 5026 kWh 1501 kWh £1,360 £150 £1,510 £25,726 17.0 yrs £4,476

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 PA74

Figures below are tailored to PA74 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2772 of 2997
12.9 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£633 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2868 of 2997
35.2% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£633 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
816kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~816 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

PA73 (Argyll and Bute)
≈6.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~772 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PA74
PA68 (Argyll and Bute)
≈11.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~809 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA74
PA75 (Argyll and Bute)
≈13.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~774 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PA74
PA71 (Argyll and Bute)
≈16.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~768 kWh/kWp · -6% vs PA74
PA72 (Argyll and Bute)
≈17.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~745 kWh/kWp · -9% vs PA74
PA69 (Argyll and Bute)
≈19.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~827 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PA74

Similar sunshine across the UK

LA10 (Westmorland and Furness)
~816 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA74
SY20 (Powys)
~817 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA74
G67 (North Lanarkshire)
~817 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA74