Solar panel payback by region
The short answer
- 10.8 years to pay back a 4 kW system in South and East England, and 12.6 years in Scotland
- £477 to £556 a year in bill savings and export payments across Great Britain
- Roof direction and the export tariff matter more than the region
Updated 25 September 2026. Every figure on this page comes from our published model; see where our data comes from.
A typical 4 kW solar system pays for itself in about 10.8 years in South and East England and about 12.6 years in Scotland. Choose your region on the map for its full figures.
Hover over or select a region to see its figures.
Payback by region
About two years separate the sunniest and the dullest regions. The export tariff and roof direction matter more than where you live.
| Region | Generation a year | Saving and export a year | Payback | 25 years, after costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South and East England | 3,780 kWh | £556 | 10.8 years | £7,097 |
| The Midlands | 3,540 kWh | £526 | 11.4 years | £6,390 |
| North England | 3,400 kWh | £505 | 11.9 years | £5,896 |
| Wales | 3,540 kWh | £526 | 11.4 years | £6,390 |
| Scotland | 3,180 kWh | £477 | 12.6 years | £5,236 |
The data behind this table
The solar calculator's figures for a 4 kW south facing system costing £6,000, a household using 2,500 kWh a year that is out for about half the day, no battery, and 12p export on Outgoing Octopus. Each region uses a cautious generation figure below the PVGIS result for its sunniest city.
Work out your own roof in the solar panel calculator, or read solar panel payback in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Where in the UK do solar panels pay back fastest?
In South and East England, about 10.8 years for a typical 4 kW south facing system, against about 12.6 years in Scotland. Wales and the Midlands sit in between. Northern Ireland is not covered, as it has its own electricity prices and export payments.
Is solar worth it in the north of the UK?
Yes on a reasonable roof: a 4 kW system pays back in about 11.9 years in northern England and 12.6 years in Scotland, well inside a 25 year panel life. Long summer days in the north partly make up for darker winters.
Data sources
- Our solar panel calculator, using PVGIS 5.3, MCS MGD 003, the Ofgem price cap for October to December 2026 and supplier export rates of 25 September 2026.
- Map: Office for National Statistics, ITL1 boundaries January 2025, Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2025.