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 852 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: £716, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1703 kWh | 681 kWh | 1022 kWh | £184 | £102 | £287 | £4,069 | 14.2 yrs | £1,663 |
| 3 kW | 2555 kWh | 1022 kWh | 1533 kWh | £277 | £153 | £430 | £6,104 | 14.2 yrs | £2,494 |
| 4 kW | 3407 kWh | 1363 kWh | 2044 kWh | £369 | £204 | £573 | £8,138 | 14.2 yrs | £3,325 |
| 5 kW | 4259 kWh | 1703 kWh | 2555 kWh | £461 | £256 | £716 | £10,173 | 14.2 yrs | £4,157 |
| 6 kW | 5110 kWh | 2044 kWh | 3066 kWh | £553 | £307 | £860 | £12,207 | 14.2 yrs | £4,988 |
| 7 kW | 5962 kWh | 2385 kWh | 3577 kWh | £645 | £358 | £1,003 | £14,242 | 14.2 yrs | £5,819 |
| 8 kW | 6814 kWh | 2725 kWh | 4088 kWh | £738 | £409 | £1,146 | £16,276 | 14.2 yrs | £6,651 |
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: £862, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1703 kWh | 1022 kWh | 681 kWh | £277 | £68 | £345 | £6,169 | 17.9 yrs | £725 |
| 3 kW | 2555 kWh | 1533 kWh | 1022 kWh | £415 | £102 | £517 | £8,204 | 15.9 yrs | £2,138 |
| 4 kW | 3407 kWh | 2044 kWh | 1363 kWh | £553 | £136 | £689 | £10,238 | 14.9 yrs | £3,550 |
| 5 kW | 4259 kWh | 2555 kWh | 1703 kWh | £691 | £170 | £862 | £12,273 | 14.2 yrs | £4,963 |
| 6 kW | 5110 kWh | 3066 kWh | 2044 kWh | £830 | £204 | £1,034 | £14,307 | 13.8 yrs | £6,375 |
| 7 kW | 5962 kWh | 3577 kWh | 2385 kWh | £968 | £238 | £1,206 | £16,342 | 13.5 yrs | £7,788 |
| 8 kW | 6814 kWh | 4088 kWh | 2725 kWh | £1,106 | £273 | £1,379 | £18,376 | 13.3 yrs | £9,200 |
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: £934, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1703 kWh | 1192 kWh | 511 kWh | £323 | £51 | £374 | £7,569 | 20.3 yrs | £-94 |
| 3 kW | 2555 kWh | 1789 kWh | 767 kWh | £484 | £77 | £561 | £9,604 | 17.1 yrs | £1,609 |
| 4 kW | 3407 kWh | 2385 kWh | 1022 kWh | £645 | £102 | £748 | £11,638 | 15.6 yrs | £3,313 |
| 5 kW | 4259 kWh | 2981 kWh | 1278 kWh | £807 | £128 | £934 | £13,673 | 14.6 yrs | £5,016 |
| 6 kW | 5110 kWh | 3577 kWh | 1533 kWh | £968 | £153 | £1,121 | £15,707 | 14.0 yrs | £6,719 |
| 7 kW | 5962 kWh | 4173 kWh | 1789 kWh | £1,129 | £179 | £1,308 | £17,742 | 13.6 yrs | £8,422 |
| 8 kW | 6814 kWh | 4770 kWh | 2044 kWh | £1,291 | £204 | £1,495 | £19,776 | 13.2 yrs | £10,125 |
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: £956, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1703 kWh | 1243 kWh | 460 kWh | £336 | £46 | £382 | £9,319 | 24.4 yrs | £-1,669 |
| 3 kW | 2555 kWh | 1865 kWh | 690 kWh | £505 | £69 | £574 | £11,354 | 19.8 yrs | £121 |
| 4 kW | 3407 kWh | 2487 kWh | 920 kWh | £673 | £92 | £765 | £13,388 | 17.5 yrs | £1,911 |
| 5 kW | 4259 kWh | 3109 kWh | 1150 kWh | £841 | £115 | £956 | £15,423 | 16.1 yrs | £3,702 |
| 6 kW | 5110 kWh | 3730 kWh | 1380 kWh | £1,009 | £138 | £1,147 | £17,457 | 15.2 yrs | £5,492 |
| 7 kW | 5962 kWh | 4352 kWh | 1610 kWh | £1,178 | £161 | £1,339 | £19,492 | 14.6 yrs | £7,282 |
| 8 kW | 6814 kWh | 4974 kWh | 1840 kWh | £1,346 | £184 | £1,530 | £21,526 | 14.1 yrs | £9,073 |
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: £971, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1703 kWh | 1278 kWh | 426 kWh | £346 | £43 | £388 | £11,069 | 28.5 yrs | £-3,303 |
| 3 kW | 2555 kWh | 1916 kWh | 639 kWh | £519 | £64 | £582 | £13,104 | 22.5 yrs | £-1,455 |
| 4 kW | 3407 kWh | 2555 kWh | 852 kWh | £691 | £85 | £777 | £15,138 | 19.5 yrs | £394 |
| 5 kW | 4259 kWh | 3194 kWh | 1065 kWh | £864 | £106 | £971 | £17,173 | 17.7 yrs | £2,242 |
| 6 kW | 5110 kWh | 3833 kWh | 1278 kWh | £1,037 | £128 | £1,165 | £19,207 | 16.5 yrs | £4,091 |
| 7 kW | 5962 kWh | 4471 kWh | 1490 kWh | £1,210 | £149 | £1,359 | £21,242 | 15.6 yrs | £5,939 |
| 8 kW | 6814 kWh | 5110 kWh | 1703 kWh | £1,383 | £170 | £1,553 | £23,276 | 15.0 yrs | £7,787 |
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: £985, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1703 kWh | 1312 kWh | 392 kWh | £355 | £39 | £394 | £13,519 | 34.3 yrs | £-5,637 |
| 3 kW | 2555 kWh | 1967 kWh | 588 kWh | £532 | £59 | £591 | £15,554 | 26.3 yrs | £-3,730 |
| 4 kW | 3407 kWh | 2623 kWh | 784 kWh | £710 | £78 | £788 | £17,588 | 22.3 yrs | £-1,824 |
| 5 kW | 4259 kWh | 3279 kWh | 979 kWh | £887 | £98 | £985 | £19,623 | 19.9 yrs | £83 |
| 6 kW | 5110 kWh | 3935 kWh | 1175 kWh | £1,065 | £118 | £1,182 | £21,657 | 18.3 yrs | £1,989 |
| 7 kW | 5962 kWh | 4591 kWh | 1371 kWh | £1,242 | £137 | £1,379 | £23,692 | 17.2 yrs | £3,896 |
| 8 kW | 6814 kWh | 5247 kWh | 1567 kWh | £1,420 | £157 | £1,576 | £25,726 | 16.3 yrs | £5,802 |
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.