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 869 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: £732, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1737 kWh | 695 kWh | 1042 kWh | £188 | £104 | £293 | £4,069 | 13.9 yrs | £1,783 |
| 3 kW | 2606 kWh | 1042 kWh | 1564 kWh | £283 | £156 | £439 | £6,104 | 13.9 yrs | £2,675 |
| 4 kW | 3474 kWh | 1390 kWh | 2085 kWh | £377 | £208 | £585 | £8,138 | 13.9 yrs | £3,567 |
| 5 kW | 4343 kWh | 1737 kWh | 2606 kWh | £471 | £261 | £732 | £10,173 | 13.9 yrs | £4,458 |
| 6 kW | 5212 kWh | 2085 kWh | 3127 kWh | £565 | £313 | £878 | £12,207 | 13.9 yrs | £5,350 |
| 7 kW | 6080 kWh | 2432 kWh | 3648 kWh | £659 | £365 | £1,024 | £14,242 | 13.9 yrs | £6,242 |
| 8 kW | 6949 kWh | 2780 kWh | 4169 kWh | £754 | £417 | £1,170 | £16,276 | 13.9 yrs | £7,134 |
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: £880, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1737 kWh | 1042 kWh | 695 kWh | £283 | £69 | £352 | £6,169 | 17.5 yrs | £872 |
| 3 kW | 2606 kWh | 1564 kWh | 1042 kWh | £424 | £104 | £528 | £8,204 | 15.5 yrs | £2,359 |
| 4 kW | 3474 kWh | 2085 kWh | 1390 kWh | £565 | £139 | £704 | £10,238 | 14.5 yrs | £3,845 |
| 5 kW | 4343 kWh | 2606 kWh | 1737 kWh | £706 | £174 | £880 | £12,273 | 13.9 yrs | £5,331 |
| 6 kW | 5212 kWh | 3127 kWh | 2085 kWh | £848 | £208 | £1,056 | £14,307 | 13.5 yrs | £6,817 |
| 7 kW | 6080 kWh | 3648 kWh | 2432 kWh | £989 | £243 | £1,232 | £16,342 | 13.3 yrs | £8,303 |
| 8 kW | 6949 kWh | 4169 kWh | 2780 kWh | £1,130 | £278 | £1,408 | £18,376 | 13.0 yrs | £9,789 |
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: £954, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1737 kWh | 1216 kWh | 521 kWh | £330 | £52 | £382 | £7,569 | 19.8 yrs | £67 |
| 3 kW | 2606 kWh | 1824 kWh | 782 kWh | £495 | £78 | £573 | £9,604 | 16.8 yrs | £1,850 |
| 4 kW | 3474 kWh | 2432 kWh | 1042 kWh | £659 | £104 | £764 | £11,638 | 15.2 yrs | £3,634 |
| 5 kW | 4343 kWh | 3040 kWh | 1303 kWh | £824 | £130 | £954 | £13,673 | 14.3 yrs | £5,417 |
| 6 kW | 5212 kWh | 3648 kWh | 1564 kWh | £989 | £156 | £1,145 | £15,707 | 13.7 yrs | £7,201 |
| 7 kW | 6080 kWh | 4256 kWh | 1824 kWh | £1,154 | £182 | £1,336 | £17,742 | 13.3 yrs | £8,984 |
| 8 kW | 6949 kWh | 4864 kWh | 2085 kWh | £1,319 | £208 | £1,527 | £19,776 | 12.9 yrs | £10,767 |
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: £977, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1737 kWh | 1268 kWh | 469 kWh | £344 | £47 | £391 | £9,319 | 23.9 yrs | £-1,505 |
| 3 kW | 2606 kWh | 1902 kWh | 704 kWh | £516 | £70 | £586 | £11,354 | 19.4 yrs | £368 |
| 4 kW | 3474 kWh | 2536 kWh | 938 kWh | £688 | £94 | £781 | £13,388 | 17.1 yrs | £2,240 |
| 5 kW | 4343 kWh | 3170 kWh | 1173 kWh | £860 | £117 | £977 | £15,423 | 15.8 yrs | £4,113 |
| 6 kW | 5212 kWh | 3805 kWh | 1407 kWh | £1,031 | £141 | £1,172 | £17,457 | 14.9 yrs | £5,986 |
| 7 kW | 6080 kWh | 4439 kWh | 1642 kWh | £1,203 | £164 | £1,367 | £19,492 | 14.3 yrs | £7,858 |
| 8 kW | 6949 kWh | 5073 kWh | 1876 kWh | £1,375 | £188 | £1,563 | £21,526 | 13.8 yrs | £9,731 |
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: £992, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1737 kWh | 1303 kWh | 434 kWh | £353 | £43 | £397 | £11,069 | 27.9 yrs | £-3,136 |
| 3 kW | 2606 kWh | 1954 kWh | 651 kWh | £530 | £65 | £595 | £13,104 | 22.0 yrs | £-1,204 |
| 4 kW | 3474 kWh | 2606 kWh | 869 kWh | £706 | £87 | £793 | £15,138 | 19.1 yrs | £728 |
| 5 kW | 4343 kWh | 3257 kWh | 1086 kWh | £883 | £109 | £992 | £17,173 | 17.3 yrs | £2,660 |
| 6 kW | 5212 kWh | 3909 kWh | 1303 kWh | £1,060 | £130 | £1,190 | £19,207 | 16.1 yrs | £4,592 |
| 7 kW | 6080 kWh | 4560 kWh | 1520 kWh | £1,236 | £152 | £1,388 | £21,242 | 15.3 yrs | £6,524 |
| 8 kW | 6949 kWh | 5212 kWh | 1737 kWh | £1,413 | £174 | £1,587 | £23,276 | 14.7 yrs | £8,456 |
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: £1,007, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1737 kWh | 1338 kWh | 400 kWh | £363 | £40 | £403 | £13,519 | 33.6 yrs | £-5,467 |
| 3 kW | 2606 kWh | 2007 kWh | 599 kWh | £544 | £60 | £604 | £15,554 | 25.8 yrs | £-3,476 |
| 4 kW | 3474 kWh | 2675 kWh | 799 kWh | £725 | £80 | £805 | £17,588 | 21.8 yrs | £-1,484 |
| 5 kW | 4343 kWh | 3344 kWh | 999 kWh | £907 | £100 | £1,007 | £19,623 | 19.5 yrs | £507 |
| 6 kW | 5212 kWh | 4013 kWh | 1199 kWh | £1,088 | £120 | £1,208 | £21,657 | 17.9 yrs | £2,499 |
| 7 kW | 6080 kWh | 4682 kWh | 1398 kWh | £1,269 | £140 | £1,409 | £23,692 | 16.8 yrs | £4,490 |
| 8 kW | 6949 kWh | 5351 kWh | 1598 kWh | £1,451 | £160 | £1,610 | £25,726 | 16.0 yrs | £6,482 |
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.