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 891 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.
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: £749, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1782 kWh | 713 kWh | 1069 kWh | £193 | £107 | £300 | £4,069 | 13.6 yrs | £1,927 |
| 3 kW | 2673 kWh | 1069 kWh | 1604 kWh | £289 | £160 | £450 | £6,104 | 13.6 yrs | £2,890 |
| 4 kW | 3564 kWh | 1425 kWh | 2138 kWh | £386 | £214 | £600 | £8,138 | 13.6 yrs | £3,853 |
| 5 kW | 4455 kWh | 1782 kWh | 2673 kWh | £482 | £267 | £749 | £10,173 | 13.6 yrs | £4,816 |
| 6 kW | 5346 kWh | 2138 kWh | 3207 kWh | £579 | £321 | £899 | £12,207 | 13.6 yrs | £5,780 |
| 7 kW | 6237 kWh | 2495 kWh | 3742 kWh | £675 | £374 | £1,049 | £14,242 | 13.6 yrs | £6,743 |
| 8 kW | 7127 kWh | 2851 kWh | 4276 kWh | £771 | £428 | £1,199 | £16,276 | 13.6 yrs | £7,706 |
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: £901, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1782 kWh | 1069 kWh | 713 kWh | £289 | £71 | £361 | £6,169 | 17.1 yrs | £1,043 |
| 3 kW | 2673 kWh | 1604 kWh | 1069 kWh | £434 | £107 | £541 | £8,204 | 15.2 yrs | £2,614 |
| 4 kW | 3564 kWh | 2138 kWh | 1425 kWh | £579 | £143 | £721 | £10,238 | 14.2 yrs | £4,185 |
| 5 kW | 4455 kWh | 2673 kWh | 1782 kWh | £723 | £178 | £901 | £12,273 | 13.6 yrs | £5,756 |
| 6 kW | 5346 kWh | 3207 kWh | 2138 kWh | £868 | £214 | £1,082 | £14,307 | 13.2 yrs | £7,328 |
| 7 kW | 6237 kWh | 3742 kWh | 2495 kWh | £1,013 | £249 | £1,262 | £16,342 | 12.9 yrs | £8,899 |
| 8 kW | 7127 kWh | 4276 kWh | 2851 kWh | £1,157 | £285 | £1,442 | £18,376 | 12.7 yrs | £10,470 |
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: £977, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1782 kWh | 1247 kWh | 535 kWh | £338 | £53 | £391 | £7,569 | 19.4 yrs | £250 |
| 3 kW | 2673 kWh | 1871 kWh | 802 kWh | £506 | £80 | £586 | £9,604 | 16.4 yrs | £2,126 |
| 4 kW | 3564 kWh | 2495 kWh | 1069 kWh | £675 | £107 | £782 | £11,638 | 14.9 yrs | £4,001 |
| 5 kW | 4455 kWh | 3118 kWh | 1336 kWh | £844 | £134 | £977 | £13,673 | 14.0 yrs | £5,876 |
| 6 kW | 5346 kWh | 3742 kWh | 1604 kWh | £1,013 | £160 | £1,173 | £15,707 | 13.4 yrs | £7,751 |
| 7 kW | 6237 kWh | 4366 kWh | 1871 kWh | £1,181 | £187 | £1,368 | £17,742 | 13.0 yrs | £9,627 |
| 8 kW | 7127 kWh | 4989 kWh | 2138 kWh | £1,350 | £214 | £1,564 | £19,776 | 12.6 yrs | £11,502 |
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: £1,000, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 1782 kWh | 1301 kWh | 481 kWh | £352 | £48 | £400 | £9,319 | 23.3 yrs | £-1,317 |
| 3 kW | 2673 kWh | 1951 kWh | 722 kWh | £528 | £72 | £600 | £11,354 | 18.9 yrs | £649 |
| 4 kW | 3564 kWh | 2602 kWh | 962 kWh | £704 | £96 | £800 | £13,388 | 16.7 yrs | £2,616 |
| 5 kW | 4455 kWh | 3252 kWh | 1203 kWh | £880 | £120 | £1,000 | £15,423 | 15.4 yrs | £4,582 |
| 6 kW | 5346 kWh | 3902 kWh | 1443 kWh | £1,056 | £144 | £1,200 | £17,457 | 14.5 yrs | £6,549 |
| 7 kW | 6237 kWh | 4553 kWh | 1684 kWh | £1,232 | £168 | £1,400 | £19,492 | 13.9 yrs | £8,515 |
| 8 kW | 7127 kWh | 5203 kWh | 1924 kWh | £1,408 | £192 | £1,600 | £21,526 | 13.5 yrs | £10,482 |
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: £1,015, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1782 kWh | 1336 kWh | 445 kWh | £362 | £45 | £406 | £11,069 | 27.3 yrs | £-2,946 |
| 3 kW | 2673 kWh | 2005 kWh | 668 kWh | £542 | £67 | £609 | £13,104 | 21.5 yrs | £-918 |
| 4 kW | 3564 kWh | 2673 kWh | 891 kWh | £723 | £89 | £812 | £15,138 | 18.6 yrs | £1,109 |
| 5 kW | 4455 kWh | 3341 kWh | 1114 kWh | £904 | £111 | £1,015 | £17,173 | 16.9 yrs | £3,136 |
| 6 kW | 5346 kWh | 4009 kWh | 1336 kWh | £1,085 | £134 | £1,219 | £19,207 | 15.8 yrs | £5,163 |
| 7 kW | 6237 kWh | 4677 kWh | 1559 kWh | £1,266 | £156 | £1,422 | £21,242 | 14.9 yrs | £7,191 |
| 8 kW | 7127 kWh | 5346 kWh | 1782 kWh | £1,447 | £178 | £1,625 | £23,276 | 14.3 yrs | £9,218 |
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: £1,031, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1782 kWh | 1372 kWh | 410 kWh | £371 | £41 | £412 | £13,519 | 32.8 yrs | £-5,274 |
| 3 kW | 2673 kWh | 2058 kWh | 615 kWh | £557 | £61 | £618 | £15,554 | 25.2 yrs | £-3,186 |
| 4 kW | 3564 kWh | 2744 kWh | 820 kWh | £743 | £82 | £825 | £17,588 | 21.3 yrs | £-1,098 |
| 5 kW | 4455 kWh | 3430 kWh | 1025 kWh | £928 | £102 | £1,031 | £19,623 | 19.0 yrs | £990 |
| 6 kW | 5346 kWh | 4116 kWh | 1229 kWh | £1,114 | £123 | £1,237 | £21,657 | 17.5 yrs | £3,078 |
| 7 kW | 6237 kWh | 4802 kWh | 1434 kWh | £1,299 | £143 | £1,443 | £23,692 | 16.4 yrs | £5,166 |
| 8 kW | 7127 kWh | 5488 kWh | 1639 kWh | £1,485 | £164 | £1,649 | £25,726 | 15.6 yrs | £7,254 |
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.