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 854 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: £256, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 39.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1709 kWh | 683 kWh | 1025 kWh | £0 | £103 | £103 | £4,069 | 39.7 yrs | £-2,019 |
| 3 kW | 2563 kWh | 1025 kWh | 1538 kWh | £0 | £154 | £154 | £6,104 | 39.7 yrs | £-3,028 |
| 4 kW | 3417 kWh | 1367 kWh | 2050 kWh | £0 | £205 | £205 | £8,138 | 39.7 yrs | £-4,037 |
| 5 kW | 4272 kWh | 1709 kWh | 2563 kWh | £0 | £256 | £256 | £10,173 | 39.7 yrs | £-5,047 |
| 6 kW | 5126 kWh | 2050 kWh | 3076 kWh | £0 | £308 | £308 | £12,207 | 39.7 yrs | £-6,056 |
| 7 kW | 5980 kWh | 2392 kWh | 3588 kWh | £0 | £359 | £359 | £14,242 | 39.7 yrs | £-7,065 |
| 8 kW | 6835 kWh | 2734 kWh | 4101 kWh | £0 | £410 | £410 | £16,276 | 39.7 yrs | £-8,075 |
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: £171, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 71.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1709 kWh | 1025 kWh | 683 kWh | £0 | £68 | £68 | £6,169 | 90.3 yrs | £-4,802 |
| 3 kW | 2563 kWh | 1538 kWh | 1025 kWh | £0 | £103 | £103 | £8,204 | 80.0 yrs | £-6,153 |
| 4 kW | 3417 kWh | 2050 kWh | 1367 kWh | £0 | £137 | £137 | £10,238 | 74.9 yrs | £-7,504 |
| 5 kW | 4272 kWh | 2563 kWh | 1709 kWh | £0 | £171 | £171 | £12,273 | 71.8 yrs | £-8,855 |
| 6 kW | 5126 kWh | 3076 kWh | 2050 kWh | £0 | £205 | £205 | £14,307 | 69.8 yrs | £-10,206 |
| 7 kW | 5980 kWh | 3588 kWh | 2392 kWh | £0 | £239 | £239 | £16,342 | 68.3 yrs | £-11,557 |
| 8 kW | 6835 kWh | 4101 kWh | 2734 kWh | £0 | £273 | £273 | £18,376 | 67.2 yrs | £-12,908 |
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: £128, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 106.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1709 kWh | 1196 kWh | 513 kWh | £0 | £51 | £51 | £7,569 | 147.7 yrs | £-6,544 |
| 3 kW | 2563 kWh | 1794 kWh | 769 kWh | £0 | £77 | £77 | £9,604 | 124.9 yrs | £-8,066 |
| 4 kW | 3417 kWh | 2392 kWh | 1025 kWh | £0 | £103 | £103 | £11,638 | 113.5 yrs | £-9,588 |
| 5 kW | 4272 kWh | 2990 kWh | 1281 kWh | £0 | £128 | £128 | £13,673 | 106.7 yrs | £-11,110 |
| 6 kW | 5126 kWh | 3588 kWh | 1538 kWh | £0 | £154 | £154 | £15,707 | 102.1 yrs | £-12,631 |
| 7 kW | 5980 kWh | 4186 kWh | 1794 kWh | £0 | £179 | £179 | £17,742 | 98.9 yrs | £-14,153 |
| 8 kW | 6835 kWh | 4784 kWh | 2050 kWh | £0 | £205 | £205 | £19,776 | 96.5 yrs | £-15,675 |
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: £115, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 133.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1709 kWh | 1247 kWh | 461 kWh | £0 | £46 | £46 | £9,319 | 202.0 yrs | £-8,396 |
| 3 kW | 2563 kWh | 1871 kWh | 692 kWh | £0 | £69 | £69 | £11,354 | 164.1 yrs | £-9,970 |
| 4 kW | 3417 kWh | 2495 kWh | 923 kWh | £0 | £92 | £92 | £13,388 | 145.1 yrs | £-11,543 |
| 5 kW | 4272 kWh | 3118 kWh | 1153 kWh | £0 | £115 | £115 | £15,423 | 133.7 yrs | £-13,116 |
| 6 kW | 5126 kWh | 3742 kWh | 1384 kWh | £0 | £138 | £138 | £17,457 | 126.1 yrs | £-14,689 |
| 7 kW | 5980 kWh | 4366 kWh | 1615 kWh | £0 | £161 | £161 | £19,492 | 120.7 yrs | £-16,262 |
| 8 kW | 6835 kWh | 4989 kWh | 1845 kWh | £0 | £185 | £185 | £21,526 | 116.7 yrs | £-17,835 |
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: £107, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 160.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1709 kWh | 1281 kWh | 427 kWh | £0 | £43 | £43 | £11,069 | 259.1 yrs | £-10,215 |
| 3 kW | 2563 kWh | 1922 kWh | 641 kWh | £0 | £64 | £64 | £13,104 | 204.5 yrs | £-11,822 |
| 4 kW | 3417 kWh | 2563 kWh | 854 kWh | £0 | £85 | £85 | £15,138 | 177.2 yrs | £-13,429 |
| 5 kW | 4272 kWh | 3204 kWh | 1068 kWh | £0 | £107 | £107 | £17,173 | 160.8 yrs | £-15,037 |
| 6 kW | 5126 kWh | 3844 kWh | 1281 kWh | £0 | £128 | £128 | £19,207 | 149.9 yrs | £-16,644 |
| 7 kW | 5980 kWh | 4485 kWh | 1495 kWh | £0 | £150 | £150 | £21,242 | 142.1 yrs | £-18,251 |
| 8 kW | 6835 kWh | 5126 kWh | 1709 kWh | £0 | £171 | £171 | £23,276 | 136.2 yrs | £-19,859 |
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: £98, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 199.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1709 kWh | 1316 kWh | 393 kWh | £0 | £39 | £39 | £13,519 | 344.0 yrs | £-12,733 |
| 3 kW | 2563 kWh | 1974 kWh | 589 kWh | £0 | £59 | £59 | £15,554 | 263.8 yrs | £-14,375 |
| 4 kW | 3417 kWh | 2631 kWh | 786 kWh | £0 | £79 | £79 | £17,588 | 223.8 yrs | £-16,016 |
| 5 kW | 4272 kWh | 3289 kWh | 982 kWh | £0 | £98 | £98 | £19,623 | 199.7 yrs | £-17,658 |
| 6 kW | 5126 kWh | 3947 kWh | 1179 kWh | £0 | £118 | £118 | £21,657 | 183.7 yrs | £-19,299 |
| 7 kW | 5980 kWh | 4605 kWh | 1375 kWh | £0 | £138 | £138 | £23,692 | 172.2 yrs | £-20,941 |
| 8 kW | 6835 kWh | 5263 kWh | 1572 kWh | £0 | £157 | £157 | £25,726 | 163.7 yrs | £-22,582 |
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.