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 886 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 0.0p 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: £266, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 38.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 709 kWh | 1063 kWh | £0 | £106 | £106 | £4,069 | 38.3 yrs | £-1,943 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1063 kWh | 1595 kWh | £0 | £159 | £159 | £6,104 | 38.3 yrs | £-2,914 |
| 4 kW | 3544 kWh | 1418 kWh | 2126 kWh | £0 | £213 | £213 | £8,138 | 38.3 yrs | £-3,886 |
| 5 kW | 4430 kWh | 1772 kWh | 2658 kWh | £0 | £266 | £266 | £10,173 | 38.3 yrs | £-4,857 |
| 6 kW | 5316 kWh | 2126 kWh | 3189 kWh | £0 | £319 | £319 | £12,207 | 38.3 yrs | £-5,828 |
| 7 kW | 6202 kWh | 2481 kWh | 3721 kWh | £0 | £372 | £372 | £14,242 | 38.3 yrs | £-6,800 |
| 8 kW | 7088 kWh | 2835 kWh | 4253 kWh | £0 | £425 | £425 | £16,276 | 38.3 yrs | £-7,771 |
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: £177, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 69.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1063 kWh | 709 kWh | £0 | £71 | £71 | £6,169 | 87.0 yrs | £-4,752 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1595 kWh | 1063 kWh | £0 | £106 | £106 | £8,204 | 77.2 yrs | £-6,077 |
| 4 kW | 3544 kWh | 2126 kWh | 1418 kWh | £0 | £142 | £142 | £10,238 | 72.2 yrs | £-7,403 |
| 5 kW | 4430 kWh | 2658 kWh | 1772 kWh | £0 | £177 | £177 | £12,273 | 69.3 yrs | £-8,729 |
| 6 kW | 5316 kWh | 3189 kWh | 2126 kWh | £0 | £213 | £213 | £14,307 | 67.3 yrs | £-10,055 |
| 7 kW | 6202 kWh | 3721 kWh | 2481 kWh | £0 | £248 | £248 | £16,342 | 65.9 yrs | £-11,380 |
| 8 kW | 7088 kWh | 4253 kWh | 2835 kWh | £0 | £284 | £284 | £18,376 | 64.8 yrs | £-12,706 |
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: £133, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 102.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1240 kWh | 532 kWh | £0 | £53 | £53 | £7,569 | 142.4 yrs | £-6,506 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1860 kWh | 797 kWh | £0 | £80 | £80 | £9,604 | 120.4 yrs | £-8,009 |
| 4 kW | 3544 kWh | 2481 kWh | 1063 kWh | £0 | £106 | £106 | £11,638 | 109.5 yrs | £-9,512 |
| 5 kW | 4430 kWh | 3101 kWh | 1329 kWh | £0 | £133 | £133 | £13,673 | 102.9 yrs | £-11,015 |
| 6 kW | 5316 kWh | 3721 kWh | 1595 kWh | £0 | £159 | £159 | £15,707 | 98.5 yrs | £-12,518 |
| 7 kW | 6202 kWh | 4341 kWh | 1860 kWh | £0 | £186 | £186 | £17,742 | 95.4 yrs | £-14,021 |
| 8 kW | 7088 kWh | 4961 kWh | 2126 kWh | £0 | £213 | £213 | £19,776 | 93.0 yrs | £-15,524 |
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: £120, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 128.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1293 kWh | 478 kWh | £0 | £48 | £48 | £9,319 | 194.8 yrs | £-8,362 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1940 kWh | 718 kWh | £0 | £72 | £72 | £11,354 | 158.2 yrs | £-9,918 |
| 4 kW | 3544 kWh | 2587 kWh | 957 kWh | £0 | £96 | £96 | £13,388 | 139.9 yrs | £-11,474 |
| 5 kW | 4430 kWh | 3234 kWh | 1196 kWh | £0 | £120 | £120 | £15,423 | 128.9 yrs | £-13,031 |
| 6 kW | 5316 kWh | 3880 kWh | 1435 kWh | £0 | £144 | £144 | £17,457 | 121.6 yrs | £-14,587 |
| 7 kW | 6202 kWh | 4527 kWh | 1674 kWh | £0 | £167 | £167 | £19,492 | 116.4 yrs | £-16,143 |
| 8 kW | 7088 kWh | 5174 kWh | 1914 kWh | £0 | £191 | £191 | £21,526 | 112.5 yrs | £-17,699 |
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: £111, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 155.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1329 kWh | 443 kWh | £0 | £44 | £44 | £11,069 | 249.9 yrs | £-10,183 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1993 kWh | 664 kWh | £0 | £66 | £66 | £13,104 | 197.2 yrs | £-11,775 |
| 4 kW | 3544 kWh | 2658 kWh | 886 kWh | £0 | £89 | £89 | £15,138 | 170.9 yrs | £-13,366 |
| 5 kW | 4430 kWh | 3322 kWh | 1107 kWh | £0 | £111 | £111 | £17,173 | 155.1 yrs | £-14,958 |
| 6 kW | 5316 kWh | 3987 kWh | 1329 kWh | £0 | £133 | £133 | £19,207 | 144.5 yrs | £-16,549 |
| 7 kW | 6202 kWh | 4651 kWh | 1550 kWh | £0 | £155 | £155 | £21,242 | 137.0 yrs | £-18,141 |
| 8 kW | 7088 kWh | 5316 kWh | 1772 kWh | £0 | £177 | £177 | £23,276 | 131.4 yrs | £-19,732 |
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: £102, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 192.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1364 kWh | 408 kWh | £0 | £41 | £41 | £13,519 | 331.7 yrs | £-12,704 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 2047 kWh | 611 kWh | £0 | £61 | £61 | £15,554 | 254.4 yrs | £-14,331 |
| 4 kW | 3544 kWh | 2729 kWh | 815 kWh | £0 | £82 | £82 | £17,588 | 215.8 yrs | £-15,958 |
| 5 kW | 4430 kWh | 3411 kWh | 1019 kWh | £0 | £102 | £102 | £19,623 | 192.6 yrs | £-17,585 |
| 6 kW | 5316 kWh | 4093 kWh | 1223 kWh | £0 | £122 | £122 | £21,657 | 177.1 yrs | £-19,212 |
| 7 kW | 6202 kWh | 4775 kWh | 1426 kWh | £0 | £143 | £143 | £23,692 | 166.1 yrs | £-20,839 |
| 8 kW | 7088 kWh | 5457 kWh | 1630 kWh | £0 | £163 | £163 | £25,726 | 157.8 yrs | £-22,466 |
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.