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 1020 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p 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: £846, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2040 kWh | 816 kWh | 1224 kWh | £216 | £122 | £339 | £4,069 | 12.0 yrs | £2,702 |
| 3 kW | 3060 kWh | 1224 kWh | 1836 kWh | £324 | £184 | £508 | £6,104 | 12.0 yrs | £4,052 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 1632 kWh | 2448 kWh | £432 | £245 | £677 | £8,138 | 12.0 yrs | £5,403 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 2040 kWh | 3060 kWh | £540 | £306 | £846 | £10,173 | 12.0 yrs | £6,754 |
| 6 kW | 6121 kWh | 2448 kWh | 3673 kWh | £648 | £367 | £1,016 | £12,207 | 12.0 yrs | £8,105 |
| 7 kW | 7141 kWh | 2856 kWh | 4285 kWh | £756 | £428 | £1,185 | £14,242 | 12.0 yrs | £9,456 |
| 8 kW | 8161 kWh | 3265 kWh | 4897 kWh | £864 | £490 | £1,354 | £16,276 | 12.0 yrs | £10,806 |
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: £1,014, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2040 kWh | 1224 kWh | 816 kWh | £324 | £82 | £406 | £6,169 | 15.2 yrs | £1,947 |
| 3 kW | 3060 kWh | 1836 kWh | 1224 kWh | £486 | £122 | £609 | £8,204 | 13.5 yrs | £3,970 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 2448 kWh | 1632 kWh | £648 | £163 | £812 | £10,238 | 12.6 yrs | £5,993 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3060 kWh | 2040 kWh | £810 | £204 | £1,014 | £12,273 | 12.1 yrs | £8,016 |
| 6 kW | 6121 kWh | 3673 kWh | 2448 kWh | £972 | £245 | £1,217 | £14,307 | 11.8 yrs | £10,040 |
| 7 kW | 7141 kWh | 4285 kWh | 2856 kWh | £1,135 | £286 | £1,420 | £16,342 | 11.5 yrs | £12,063 |
| 8 kW | 8161 kWh | 4897 kWh | 3265 kWh | £1,297 | £326 | £1,623 | £18,376 | 11.3 yrs | £14,086 |
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: £1,099, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2040 kWh | 1428 kWh | 612 kWh | £378 | £61 | £439 | £7,569 | 17.2 yrs | £1,219 |
| 3 kW | 3060 kWh | 2142 kWh | 918 kWh | £567 | £92 | £659 | £9,604 | 14.6 yrs | £3,579 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 2856 kWh | 1224 kWh | £756 | £122 | £879 | £11,638 | 13.2 yrs | £5,938 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3571 kWh | 1530 kWh | £945 | £153 | £1,099 | £13,673 | 12.4 yrs | £8,298 |
| 6 kW | 6121 kWh | 4285 kWh | 1836 kWh | £1,135 | £184 | £1,318 | £15,707 | 11.9 yrs | £10,657 |
| 7 kW | 7141 kWh | 4999 kWh | 2142 kWh | £1,324 | £214 | £1,538 | £17,742 | 11.5 yrs | £13,017 |
| 8 kW | 8161 kWh | 5713 kWh | 2448 kWh | £1,513 | £245 | £1,758 | £19,776 | 11.3 yrs | £15,376 |
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: £1,124, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2040 kWh | 1489 kWh | 551 kWh | £394 | £55 | £449 | £9,319 | 20.7 yrs | £-329 |
| 3 kW | 3060 kWh | 2234 kWh | 826 kWh | £592 | £83 | £674 | £11,354 | 16.8 yrs | £2,131 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 2979 kWh | 1102 kWh | £789 | £110 | £899 | £13,388 | 14.9 yrs | £4,592 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3724 kWh | 1377 kWh | £986 | £138 | £1,124 | £15,423 | 13.7 yrs | £7,052 |
| 6 kW | 6121 kWh | 4468 kWh | 1653 kWh | £1,183 | £165 | £1,348 | £17,457 | 12.9 yrs | £9,512 |
| 7 kW | 7141 kWh | 5213 kWh | 1928 kWh | £1,380 | £193 | £1,573 | £19,492 | 12.4 yrs | £11,973 |
| 8 kW | 8161 kWh | 5958 kWh | 2204 kWh | £1,578 | £220 | £1,798 | £21,526 | 12.0 yrs | £14,433 |
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: £1,141, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2040 kWh | 1530 kWh | 510 kWh | £405 | £51 | £456 | £11,069 | 24.3 yrs | £-1,945 |
| 3 kW | 3060 kWh | 2295 kWh | 765 kWh | £608 | £77 | £684 | £13,104 | 19.1 yrs | £583 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 3060 kWh | 1020 kWh | £810 | £102 | £912 | £15,138 | 16.6 yrs | £3,111 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3826 kWh | 1275 kWh | £1,013 | £128 | £1,141 | £17,173 | 15.1 yrs | £5,638 |
| 6 kW | 6121 kWh | 4591 kWh | 1530 kWh | £1,216 | £153 | £1,369 | £19,207 | 14.0 yrs | £8,166 |
| 7 kW | 7141 kWh | 5356 kWh | 1785 kWh | £1,418 | £179 | £1,597 | £21,242 | 13.3 yrs | £10,694 |
| 8 kW | 8161 kWh | 6121 kWh | 2040 kWh | £1,621 | £204 | £1,825 | £23,276 | 12.8 yrs | £13,221 |
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: £1,157, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2040 kWh | 1571 kWh | 469 kWh | £416 | £47 | £463 | £13,519 | 29.2 yrs | £-4,260 |
| 3 kW | 3060 kWh | 2357 kWh | 704 kWh | £624 | £70 | £694 | £15,554 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,665 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 3142 kWh | 939 kWh | £832 | £94 | £926 | £17,588 | 19.0 yrs | £930 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3928 kWh | 1173 kWh | £1,040 | £117 | £1,157 | £19,623 | 17.0 yrs | £3,524 |
| 6 kW | 6121 kWh | 4713 kWh | 1408 kWh | £1,248 | £141 | £1,389 | £21,657 | 15.6 yrs | £6,119 |
| 7 kW | 7141 kWh | 5499 kWh | 1642 kWh | £1,456 | £164 | £1,620 | £23,692 | 14.6 yrs | £8,714 |
| 8 kW | 8161 kWh | 6284 kWh | 1877 kWh | £1,664 | £188 | £1,852 | £25,726 | 13.9 yrs | £11,309 |
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.