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Scotland

Solar panel payback in Dundee

How fast does a 4 kWp domestic solar system pay back in Dundee, what does it save in year 1, and what's the 25-year net benefit? This page uses the same assumptions as our full solar calculator — only the local irradiance (PVGIS annual yield for the DD1 outcode) changes.

Year-1 saving
£657
Bill cut + SEG export combined
Payback
9.3 yrs
£7,200 install cost, 4%/yr inflation
25-year net
£20146
855 kWh/kWp/yr yield

What makes Dundee different

Dundee's east coast position gives it Scotland's second-best solar figures after Edinburgh.

The figures above use a 4 kWp south-facing system, no battery, 3,500 kWh/yr household use, 27p/kWh import tariff, 15p/kWh SEG export and 4%/yr electricity inflation — the same defaults as the full UK solar calculator. Yield here (855 kWh/kWp) is drawn from PVGIS satellite data for the DD1 outcode. If you want to model a battery, a larger system, east/west panels or a different tariff, open the main solar calculator — it accepts your exact postcode and full custom inputs.

Model it for your exact postcode

The numbers above assume the outcode DD1. For your postcode — which adjusts irradiance slightly — use the calculator below.

Other cities in Scotland

Solar yield varies more within a region than most people expect — coast vs inland, altitude, and overcast patterns all shift the numbers by a few percent.

City kWh/kWp/yr Year-1 saving Payback 25-yr net
Glasgow 850 £653 9.3 yrs £19986
Edinburgh 870 £668 9.1 yrs £20626
Aberdeen 830 £637 9.5 yrs £19347
Dundee (this page) 855 £657 9.3 yrs £20146
Inverness 825 £634 9.5 yrs £19187
Stirling 860 £660 9.2 yrs £20306

Compare other cities

Pick any UK city to see its solar payback side-by-side with Dundee.

Getting accurate quotes in Dundee

The calculator gives a tight estimate, but three local factors decide your real payback: roof orientation (south ≥ east/west by 15–20%), shading from chimneys, trees and neighbours, and installer pricing — which varies wildly even within a single city. Get at least three MCS-certified quotes before committing.

If you're also looking at batteries, check which UK Smart Export Guarantee tariff will pay you the most — it changes the whole payback equation. And if you're considering a heat pump alongside solar, start with the heat pump vs gas boiler calculator and the £7,500 BUS grant check.