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Solar Panels in PH36 (Highland)

See if solar pays off for you in Highland — 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
16.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£628
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£5,519
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 746 kWh/kW — 69 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 746 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)
746 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: £628, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1492 kWh 597 kWh 895 kWh £162 £90 £251 £4,069 16.2 yrs £952
3 kW 2238 kWh 895 kWh 1343 kWh £242 £134 £377 £6,104 16.2 yrs £1,428
4 kW 2985 kWh 1194 kWh 1791 kWh £323 £179 £502 £8,138 16.2 yrs £1,904
5 kW 3731 kWh 1492 kWh 2238 kWh £404 £224 £628 £10,173 16.2 yrs £2,380
6 kW 4477 kWh 1791 kWh 2686 kWh £485 £269 £753 £12,207 16.2 yrs £2,856
7 kW 5223 kWh 2089 kWh 3134 kWh £565 £313 £879 £14,242 16.2 yrs £3,332
8 kW 5969 kWh 2388 kWh 3581 kWh £646 £358 £1,004 £16,276 16.2 yrs £3,809

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: £755, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1492 kWh 895 kWh 597 kWh £242 £60 £302 £6,169 20.4 yrs £-130
3 kW 2238 kWh 1343 kWh 895 kWh £363 £90 £453 £8,204 18.1 yrs £856
4 kW 2985 kWh 1791 kWh 1194 kWh £485 £119 £604 £10,238 17.0 yrs £1,841
5 kW 3731 kWh 2238 kWh 1492 kWh £606 £149 £755 £12,273 16.3 yrs £2,826
6 kW 4477 kWh 2686 kWh 1791 kWh £727 £179 £906 £14,307 15.8 yrs £3,811
7 kW 5223 kWh 3134 kWh 2089 kWh £848 £209 £1,057 £16,342 15.5 yrs £4,797
8 kW 5969 kWh 3581 kWh 2388 kWh £969 £239 £1,208 £18,376 15.2 yrs £5,782

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: £819, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1492 kWh 1045 kWh 448 kWh £283 £45 £327 £7,569 23.1 yrs £-1,020
3 kW 2238 kWh 1567 kWh 672 kWh £424 £67 £491 £9,604 19.6 yrs £219
4 kW 2985 kWh 2089 kWh 895 kWh £565 £90 £655 £11,638 17.8 yrs £1,459
5 kW 3731 kWh 2611 kWh 1119 kWh £707 £112 £819 £13,673 16.7 yrs £2,699
6 kW 4477 kWh 3134 kWh 1343 kWh £848 £134 £982 £15,707 16.0 yrs £3,939
7 kW 5223 kWh 3656 kWh 1567 kWh £989 £157 £1,146 £17,742 15.5 yrs £5,179
8 kW 5969 kWh 4178 kWh 1791 kWh £1,131 £179 £1,310 £19,776 15.1 yrs £6,418

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: £838, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 18.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1492 kWh 1089 kWh 403 kWh £295 £40 £335 £9,319 27.8 yrs £-2,618
3 kW 2238 kWh 1634 kWh 604 kWh £442 £60 £503 £11,354 22.6 yrs £-1,301
4 kW 2985 kWh 2179 kWh 806 kWh £590 £81 £670 £13,388 20.0 yrs £15
5 kW 3731 kWh 2723 kWh 1007 kWh £737 £101 £838 £15,423 18.4 yrs £1,331
6 kW 4477 kWh 3268 kWh 1209 kWh £884 £121 £1,005 £17,457 17.4 yrs £2,647
7 kW 5223 kWh 3813 kWh 1410 kWh £1,032 £141 £1,173 £19,492 16.6 yrs £3,963
8 kW 5969 kWh 4357 kWh 1612 kWh £1,179 £161 £1,340 £21,526 16.1 yrs £5,279

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: £850, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 20.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1492 kWh 1119 kWh 373 kWh £303 £37 £340 £11,069 32.5 yrs £-4,266
3 kW 2238 kWh 1679 kWh 560 kWh £454 £56 £510 £13,104 25.7 yrs £-2,899
4 kW 2985 kWh 2238 kWh 746 kWh £606 £75 £680 £15,138 22.3 yrs £-1,532
5 kW 3731 kWh 2798 kWh 933 kWh £757 £93 £850 £17,173 20.2 yrs £-165
6 kW 4477 kWh 3358 kWh 1119 kWh £909 £112 £1,020 £19,207 18.8 yrs £1,203
7 kW 5223 kWh 3917 kWh 1306 kWh £1,060 £131 £1,191 £21,242 17.8 yrs £2,570
8 kW 5969 kWh 4477 kWh 1492 kWh £1,211 £149 £1,361 £23,276 17.1 yrs £3,937

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: £863, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 22.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1492 kWh 1149 kWh 343 kWh £311 £34 £345 £13,519 39.2 yrs £-6,614
3 kW 2238 kWh 1724 kWh 515 kWh £466 £51 £518 £15,554 30.0 yrs £-5,196
4 kW 2985 kWh 2298 kWh 686 kWh £622 £69 £691 £17,588 25.5 yrs £-3,778
5 kW 3731 kWh 2873 kWh 858 kWh £777 £86 £863 £19,623 22.7 yrs £-2,360
6 kW 4477 kWh 3447 kWh 1030 kWh £933 £103 £1,036 £21,657 20.9 yrs £-942
7 kW 5223 kWh 4022 kWh 1201 kWh £1,088 £120 £1,208 £23,692 19.6 yrs £476
8 kW 5969 kWh 4596 kWh 1373 kWh £1,244 £137 £1,381 £25,726 18.6 yrs £1,894

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 PH36

Figures below are tailored to PH36 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2953 of 2997
14.1 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£578 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2950 of 2997
38.5% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£578 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
746kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~746 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

Fort William and Ardnamurchan

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

PA75 (Argyll and Bute)
≈17.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~774 kWh/kWp · +4% vs PH36
PH38 (Highland)
≈17.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~647 kWh/kWp · -13% vs PH36
PA72 (Argyll and Bute)
≈22.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~745 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PH36
PH39 (Highland)
≈22.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~735 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PH36
PA65 (Argyll and Bute)
≈26.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~743 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PH36
PA71 (Argyll and Bute)
≈26.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~768 kWh/kWp · +3% vs PH36

Similar sunshine across the UK

PA19 (Inverclyde)
~756 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PH36
DL11 (North Yorkshire)
~765 kWh/kWp · +3% vs PH36
G84 (Argyll and Bute)
~766 kWh/kWp · +3% vs PH36