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 | 2657 kWh | 1063 kWh | 1594 kWh | £0 | £159 | £159 | £6,104 | 38.3 yrs | £-2,915 |
| 4 kW | 3543 kWh | 1417 kWh | 2126 kWh | £0 | £213 | £213 | £8,138 | 38.3 yrs | £-3,886 |
| 5 kW | 4429 kWh | 1772 kWh | 2657 kWh | £0 | £266 | £266 | £10,173 | 38.3 yrs | £-4,858 |
| 6 kW | 5315 kWh | 2126 kWh | 3189 kWh | £0 | £319 | £319 | £12,207 | 38.3 yrs | £-5,829 |
| 7 kW | 6200 kWh | 2480 kWh | 3720 kWh | £0 | £372 | £372 | £14,242 | 38.3 yrs | £-6,801 |
| 8 kW | 7086 kWh | 2834 kWh | 4252 kWh | £0 | £425 | £425 | £16,276 | 38.3 yrs | £-7,773 |
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 | 87.1 yrs | £-4,752 |
| 3 kW | 2657 kWh | 1594 kWh | 1063 kWh | £0 | £106 | £106 | £8,204 | 77.2 yrs | £-6,078 |
| 4 kW | 3543 kWh | 2126 kWh | 1417 kWh | £0 | £142 | £142 | £10,238 | 72.2 yrs | £-7,404 |
| 5 kW | 4429 kWh | 2657 kWh | 1772 kWh | £0 | £177 | £177 | £12,273 | 69.3 yrs | £-8,729 |
| 6 kW | 5315 kWh | 3189 kWh | 2126 kWh | £0 | £213 | £213 | £14,307 | 67.3 yrs | £-10,055 |
| 7 kW | 6200 kWh | 3720 kWh | 2480 kWh | £0 | £248 | £248 | £16,342 | 65.9 yrs | £-11,381 |
| 8 kW | 7086 kWh | 4252 kWh | 2834 kWh | £0 | £283 | £283 | £18,376 | 64.8 yrs | £-12,707 |
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 | 531 kWh | £0 | £53 | £53 | £7,569 | 142.4 yrs | £-6,506 |
| 3 kW | 2657 kWh | 1860 kWh | 797 kWh | £0 | £80 | £80 | £9,604 | 120.5 yrs | £-8,009 |
| 4 kW | 3543 kWh | 2480 kWh | 1063 kWh | £0 | £106 | £106 | £11,638 | 109.5 yrs | £-9,512 |
| 5 kW | 4429 kWh | 3100 kWh | 1329 kWh | £0 | £133 | £133 | £13,673 | 102.9 yrs | £-11,015 |
| 6 kW | 5315 kWh | 3720 kWh | 1594 kWh | £0 | £159 | £159 | £15,707 | 98.5 yrs | £-12,518 |
| 7 kW | 6200 kWh | 4340 kWh | 1860 kWh | £0 | £186 | £186 | £17,742 | 95.4 yrs | £-14,021 |
| 8 kW | 7086 kWh | 4960 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: 129.0 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 | 2657 kWh | 1940 kWh | 717 kWh | £0 | £72 | £72 | £11,354 | 158.2 yrs | £-9,919 |
| 4 kW | 3543 kWh | 2586 kWh | 957 kWh | £0 | £96 | £96 | £13,388 | 139.9 yrs | £-11,475 |
| 5 kW | 4429 kWh | 3233 kWh | 1196 kWh | £0 | £120 | £120 | £15,423 | 129.0 yrs | £-13,031 |
| 6 kW | 5315 kWh | 3880 kWh | 1435 kWh | £0 | £143 | £143 | £17,457 | 121.7 yrs | £-14,587 |
| 7 kW | 6200 kWh | 4526 kWh | 1674 kWh | £0 | £167 | £167 | £19,492 | 116.4 yrs | £-16,143 |
| 8 kW | 7086 kWh | 5173 kWh | 1913 kWh | £0 | £191 | £191 | £21,526 | 112.5 yrs | £-17,700 |
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 | 2657 kWh | 1993 kWh | 664 kWh | £0 | £66 | £66 | £13,104 | 197.2 yrs | £-11,775 |
| 4 kW | 3543 kWh | 2657 kWh | 886 kWh | £0 | £89 | £89 | £15,138 | 170.9 yrs | £-13,366 |
| 5 kW | 4429 kWh | 3322 kWh | 1107 kWh | £0 | £111 | £111 | £17,173 | 155.1 yrs | £-14,958 |
| 6 kW | 5315 kWh | 3986 kWh | 1329 kWh | £0 | £133 | £133 | £19,207 | 144.6 yrs | £-16,550 |
| 7 kW | 6200 kWh | 4650 kWh | 1550 kWh | £0 | £155 | £155 | £21,242 | 137.0 yrs | £-18,141 |
| 8 kW | 7086 kWh | 5315 kWh | 1772 kWh | £0 | £177 | £177 | £23,276 | 131.4 yrs | £-19,733 |
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 | 407 kWh | £0 | £41 | £41 | £13,519 | 331.8 yrs | £-12,704 |
| 3 kW | 2657 kWh | 2046 kWh | 611 kWh | £0 | £61 | £61 | £15,554 | 254.5 yrs | £-14,331 |
| 4 kW | 3543 kWh | 2728 kWh | 815 kWh | £0 | £81 | £81 | £17,588 | 215.8 yrs | £-15,958 |
| 5 kW | 4429 kWh | 3410 kWh | 1019 kWh | £0 | £102 | £102 | £19,623 | 192.6 yrs | £-17,585 |
| 6 kW | 5315 kWh | 4092 kWh | 1222 kWh | £0 | £122 | £122 | £21,657 | 177.2 yrs | £-19,212 |
| 7 kW | 6200 kWh | 4774 kWh | 1426 kWh | £0 | £143 | £143 | £23,692 | 166.1 yrs | £-20,839 |
| 8 kW | 7086 kWh | 5456 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.