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Solar Panels in PA77 (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
£756
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,732
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 899 kWh/kW — 84 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 899 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)
899 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: £756, 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 1798 kWh 719 kWh 1079 kWh £195 £108 £302 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,981
3 kW 2697 kWh 1079 kWh 1618 kWh £292 £162 £454 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,971
4 kW 3596 kWh 1438 kWh 2157 kWh £389 £216 £605 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,961
5 kW 4495 kWh 1798 kWh 2697 kWh £487 £270 £756 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,951
6 kW 5394 kWh 2157 kWh 3236 kWh £584 £324 £907 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,942
7 kW 6293 kWh 2517 kWh 3776 kWh £681 £378 £1,059 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,932
8 kW 7192 kWh 2877 kWh 4315 kWh £778 £431 £1,210 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,922

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: £910, Upfront: £12,273, 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 1798 kWh 1079 kWh 719 kWh £292 £72 £364 £6,169 17.0 yrs £1,107
3 kW 2697 kWh 1618 kWh 1079 kWh £438 £108 £546 £8,204 15.0 yrs £2,711
4 kW 3596 kWh 2157 kWh 1438 kWh £584 £144 £728 £10,238 14.1 yrs £4,315
5 kW 4495 kWh 2697 kWh 1798 kWh £730 £180 £910 £12,273 13.5 yrs £5,919
6 kW 5394 kWh 3236 kWh 2157 kWh £876 £216 £1,091 £14,307 13.1 yrs £7,522
7 kW 6293 kWh 3776 kWh 2517 kWh £1,022 £252 £1,273 £16,342 12.8 yrs £9,126
8 kW 7192 kWh 4315 kWh 2877 kWh £1,168 £288 £1,455 £18,376 12.6 yrs £10,730

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: £986, 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 1798 kWh 1259 kWh 539 kWh £341 £54 £394 £7,569 19.2 yrs £321
3 kW 2697 kWh 1888 kWh 809 kWh £511 £81 £592 £9,604 16.2 yrs £2,231
4 kW 3596 kWh 2517 kWh 1079 kWh £681 £108 £789 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,142
5 kW 4495 kWh 3146 kWh 1348 kWh £851 £135 £986 £13,673 13.9 yrs £6,052
6 kW 5394 kWh 3776 kWh 1618 kWh £1,022 £162 £1,183 £15,707 13.3 yrs £7,963
7 kW 6293 kWh 4405 kWh 1888 kWh £1,192 £189 £1,381 £17,742 12.8 yrs £9,873
8 kW 7192 kWh 5034 kWh 2157 kWh £1,362 £216 £1,578 £19,776 12.5 yrs £11,784

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: £1,009, Upfront: £15,423, 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 1798 kWh 1312 kWh 485 kWh £355 £49 £404 £9,319 23.1 yrs £-1,245
3 kW 2697 kWh 1969 kWh 728 kWh £533 £73 £606 £11,354 18.7 yrs £757
4 kW 3596 kWh 2625 kWh 971 kWh £710 £97 £807 £13,388 16.6 yrs £2,760
5 kW 4495 kWh 3281 kWh 1214 kWh £888 £121 £1,009 £15,423 15.3 yrs £4,762
6 kW 5394 kWh 3937 kWh 1456 kWh £1,065 £146 £1,211 £17,457 14.4 yrs £6,765
7 kW 6293 kWh 4594 kWh 1699 kWh £1,243 £170 £1,413 £19,492 13.8 yrs £8,767
8 kW 7192 kWh 5250 kWh 1942 kWh £1,421 £194 £1,615 £21,526 13.3 yrs £10,770

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: £1,025, Upfront: £17,173, 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 1798 kWh 1348 kWh 449 kWh £365 £45 £410 £11,069 27.0 yrs £-2,872
3 kW 2697 kWh 2023 kWh 674 kWh £547 £67 £615 £13,104 21.3 yrs £-809
4 kW 3596 kWh 2697 kWh 899 kWh £730 £90 £820 £15,138 18.5 yrs £1,255
5 kW 4495 kWh 3371 kWh 1124 kWh £912 £112 £1,025 £17,173 16.8 yrs £3,319
6 kW 5394 kWh 4045 kWh 1348 kWh £1,095 £135 £1,229 £19,207 15.6 yrs £5,383
7 kW 6293 kWh 4719 kWh 1573 kWh £1,277 £157 £1,434 £21,242 14.8 yrs £7,447
8 kW 7192 kWh 5394 kWh 1798 kWh £1,460 £180 £1,639 £23,276 14.2 yrs £9,510

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: £1,040, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1798 kWh 1384 kWh 414 kWh £375 £41 £416 £13,519 32.5 yrs £-5,200
3 kW 2697 kWh 2077 kWh 620 kWh £562 £62 £624 £15,554 24.9 yrs £-3,075
4 kW 3596 kWh 2769 kWh 827 kWh £749 £83 £832 £17,588 21.1 yrs £-949
5 kW 4495 kWh 3461 kWh 1034 kWh £937 £103 £1,040 £19,623 18.9 yrs £1,176
6 kW 5394 kWh 4153 kWh 1241 kWh £1,124 £124 £1,248 £21,657 17.4 yrs £3,301
7 kW 6293 kWh 4845 kWh 1447 kWh £1,311 £145 £1,456 £23,692 16.3 yrs £5,426
8 kW 7192 kWh 5538 kWh 1654 kWh £1,498 £165 £1,664 £25,726 15.5 yrs £7,551

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 PA77

Figures below are tailored to PA77 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2010 of 2997
11.7 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£697 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2712 of 2997
31.9% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£697 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
899kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~899 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

PA78 (Argyll and Bute)
≈26.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PA77
PA76 (Argyll and Bute)
≈35.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~884 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PA77
PA66 (Argyll and Bute)
≈38.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~894 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PA77
PA74 (Argyll and Bute)
≈40.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~816 kWh/kWp · -9% vs PA77
PA73 (Argyll and Bute)
≈44.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~772 kWh/kWp · -14% vs PA77
PA67 (Argyll and Bute)
≈45.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~869 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PA77

Similar sunshine across the UK

CF48 (Merthyr Tydfil)
~899 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA77
ST4 (Stoke-on-Trent)
~899 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PA77
SK17 (High Peak)
~898 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PA77