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Solar Panels in PH43 (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
15.3 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£664
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,430
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 789 kWh/kW — 26 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 789 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)
789 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: £664, Upfront: £10,173, 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 1579 kWh 632 kWh 947 kWh £171 £95 £266 £4,069 15.3 yrs £1,244
3 kW 2368 kWh 947 kWh 1421 kWh £256 £142 £398 £6,104 15.3 yrs £1,865
4 kW 3158 kWh 1263 kWh 1895 kWh £342 £189 £531 £8,138 15.3 yrs £2,487
5 kW 3947 kWh 1579 kWh 2368 kWh £427 £237 £664 £10,173 15.3 yrs £3,109
6 kW 4737 kWh 1895 kWh 2842 kWh £513 £284 £797 £12,207 15.3 yrs £3,731
7 kW 5526 kWh 2210 kWh 3316 kWh £598 £332 £930 £14,242 15.3 yrs £4,353
8 kW 6316 kWh 2526 kWh 3789 kWh £684 £379 £1,063 £16,276 15.3 yrs £4,975

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: £799, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1579 kWh 947 kWh 632 kWh £256 £63 £320 £6,169 19.3 yrs £221
3 kW 2368 kWh 1421 kWh 947 kWh £385 £95 £479 £8,204 17.1 yrs £1,382
4 kW 3158 kWh 1895 kWh 1263 kWh £513 £126 £639 £10,238 16.0 yrs £2,542
5 kW 3947 kWh 2368 kWh 1579 kWh £641 £158 £799 £12,273 15.4 yrs £3,703
6 kW 4737 kWh 2842 kWh 1895 kWh £769 £189 £959 £14,307 14.9 yrs £4,863
7 kW 5526 kWh 3316 kWh 2210 kWh £897 £221 £1,118 £16,342 14.6 yrs £6,024
8 kW 6316 kWh 3789 kWh 2526 kWh £1,025 £253 £1,278 £18,376 14.4 yrs £7,184

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: £866, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1579 kWh 1105 kWh 474 kWh £299 £47 £346 £7,569 21.8 yrs £-640
3 kW 2368 kWh 1658 kWh 711 kWh £449 £71 £520 £9,604 18.5 yrs £790
4 kW 3158 kWh 2210 kWh 947 kWh £598 £95 £693 £11,638 16.8 yrs £2,220
5 kW 3947 kWh 2763 kWh 1184 kWh £748 £118 £866 £13,673 15.8 yrs £3,650
6 kW 4737 kWh 3316 kWh 1421 kWh £897 £142 £1,039 £15,707 15.1 yrs £5,079
7 kW 5526 kWh 3868 kWh 1658 kWh £1,047 £166 £1,213 £17,742 14.6 yrs £6,509
8 kW 6316 kWh 4421 kWh 1895 kWh £1,196 £189 £1,386 £19,776 14.3 yrs £7,939

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: £886, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1579 kWh 1153 kWh 426 kWh £312 £43 £355 £9,319 26.3 yrs £-2,229
3 kW 2368 kWh 1729 kWh 639 kWh £468 £64 £532 £11,354 21.3 yrs £-718
4 kW 3158 kWh 2305 kWh 853 kWh £624 £85 £709 £13,388 18.9 yrs £793
5 kW 3947 kWh 2881 kWh 1066 kWh £780 £107 £886 £15,423 17.4 yrs £2,304
6 kW 4737 kWh 3458 kWh 1279 kWh £936 £128 £1,064 £17,457 16.4 yrs £3,814
7 kW 5526 kWh 4034 kWh 1492 kWh £1,092 £149 £1,241 £19,492 15.7 yrs £5,325
8 kW 6316 kWh 4610 kWh 1705 kWh £1,248 £171 £1,418 £21,526 15.2 yrs £6,836

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: £900, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1579 kWh 1184 kWh 395 kWh £320 £39 £360 £11,069 30.8 yrs £-3,871
3 kW 2368 kWh 1776 kWh 592 kWh £481 £59 £540 £13,104 24.3 yrs £-2,306
4 kW 3158 kWh 2368 kWh 789 kWh £641 £79 £720 £15,138 21.0 yrs £-742
5 kW 3947 kWh 2960 kWh 987 kWh £801 £99 £900 £17,173 19.1 yrs £823
6 kW 4737 kWh 3553 kWh 1184 kWh £961 £118 £1,080 £19,207 17.8 yrs £2,388
7 kW 5526 kWh 4145 kWh 1382 kWh £1,122 £138 £1,260 £21,242 16.9 yrs £3,952
8 kW 6316 kWh 4737 kWh 1579 kWh £1,282 £158 £1,440 £23,276 16.2 yrs £5,517

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: £913, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1579 kWh 1216 kWh 363 kWh £329 £36 £365 £13,519 37.0 yrs £-6,213
3 kW 2368 kWh 1824 kWh 545 kWh £493 £54 £548 £15,554 28.4 yrs £-4,595
4 kW 3158 kWh 2432 kWh 726 kWh £658 £73 £731 £17,588 24.1 yrs £-2,976
5 kW 3947 kWh 3039 kWh 908 kWh £822 £91 £913 £19,623 21.5 yrs £-1,358
6 kW 4737 kWh 3647 kWh 1089 kWh £987 £109 £1,096 £21,657 19.8 yrs £261
7 kW 5526 kWh 4255 kWh 1271 kWh £1,151 £127 £1,279 £23,692 18.5 yrs £1,879
8 kW 6316 kWh 4863 kWh 1453 kWh £1,316 £145 £1,461 £25,726 17.6 yrs £3,498

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 PH43

Figures below are tailored to PH43 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2896 of 2997
13.3 years (UK avg 11.3 years)
~£612 /yr • £8,138 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2907 of 2997
36.4% (UK avg 21.7%) drag on savings
£223 fixed • ~£612 /yr value

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
27.06p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
61.00p/day
Local Sunshine
789kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~789 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

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

PH44 (Highland)
≈14.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~827 kWh/kWp · +5% vs PH43
PH42 (Highland)
≈17.1 km away
Local sunshine: ~793 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PH43
IV46 (Highland)
≈21.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~782 kWh/kWp · -1% vs PH43
IV45 (Highland)
≈23.0 km away
Local sunshine: ~749 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PH43
IV44 (Highland)
≈26.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~753 kWh/kWp · -5% vs PH43
PH41 (Highland)
≈27.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~799 kWh/kWp · +1% vs PH43

Similar sunshine across the UK

PA18 (Inverclyde)
~789 kWh/kWp · -0% vs PH43
LL57 (Gwynedd)
~792 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PH43
CA17 (Westmorland and Furness)
~792 kWh/kWp · +0% vs PH43