Solar explained to clever people by people who are not trying to be clever
Home Regions
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag

Solar Panels in PH23 (Highland)

See if solar pays off for you in Highland — price, savings and payback in under a minute (official UK data).

Solar Calculator

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
15.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£657
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,261
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

Ready to Get Started?

Get your free quote from Blue Ape Renewables. They'll connect you with MCS-certified installers in your area and handle all the paperwork.

Get Solar Quote →
4.8★ Trustpilot • Octopus Energy trusted partner • MCS certified • No obligation
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 781 kWh/kW — 34 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 781 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)
781 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: £657, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1563 kWh 625 kWh 938 kWh £169 £94 £263 £4,069 15.5 yrs £1,190
3 kW 2344 kWh 938 kWh 1407 kWh £254 £141 £394 £6,104 15.5 yrs £1,785
4 kW 3126 kWh 1250 kWh 1875 kWh £338 £188 £526 £8,138 15.5 yrs £2,380
5 kW 3907 kWh 1563 kWh 2344 kWh £423 £234 £657 £10,173 15.5 yrs £2,974
6 kW 4689 kWh 1875 kWh 2813 kWh £507 £281 £789 £12,207 15.5 yrs £3,569
7 kW 5470 kWh 2188 kWh 3282 kWh £592 £328 £920 £14,242 15.5 yrs £4,164
8 kW 6252 kWh 2501 kWh 3751 kWh £677 £375 £1,052 £16,276 15.5 yrs £4,759

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: £791, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1563 kWh 938 kWh 625 kWh £254 £63 £316 £6,169 19.5 yrs £156
3 kW 2344 kWh 1407 kWh 938 kWh £381 £94 £474 £8,204 17.3 yrs £1,284
4 kW 3126 kWh 1875 kWh 1250 kWh £507 £125 £633 £10,238 16.2 yrs £2,413
5 kW 3907 kWh 2344 kWh 1563 kWh £634 £156 £791 £12,273 15.5 yrs £3,541
6 kW 4689 kWh 2813 kWh 1875 kWh £761 £188 £949 £14,307 15.1 yrs £4,669
7 kW 5470 kWh 3282 kWh 2188 kWh £888 £219 £1,107 £16,342 14.8 yrs £5,797
8 kW 6252 kWh 3751 kWh 2501 kWh £1,015 £250 £1,265 £18,376 14.5 yrs £6,925

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: £857, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1563 kWh 1094 kWh 469 kWh £296 £47 £343 £7,569 22.1 yrs £-710
3 kW 2344 kWh 1641 kWh 703 kWh £444 £70 £514 £9,604 18.7 yrs £684
4 kW 3126 kWh 2188 kWh 938 kWh £592 £94 £686 £11,638 17.0 yrs £2,079
5 kW 3907 kWh 2735 kWh 1172 kWh £740 £117 £857 £13,673 15.9 yrs £3,474
6 kW 4689 kWh 3282 kWh 1407 kWh £888 £141 £1,029 £15,707 15.3 yrs £4,869
7 kW 5470 kWh 3829 kWh 1641 kWh £1,036 £164 £1,200 £17,742 14.8 yrs £6,263
8 kW 6252 kWh 4376 kWh 1875 kWh £1,184 £188 £1,372 £19,776 14.4 yrs £7,658

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: £877, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1563 kWh 1141 kWh 422 kWh £309 £42 £351 £9,319 26.6 yrs £-2,301
3 kW 2344 kWh 1711 kWh 633 kWh £463 £63 £526 £11,354 21.6 yrs £-826
4 kW 3126 kWh 2282 kWh 844 kWh £617 £84 £702 £13,388 19.1 yrs £649
5 kW 3907 kWh 2852 kWh 1055 kWh £772 £105 £877 £15,423 17.6 yrs £2,124
6 kW 4689 kWh 3423 kWh 1266 kWh £926 £127 £1,053 £17,457 16.6 yrs £3,598
7 kW 5470 kWh 3993 kWh 1477 kWh £1,081 £148 £1,228 £19,492 15.9 yrs £5,073
8 kW 6252 kWh 4564 kWh 1688 kWh £1,235 £169 £1,404 £21,526 15.3 yrs £6,548

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: £891, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1563 kWh 1172 kWh 391 kWh £317 £39 £356 £11,069 31.1 yrs £-3,944
3 kW 2344 kWh 1758 kWh 586 kWh £476 £59 £534 £13,104 24.5 yrs £-2,416
4 kW 3126 kWh 2344 kWh 781 kWh £634 £78 £713 £15,138 21.2 yrs £-888
5 kW 3907 kWh 2930 kWh 977 kWh £793 £98 £891 £17,173 19.3 yrs £640
6 kW 4689 kWh 3516 kWh 1172 kWh £952 £117 £1,069 £19,207 18.0 yrs £2,168
7 kW 5470 kWh 4103 kWh 1368 kWh £1,110 £137 £1,247 £21,242 17.0 yrs £3,697
8 kW 6252 kWh 4689 kWh 1563 kWh £1,269 £156 £1,425 £23,276 16.3 yrs £5,225

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: £904, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1563 kWh 1203 kWh 359 kWh £326 £36 £362 £13,519 37.4 yrs £-6,287
3 kW 2344 kWh 1805 kWh 539 kWh £488 £54 £542 £15,554 28.7 yrs £-4,706
4 kW 3126 kWh 2407 kWh 719 kWh £651 £72 £723 £17,588 24.3 yrs £-3,124
5 kW 3907 kWh 3009 kWh 899 kWh £814 £90 £904 £19,623 21.7 yrs £-1,543
6 kW 4689 kWh 3610 kWh 1078 kWh £977 £108 £1,085 £21,657 20.0 yrs £38
7 kW 5470 kWh 4212 kWh 1258 kWh £1,140 £126 £1,266 £23,692 18.7 yrs £1,620
8 kW 6252 kWh 4814 kWh 1438 kWh £1,303 £144 £1,446 £25,726 17.8 yrs £3,201

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 PH23

Figures below are tailored to PH23 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2913 of 2997
13.4 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£606 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2918 of 2997
36.7% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£606 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
781kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~781 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

Highland (100%)

Areas Covered

Badenoch and Strathspey

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

PH24 (Highland)
≈4.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~766 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PH23
PH22 (Highland)
≈9.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~774 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PH23
PH25 (Highland)
≈10.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~765 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PH23
PH26 (Highland)
≈13.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~778 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PH23
IV13 (Highland)
≈13.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~805 kWh/kWp · +3% vs PH23
PH21 (Highland)
≈26.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~701 kWh/kWp · -10% vs PH23

Similar sunshine across the UK

LL21 (Denbighshire)
~785 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PH23
CA8 (Cumberland)
~786 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PH23
LL27 (Conwy)
~777 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PH23