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 860 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: £258, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 39.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1721 kWh | 688 kWh | 1033 kWh | £0 | £103 | £103 | £4,069 | 39.4 yrs | £-2,004 |
| 3 kW | 2582 kWh | 1033 kWh | 1549 kWh | £0 | £155 | £155 | £6,104 | 39.4 yrs | £-3,006 |
| 4 kW | 3442 kWh | 1377 kWh | 2065 kWh | £0 | £207 | £207 | £8,138 | 39.4 yrs | £-4,008 |
| 5 kW | 4302 kWh | 1721 kWh | 2582 kWh | £0 | £258 | £258 | £10,173 | 39.4 yrs | £-5,010 |
| 6 kW | 5163 kWh | 2065 kWh | 3098 kWh | £0 | £310 | £310 | £12,207 | 39.4 yrs | £-6,011 |
| 7 kW | 6024 kWh | 2409 kWh | 3614 kWh | £0 | £361 | £361 | £14,242 | 39.4 yrs | £-7,013 |
| 8 kW | 6884 kWh | 2754 kWh | 4130 kWh | £0 | £413 | £413 | £16,276 | 39.4 yrs | £-8,015 |
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: £172, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 71.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1721 kWh | 1033 kWh | 688 kWh | £0 | £69 | £69 | £6,169 | 89.6 yrs | £-4,792 |
| 3 kW | 2582 kWh | 1549 kWh | 1033 kWh | £0 | £103 | £103 | £8,204 | 79.4 yrs | £-6,138 |
| 4 kW | 3442 kWh | 2065 kWh | 1377 kWh | £0 | £138 | £138 | £10,238 | 74.4 yrs | £-7,484 |
| 5 kW | 4302 kWh | 2582 kWh | 1721 kWh | £0 | £172 | £172 | £12,273 | 71.3 yrs | £-8,831 |
| 6 kW | 5163 kWh | 3098 kWh | 2065 kWh | £0 | £207 | £207 | £14,307 | 69.3 yrs | £-10,177 |
| 7 kW | 6024 kWh | 3614 kWh | 2409 kWh | £0 | £241 | £241 | £16,342 | 67.8 yrs | £-11,523 |
| 8 kW | 6884 kWh | 4130 kWh | 2754 kWh | £0 | £275 | £275 | £18,376 | 66.7 yrs | £-12,869 |
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: £129, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 105.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1721 kWh | 1205 kWh | 516 kWh | £0 | £52 | £52 | £7,569 | 146.6 yrs | £-6,536 |
| 3 kW | 2582 kWh | 1807 kWh | 774 kWh | £0 | £77 | £77 | £9,604 | 124.0 yrs | £-8,055 |
| 4 kW | 3442 kWh | 2409 kWh | 1033 kWh | £0 | £103 | £103 | £11,638 | 112.7 yrs | £-9,573 |
| 5 kW | 4302 kWh | 3012 kWh | 1291 kWh | £0 | £129 | £129 | £13,673 | 105.9 yrs | £-11,091 |
| 6 kW | 5163 kWh | 3614 kWh | 1549 kWh | £0 | £155 | £155 | £15,707 | 101.4 yrs | £-12,609 |
| 7 kW | 6024 kWh | 4216 kWh | 1807 kWh | £0 | £181 | £181 | £17,742 | 98.2 yrs | £-14,127 |
| 8 kW | 6884 kWh | 4819 kWh | 2065 kWh | £0 | £207 | £207 | £19,776 | 95.8 yrs | £-15,646 |
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: £116, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 132.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1721 kWh | 1256 kWh | 465 kWh | £0 | £46 | £46 | £9,319 | 200.6 yrs | £-8,390 |
| 3 kW | 2582 kWh | 1884 kWh | 697 kWh | £0 | £70 | £70 | £11,354 | 162.9 yrs | £-9,960 |
| 4 kW | 3442 kWh | 2513 kWh | 929 kWh | £0 | £93 | £93 | £13,388 | 144.1 yrs | £-11,529 |
| 5 kW | 4302 kWh | 3141 kWh | 1162 kWh | £0 | £116 | £116 | £15,423 | 132.8 yrs | £-13,099 |
| 6 kW | 5163 kWh | 3769 kWh | 1394 kWh | £0 | £139 | £139 | £17,457 | 125.2 yrs | £-14,669 |
| 7 kW | 6024 kWh | 4397 kWh | 1626 kWh | £0 | £163 | £163 | £19,492 | 119.8 yrs | £-16,239 |
| 8 kW | 6884 kWh | 5025 kWh | 1859 kWh | £0 | £186 | £186 | £21,526 | 115.8 yrs | £-17,809 |
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: £108, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 159.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1721 kWh | 1291 kWh | 430 kWh | £0 | £43 | £43 | £11,069 | 257.3 yrs | £-10,209 |
| 3 kW | 2582 kWh | 1936 kWh | 645 kWh | £0 | £65 | £65 | £13,104 | 203.0 yrs | £-11,813 |
| 4 kW | 3442 kWh | 2582 kWh | 860 kWh | £0 | £86 | £86 | £15,138 | 175.9 yrs | £-13,417 |
| 5 kW | 4302 kWh | 3227 kWh | 1076 kWh | £0 | £108 | £108 | £17,173 | 159.7 yrs | £-15,021 |
| 6 kW | 5163 kWh | 3872 kWh | 1291 kWh | £0 | £129 | £129 | £19,207 | 148.8 yrs | £-16,626 |
| 7 kW | 6024 kWh | 4518 kWh | 1506 kWh | £0 | £151 | £151 | £21,242 | 141.1 yrs | £-18,230 |
| 8 kW | 6884 kWh | 5163 kWh | 1721 kWh | £0 | £172 | £172 | £23,276 | 135.2 yrs | £-19,834 |
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: £99, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 198.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1721 kWh | 1325 kWh | 396 kWh | £0 | £40 | £40 | £13,519 | 341.5 yrs | £-12,727 |
| 3 kW | 2582 kWh | 1988 kWh | 594 kWh | £0 | £59 | £59 | £15,554 | 262.0 yrs | £-14,366 |
| 4 kW | 3442 kWh | 2650 kWh | 792 kWh | £0 | £79 | £79 | £17,588 | 222.2 yrs | £-16,005 |
| 5 kW | 4302 kWh | 3313 kWh | 990 kWh | £0 | £99 | £99 | £19,623 | 198.3 yrs | £-17,643 |
| 6 kW | 5163 kWh | 3976 kWh | 1187 kWh | £0 | £119 | £119 | £21,657 | 182.4 yrs | £-19,282 |
| 7 kW | 6024 kWh | 4638 kWh | 1385 kWh | £0 | £139 | £139 | £23,692 | 171.0 yrs | £-20,921 |
| 8 kW | 6884 kWh | 5301 kWh | 1583 kWh | £0 | £158 | £158 | £25,726 | 162.5 yrs | £-22,559 |
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.