Why is there such a difference between cities?

Two factors: (1) Solar irradiance — Portsmouth receives 1,080 kWh/m²/yr vs Inverness's 820 kWh/m²/yr (32% more). (2) Installation costs — regional variation of ±10-15%. The irradiance difference is the dominant factor.

Does this account for battery storage?

No — these are panels-only payback figures. Adding a 10kWh battery (£4,500-£5,500) increases payback by 1-3 years but significantly increases total 25-year returns due to higher self-consumption.

Is it still worth it in Scotland?

Absolutely — even Inverness at 12.8 years payback means 12-17 years of pure profit (panels last 25-30 years). A 100%+ ROI is excellent by any investment standard. Scottish cities also benefit from Home Energy Scotland grants.

Can I get my specific city's data?

The 50 cities listed cover every major UK urban area. If your city isn't listed, use our Solar Panel Calculator — it uses the same PVGIS data to calculate your specific location's output and payback.

Payback Period: Every UK City

By Home Solar Guide Team|Updated 19 March 2026|money

Independently written | Evidence-based | Sources cited

Solar payback by UK city — City-specific payback for 50 UK cities. Your city is included.

What would this actually cost at your home?

Installed prices vary widely by roof, access and region. Get an installed price for your property from MCS-certified installers.

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What would this actually cost at your home?

Installed prices vary widely by roof, access and region. Get an installed price for your property from MCS-certified installers.

Get an Installed Price

What is the solar payback period in my city?

Solar panel payback period for every major UK city (4kW system, 2026 data): FASTEST PAYBACK: Portsmouth 8.2yr, Southampton 8.4yr, Brighton 8.5yr, Plymouth 8.6yr, Exeter 8.7yr, Bristol 8.9yr, London 9.0yr, Cardiff 9.2yr, Cambridge 9.1yr, Oxford 9.0yr. MEDIUM: Birmingham 9.8yr, Nottingham 10.0yr, Manchester 10.3yr, Leeds 10.2yr, Liverpool 10.4yr, Sheffield 10.1yr, Leicester 9.9yr, Norwich 9.5yr, Newcastle 10.8yr, York 10.1yr. SLOWEST: Edinburgh 11.4yr, Glasgow 11.8yr, Aberdeen 12.3yr, Inverness 12.8yr, Belfast 11.2yr. METHODOLOGY: PVGIS annual yield (kWh/kWp) for each city's coordinates, multiplied by 4kW system size. Applied 40% self-consumption at 26.11p/kWh (Ofgem cap) plus 60% export at 5.5p/kWh average SEG rate. System cost: regional average from MCS installer data (£6,200-£7,800). Sources: PVGIS (re.jrc.ec.europa.eu), Ofgem (ofgem.gov.uk), MCS (mcscertified.com).