A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 948 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p 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: £771, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1897 kWh | 759 kWh | 1138 kWh | £195 | £114 | £308 | £4,069 | 13.2 yrs | £2,097 |
| 3 kW | 2845 kWh | 1138 kWh | 1707 kWh | £292 | £171 | £462 | £6,104 | 13.2 yrs | £3,145 |
| 4 kW | 3793 kWh | 1517 kWh | 2276 kWh | £389 | £228 | £617 | £8,138 | 13.2 yrs | £4,194 |
| 5 kW | 4741 kWh | 1897 kWh | 2845 kWh | £486 | £284 | £771 | £10,173 | 13.2 yrs | £5,242 |
| 6 kW | 5690 kWh | 2276 kWh | 3414 kWh | £584 | £341 | £925 | £12,207 | 13.2 yrs | £6,291 |
| 7 kW | 6638 kWh | 2655 kWh | 3983 kWh | £681 | £398 | £1,079 | £14,242 | 13.2 yrs | £7,339 |
| 8 kW | 7586 kWh | 3034 kWh | 4552 kWh | £778 | £455 | £1,233 | £16,276 | 13.2 yrs | £8,388 |
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: £919, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1897 kWh | 1138 kWh | 759 kWh | £292 | £76 | £368 | £6,169 | 16.8 yrs | £1,183 |
| 3 kW | 2845 kWh | 1707 kWh | 1138 kWh | £438 | £114 | £551 | £8,204 | 14.9 yrs | £2,825 |
| 4 kW | 3793 kWh | 2276 kWh | 1517 kWh | £584 | £152 | £735 | £10,238 | 13.9 yrs | £4,467 |
| 5 kW | 4741 kWh | 2845 kWh | 1897 kWh | £729 | £190 | £919 | £12,273 | 13.4 yrs | £6,109 |
| 6 kW | 5690 kWh | 3414 kWh | 2276 kWh | £875 | £228 | £1,103 | £14,307 | 13.0 yrs | £7,750 |
| 7 kW | 6638 kWh | 3983 kWh | 2655 kWh | £1,021 | £266 | £1,287 | £16,342 | 12.7 yrs | £9,392 |
| 8 kW | 7586 kWh | 4552 kWh | 3034 kWh | £1,167 | £303 | £1,470 | £18,376 | 12.5 yrs | £11,034 |
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: £993, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1897 kWh | 1328 kWh | 569 kWh | £340 | £57 | £397 | £7,569 | 19.1 yrs | £377 |
| 3 kW | 2845 kWh | 1991 kWh | 853 kWh | £511 | £85 | £596 | £9,604 | 16.1 yrs | £2,315 |
| 4 kW | 3793 kWh | 2655 kWh | 1138 kWh | £681 | £114 | £795 | £11,638 | 14.6 yrs | £4,253 |
| 5 kW | 4741 kWh | 3319 kWh | 1422 kWh | £851 | £142 | £993 | £13,673 | 13.8 yrs | £6,192 |
| 6 kW | 5690 kWh | 3983 kWh | 1707 kWh | £1,021 | £171 | £1,192 | £15,707 | 13.2 yrs | £8,130 |
| 7 kW | 6638 kWh | 4646 kWh | 1991 kWh | £1,191 | £199 | £1,390 | £17,742 | 12.8 yrs | £10,068 |
| 8 kW | 7586 kWh | 5310 kWh | 2276 kWh | £1,362 | £228 | £1,589 | £19,776 | 12.4 yrs | £12,007 |
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: £1,015, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1897 kWh | 1384 kWh | 512 kWh | £355 | £51 | £406 | £9,319 | 22.9 yrs | £-1,195 |
| 3 kW | 2845 kWh | 2077 kWh | 768 kWh | £532 | £77 | £609 | £11,354 | 18.6 yrs | £832 |
| 4 kW | 3793 kWh | 2769 kWh | 1024 kWh | £710 | £102 | £812 | £13,388 | 16.5 yrs | £2,859 |
| 5 kW | 4741 kWh | 3461 kWh | 1280 kWh | £887 | £128 | £1,015 | £15,423 | 15.2 yrs | £4,887 |
| 6 kW | 5690 kWh | 4153 kWh | 1536 kWh | £1,065 | £154 | £1,219 | £17,457 | 14.3 yrs | £6,914 |
| 7 kW | 6638 kWh | 4846 kWh | 1792 kWh | £1,242 | £179 | £1,422 | £19,492 | 13.7 yrs | £8,941 |
| 8 kW | 7586 kWh | 5538 kWh | 2048 kWh | £1,420 | £205 | £1,625 | £21,526 | 13.2 yrs | £10,968 |
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: £1,030, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1897 kWh | 1422 kWh | 474 kWh | £365 | £47 | £412 | £11,069 | 26.9 yrs | £-2,827 |
| 3 kW | 2845 kWh | 2134 kWh | 711 kWh | £547 | £71 | £618 | £13,104 | 21.2 yrs | £-740 |
| 4 kW | 3793 kWh | 2845 kWh | 948 kWh | £729 | £95 | £824 | £15,138 | 18.4 yrs | £1,347 |
| 5 kW | 4741 kWh | 3556 kWh | 1185 kWh | £912 | £119 | £1,030 | £17,173 | 16.7 yrs | £3,433 |
| 6 kW | 5690 kWh | 4267 kWh | 1422 kWh | £1,094 | £142 | £1,236 | £19,207 | 15.5 yrs | £5,520 |
| 7 kW | 6638 kWh | 4978 kWh | 1659 kWh | £1,276 | £166 | £1,442 | £21,242 | 14.7 yrs | £7,606 |
| 8 kW | 7586 kWh | 5690 kWh | 1897 kWh | £1,459 | £190 | £1,648 | £23,276 | 14.1 yrs | £9,693 |
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: £1,045, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1897 kWh | 1460 kWh | 436 kWh | £374 | £44 | £418 | £13,519 | 32.3 yrs | £-5,158 |
| 3 kW | 2845 kWh | 2190 kWh | 654 kWh | £562 | £65 | £627 | £15,554 | 24.8 yrs | £-3,012 |
| 4 kW | 3793 kWh | 2921 kWh | 872 kWh | £749 | £87 | £836 | £17,588 | 21.0 yrs | £-866 |
| 5 kW | 4741 kWh | 3651 kWh | 1090 kWh | £936 | £109 | £1,045 | £19,623 | 18.8 yrs | £1,280 |
| 6 kW | 5690 kWh | 4381 kWh | 1309 kWh | £1,123 | £131 | £1,254 | £21,657 | 17.3 yrs | £3,426 |
| 7 kW | 6638 kWh | 5111 kWh | 1527 kWh | £1,310 | £153 | £1,463 | £23,692 | 16.2 yrs | £5,572 |
| 8 kW | 7586 kWh | 5841 kWh | 1745 kWh | £1,498 | £174 | £1,672 | £25,726 | 15.4 yrs | £7,718 |
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.