Independent solar numbers for your postcode using official UK data
Home Regions Guides Compare quotes Solar assistant
Insights
Big Roof Britain Solar Payback Index Standing Charge Drag Roof Direction Penalty Winter Solar Reality Seasonal Solar Output

Solar panel cost in Shetland Islands (ZE2)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for ZE2 (Shetland Islands) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

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
13.4 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£606
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£6,999
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: The official cost per kW is lower above 4 kW, so a 5–6 kW system can pay back a little faster than a 3–4 kW system on otherwise identical assumptions.
  • 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

Panel costs: Uses March 2026 TIC mean installation costs: £1,827/kW up to 4 kW and £1,628/kW above 4 kW.

Other costs: Battery prices are modelled at £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 26.42p/kWh with a 57.55p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 731 kWh/kW — 84 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 731 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.4p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.4p/kWh
Standing charge
57.5p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
731 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: £606, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1462 kWh 585 kWh 877 kWh £154 £88 £242 £3,256 13.4 yrs £1,589
3 kW 2193 kWh 877 kWh 1316 kWh £232 £132 £363 £4,883 13.4 yrs £2,383
4 kW 2924 kWh 1170 kWh 1754 kWh £309 £175 £484 £6,511 13.4 yrs £3,177
5 kW 3655 kWh 1462 kWh 2193 kWh £386 £219 £606 £8,139 13.4 yrs £3,971
6 kW 4386 kWh 1754 kWh 2631 kWh £463 £263 £727 £9,767 13.4 yrs £4,766
7 kW 5117 kWh 2047 kWh 3070 kWh £541 £307 £848 £11,394 13.4 yrs £5,560
8 kW 5848 kWh 2339 kWh 3509 kWh £618 £351 £969 £13,022 13.4 yrs £6,354

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £726, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1462 kWh 877 kWh 585 kWh £232 £58 £290 £5,356 18.5 yrs £449
3 kW 2193 kWh 1316 kWh 877 kWh £348 £88 £435 £6,983 16.0 yrs £1,723
4 kW 2924 kWh 1754 kWh 1170 kWh £463 £117 £580 £8,611 14.8 yrs £2,997
5 kW 3655 kWh 2193 kWh 1462 kWh £579 £146 £726 £10,239 14.1 yrs £4,272
6 kW 4386 kWh 2631 kWh 1754 kWh £695 £175 £871 £11,867 13.6 yrs £5,546
7 kW 5117 kWh 3070 kWh 2047 kWh £811 £205 £1,016 £13,494 13.3 yrs £6,821
8 kW 5848 kWh 3509 kWh 2339 kWh £927 £234 £1,161 £15,122 13.0 yrs £8,095

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £786, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1462 kWh 1023 kWh 439 kWh £270 £44 £314 £6,756 21.5 yrs £-471
3 kW 2193 kWh 1535 kWh 658 kWh £406 £66 £471 £8,383 17.8 yrs £1,043
4 kW 2924 kWh 2047 kWh 877 kWh £541 £88 £628 £10,011 15.9 yrs £2,558
5 kW 3655 kWh 2558 kWh 1096 kWh £676 £110 £786 £11,639 14.8 yrs £4,072
6 kW 4386 kWh 3070 kWh 1316 kWh £811 £132 £943 £13,267 14.1 yrs £5,586
7 kW 5117 kWh 3582 kWh 1535 kWh £946 £153 £1,100 £14,894 13.5 yrs £7,101
8 kW 5848 kWh 4093 kWh 1754 kWh £1,081 £175 £1,257 £16,522 13.1 yrs £8,615

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £804, Upfront: £13,389, 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 1462 kWh 1067 kWh 395 kWh £282 £39 £321 £8,506 26.5 yrs £-2,077
3 kW 2193 kWh 1601 kWh 592 kWh £423 £59 £482 £10,133 21.0 yrs £-491
4 kW 2924 kWh 2134 kWh 789 kWh £564 £79 £643 £11,761 18.3 yrs £1,096
5 kW 3655 kWh 2668 kWh 987 kWh £705 £99 £804 £13,389 16.7 yrs £2,682
6 kW 4386 kWh 3202 kWh 1184 kWh £846 £118 £964 £15,017 15.6 yrs £4,269
7 kW 5117 kWh 3735 kWh 1381 kWh £987 £138 £1,125 £16,644 14.8 yrs £5,855
8 kW 5848 kWh 4269 kWh 1579 kWh £1,128 £158 £1,286 £18,272 14.2 yrs £7,441

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £816, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 18.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1462 kWh 1096 kWh 365 kWh £290 £37 £326 £10,256 31.4 yrs £-3,731
3 kW 2193 kWh 1645 kWh 548 kWh £435 £55 £489 £11,883 24.3 yrs £-2,097
4 kW 2924 kWh 2193 kWh 731 kWh £579 £73 £652 £13,511 20.7 yrs £-462
5 kW 3655 kWh 2741 kWh 914 kWh £724 £91 £816 £15,139 18.6 yrs £1,172
6 kW 4386 kWh 3289 kWh 1096 kWh £869 £110 £979 £16,767 17.1 yrs £2,807
7 kW 5117 kWh 3837 kWh 1279 kWh £1,014 £128 £1,142 £18,394 16.1 yrs £4,441
8 kW 5848 kWh 4386 kWh 1462 kWh £1,159 £146 £1,305 £20,022 15.3 yrs £6,075

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £828, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 21.3 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1462 kWh 1126 kWh 336 kWh £297 £34 £331 £12,706 38.4 yrs £-6,085
3 kW 2193 kWh 1688 kWh 504 kWh £446 £50 £497 £14,333 28.9 yrs £-4,403
4 kW 2924 kWh 2251 kWh 672 kWh £595 £67 £662 £15,961 24.1 yrs £-2,720
5 kW 3655 kWh 2814 kWh 841 kWh £743 £84 £828 £17,589 21.3 yrs £-1,038
6 kW 4386 kWh 3377 kWh 1009 kWh £892 £101 £993 £19,217 19.4 yrs £645
7 kW 5117 kWh 3940 kWh 1177 kWh £1,041 £118 £1,159 £20,844 18.0 yrs £2,327
8 kW 5848 kWh 4503 kWh 1345 kWh £1,190 £134 £1,324 £22,472 17.0 yrs £4,009

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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.

Before you request quotes in Shetland Islands

Use the numbers above to sanity-check installer quotes. The main things to compare are system size, battery assumptions, payback claims, MCS certification, DNO paperwork and export assumptions.

Compare solar quotes before you sign

Check what MCS certification means

Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

New quote check

Want a quote sanity check for ZE2?

Share the first part of your postcode and a few basics. We’ll help you check whether system size, battery, export and paperwork assumptions look sensible before you commit to installer conversations.

This is a practical sanity-check request, not an instant quote promise. The Blue Ape quote route above remains available if you already want installer introductions.

Request a quote sanity check →

Insights for ZE2

Figures below are tailored to ZE2 — click through for full league tables.

Solar Payback Index Rank #2965 of 2996
15.1 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£484 /yr • £7,307 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2960 of 2996
43.4% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£210 fixed • ~£484 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −19.8% West −21.0%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in ZE2

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 11 Jan 26 Feb 61 Mar 94 Apr 117 May 109 Jun 101 Jul 91 Aug 62 Sep 37 Oct 15 Nov 7 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 23.8% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: May / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 15 kWh per month; the average month produces around 61 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 58 kWh in winter, or 244 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.42p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
57.55p/day
Local Sunshine
731kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~731 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

Shetland Islands (100%)

Areas Covered

Shetland North, North Isles, Shetland South, Shetland Central, Shetland West, Lerwick North and Bressay

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q3 2026

Installation costs: DESNZ/MCS data, March 2026 (TIC)

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

ZE1 (Shetland Islands)
≈16.8 km away
Local sunshine: ~744 kWh/kWp · +2% vs ZE2
ZE3 (Shetland Islands)
≈45.9 km away
Local sunshine: ~799 kWh/kWp · +9% vs ZE2
KW17 (Orkney Islands)
≈171.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~789 kWh/kWp · +8% vs ZE2
KW15 (Orkney Islands)
≈175.5 km away
Local sunshine: ~834 kWh/kWp · +14% vs ZE2
KW16 (Orkney Islands)
≈188.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~806 kWh/kWp · +10% vs ZE2
KW14 (Highland)
≈229.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~813 kWh/kWp · +11% vs ZE2

Similar sunshine across the UK

PA19 (Inverclyde)
~756 kWh/kWp · +3% vs ZE2
DL11 (North Yorkshire)
~765 kWh/kWp · +5% vs ZE2
G84 (Argyll and Bute)
~766 kWh/kWp · +5% vs ZE2