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 PH38 (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
18.7 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£544
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£3,433
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 647 kWh/kW — 168 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 647 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)
647 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: £544, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1294 kWh 518 kWh 776 kWh £140 £78 £218 £4,069 18.7 yrs £285
3 kW 1941 kWh 776 kWh 1165 kWh £210 £116 £327 £6,104 18.7 yrs £427
4 kW 2588 kWh 1035 kWh 1553 kWh £280 £155 £435 £8,138 18.7 yrs £570
5 kW 3235 kWh 1294 kWh 1941 kWh £350 £194 £544 £10,173 18.7 yrs £712
6 kW 3882 kWh 1553 kWh 2329 kWh £420 £233 £653 £12,207 18.7 yrs £854
7 kW 4529 kWh 1811 kWh 2717 kWh £490 £272 £762 £14,242 18.7 yrs £997
8 kW 5176 kWh 2070 kWh 3105 kWh £560 £311 £871 £16,276 18.7 yrs £1,139

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: £655, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1294 kWh 776 kWh 518 kWh £210 £52 £262 £6,169 23.6 yrs £-932
3 kW 1941 kWh 1165 kWh 776 kWh £315 £78 £393 £8,204 20.9 yrs £-348
4 kW 2588 kWh 1553 kWh 1035 kWh £420 £104 £524 £10,238 19.6 yrs £235
5 kW 3235 kWh 1941 kWh 1294 kWh £525 £129 £655 £12,273 18.7 yrs £819
6 kW 3882 kWh 2329 kWh 1553 kWh £630 £155 £786 £14,307 18.2 yrs £1,403
7 kW 4529 kWh 2717 kWh 1811 kWh £735 £181 £916 £16,342 17.8 yrs £1,987
8 kW 5176 kWh 3105 kWh 2070 kWh £840 £207 £1,047 £18,376 17.5 yrs £2,571

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: £710, Upfront: £13,673, 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 1294 kWh 906 kWh 388 kWh £245 £39 £284 £7,569 26.7 yrs £-1,891
3 kW 1941 kWh 1359 kWh 582 kWh £368 £58 £426 £9,604 22.6 yrs £-1,086
4 kW 2588 kWh 1811 kWh 776 kWh £490 £78 £568 £11,638 20.5 yrs £-282
5 kW 3235 kWh 2264 kWh 970 kWh £613 £97 £710 £13,673 19.3 yrs £523
6 kW 3882 kWh 2717 kWh 1165 kWh £735 £116 £852 £15,707 18.4 yrs £1,328
7 kW 4529 kWh 3170 kWh 1359 kWh £858 £136 £994 £17,742 17.9 yrs £2,132
8 kW 5176 kWh 3623 kWh 1553 kWh £980 £155 £1,136 £19,776 17.4 yrs £2,937

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: £726, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 21.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1294 kWh 945 kWh 349 kWh £256 £35 £291 £9,319 32.1 yrs £-3,508
3 kW 1941 kWh 1417 kWh 524 kWh £383 £52 £436 £11,354 26.1 yrs £-2,638
4 kW 2588 kWh 1889 kWh 699 kWh £511 £70 £581 £13,388 23.0 yrs £-1,767
5 kW 3235 kWh 2361 kWh 873 kWh £639 £87 £726 £15,423 21.2 yrs £-896
6 kW 3882 kWh 2834 kWh 1048 kWh £767 £105 £872 £17,457 20.0 yrs £-25
7 kW 4529 kWh 3306 kWh 1223 kWh £895 £122 £1,017 £19,492 19.2 yrs £846
8 kW 5176 kWh 3778 kWh 1397 kWh £1,022 £140 £1,162 £21,526 18.5 yrs £1,717

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: £737, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 23.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1294 kWh 970 kWh 323 kWh £263 £32 £295 £11,069 37.5 yrs £-5,170
3 kW 1941 kWh 1456 kWh 485 kWh £394 £49 £442 £13,104 29.6 yrs £-4,255
4 kW 2588 kWh 1941 kWh 647 kWh £525 £65 £590 £15,138 25.7 yrs £-3,340
5 kW 3235 kWh 2426 kWh 809 kWh £657 £81 £737 £17,173 23.3 yrs £-2,425
6 kW 3882 kWh 2911 kWh 970 kWh £788 £97 £885 £19,207 21.7 yrs £-1,510
7 kW 4529 kWh 3397 kWh 1132 kWh £919 £113 £1,032 £21,242 20.6 yrs £-595
8 kW 5176 kWh 3882 kWh 1294 kWh £1,050 £129 £1,180 £23,276 19.7 yrs £320

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: £748, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 26.2 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1294 kWh 996 kWh 298 kWh £270 £30 £299 £13,519 45.2 yrs £-7,532
3 kW 1941 kWh 1494 kWh 446 kWh £404 £45 £449 £15,554 34.6 yrs £-6,573
4 kW 2588 kWh 1993 kWh 595 kWh £539 £60 £599 £17,588 29.4 yrs £-5,613
5 kW 3235 kWh 2491 kWh 744 kWh £674 £74 £748 £19,623 26.2 yrs £-4,654
6 kW 3882 kWh 2989 kWh 893 kWh £809 £89 £898 £21,657 24.1 yrs £-3,695
7 kW 4529 kWh 3487 kWh 1042 kWh £944 £104 £1,048 £23,692 22.6 yrs £-2,736
8 kW 5176 kWh 3985 kWh 1190 kWh £1,078 £119 £1,197 £25,726 21.5 yrs £-1,777

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 PH38

Figures below are tailored to PH38 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2994 of 2997
16.2 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£502 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2994 of 2997
44.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£502 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
647kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~647 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, Caol and Mallaig

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

PH39 (Highland)
≈9.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~735 kWh/kWp · +14% vs PH38
PH40 (Highland)
≈13.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~732 kWh/kWp · +13% vs PH38
PH37 (Highland)
≈16.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~693 kWh/kWp · +7% vs PH38
PH36 (Highland)
≈17.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~746 kWh/kWp · +15% vs PH38
PH41 (Highland)
≈17.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~799 kWh/kWp · +23% vs PH38
IV45 (Highland)
≈25.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~749 kWh/kWp · +16% vs PH38

Similar sunshine across the UK

PH50 (Highland)
~653 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PH38
PA40 (Highland)
~633 kWh/kWp · -2% vs PH38
PH49 (Highland)
~627 kWh/kWp · -3% vs PH38