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 930 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.7p 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: £795, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1860 kWh | 744 kWh | 1116 kWh | £206 | £112 | £318 | £4,069 | 12.8 yrs | £2,288 |
| 3 kW | 2790 kWh | 1116 kWh | 1674 kWh | £309 | £167 | £477 | £6,104 | 12.8 yrs | £3,432 |
| 4 kW | 3720 kWh | 1488 kWh | 2232 kWh | £413 | £223 | £636 | £8,138 | 12.8 yrs | £4,577 |
| 5 kW | 4650 kWh | 1860 kWh | 2790 kWh | £516 | £279 | £795 | £10,173 | 12.8 yrs | £5,721 |
| 6 kW | 5580 kWh | 2232 kWh | 3348 kWh | £619 | £335 | £954 | £12,207 | 12.8 yrs | £6,865 |
| 7 kW | 6511 kWh | 2604 kWh | 3906 kWh | £722 | £391 | £1,113 | £14,242 | 12.8 yrs | £8,009 |
| 8 kW | 7441 kWh | 2976 kWh | 4464 kWh | £825 | £446 | £1,271 | £16,276 | 12.8 yrs | £9,153 |
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: £959, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1860 kWh | 1116 kWh | 744 kWh | £309 | £74 | £384 | £6,169 | 16.1 yrs | £1,507 |
| 3 kW | 2790 kWh | 1674 kWh | 1116 kWh | £464 | £112 | £576 | £8,204 | 14.3 yrs | £3,310 |
| 4 kW | 3720 kWh | 2232 kWh | 1488 kWh | £619 | £149 | £768 | £10,238 | 13.3 yrs | £5,113 |
| 5 kW | 4650 kWh | 2790 kWh | 1860 kWh | £773 | £186 | £959 | £12,273 | 12.8 yrs | £6,917 |
| 6 kW | 5580 kWh | 3348 kWh | 2232 kWh | £928 | £223 | £1,151 | £14,307 | 12.4 yrs | £8,720 |
| 7 kW | 6511 kWh | 3906 kWh | 2604 kWh | £1,083 | £260 | £1,343 | £16,342 | 12.2 yrs | £10,524 |
| 8 kW | 7441 kWh | 4464 kWh | 2976 kWh | £1,238 | £298 | £1,535 | £18,376 | 12.0 yrs | £12,327 |
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: £1,042, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1860 kWh | 1302 kWh | 558 kWh | £361 | £56 | £417 | £7,569 | 18.2 yrs | £766 |
| 3 kW | 2790 kWh | 1953 kWh | 837 kWh | £541 | £84 | £625 | £9,604 | 15.4 yrs | £2,899 |
| 4 kW | 3720 kWh | 2604 kWh | 1116 kWh | £722 | £112 | £834 | £11,638 | 14.0 yrs | £5,032 |
| 5 kW | 4650 kWh | 3255 kWh | 1395 kWh | £902 | £140 | £1,042 | £13,673 | 13.1 yrs | £7,165 |
| 6 kW | 5580 kWh | 3906 kWh | 1674 kWh | £1,083 | £167 | £1,250 | £15,707 | 12.6 yrs | £9,298 |
| 7 kW | 6511 kWh | 4557 kWh | 1953 kWh | £1,263 | £195 | £1,459 | £17,742 | 12.2 yrs | £11,431 |
| 8 kW | 7441 kWh | 5208 kWh | 2232 kWh | £1,444 | £223 | £1,667 | £19,776 | 11.9 yrs | £13,564 |
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: £1,067, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1860 kWh | 1358 kWh | 502 kWh | £376 | £50 | £427 | £9,319 | 21.8 yrs | £-786 |
| 3 kW | 2790 kWh | 2037 kWh | 753 kWh | £565 | £75 | £640 | £11,354 | 17.7 yrs | £1,446 |
| 4 kW | 3720 kWh | 2716 kWh | 1004 kWh | £753 | £100 | £853 | £13,388 | 15.7 yrs | £3,678 |
| 5 kW | 4650 kWh | 3395 kWh | 1256 kWh | £941 | £126 | £1,067 | £15,423 | 14.5 yrs | £5,909 |
| 6 kW | 5580 kWh | 4074 kWh | 1507 kWh | £1,129 | £151 | £1,280 | £17,457 | 13.6 yrs | £8,141 |
| 7 kW | 6511 kWh | 4753 kWh | 1758 kWh | £1,317 | £176 | £1,493 | £19,492 | 13.1 yrs | £10,373 |
| 8 kW | 7441 kWh | 5432 kWh | 2009 kWh | £1,506 | £201 | £1,707 | £21,526 | 12.6 yrs | £12,605 |
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: £1,083, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1860 kWh | 1395 kWh | 465 kWh | £387 | £47 | £433 | £11,069 | 25.5 yrs | £-2,404 |
| 3 kW | 2790 kWh | 2093 kWh | 698 kWh | £580 | £70 | £650 | £13,104 | 20.2 yrs | £-107 |
| 4 kW | 3720 kWh | 2790 kWh | 930 kWh | £773 | £93 | £866 | £15,138 | 17.5 yrs | £2,191 |
| 5 kW | 4650 kWh | 3488 kWh | 1163 kWh | £967 | £116 | £1,083 | £17,173 | 15.9 yrs | £4,489 |
| 6 kW | 5580 kWh | 4185 kWh | 1395 kWh | £1,160 | £140 | £1,300 | £19,207 | 14.8 yrs | £6,787 |
| 7 kW | 6511 kWh | 4883 kWh | 1628 kWh | £1,354 | £163 | £1,516 | £21,242 | 14.0 yrs | £9,085 |
| 8 kW | 7441 kWh | 5580 kWh | 1860 kWh | £1,547 | £186 | £1,733 | £23,276 | 13.4 yrs | £11,382 |
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: £1,100, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1860 kWh | 1432 kWh | 428 kWh | £397 | £43 | £440 | £13,519 | 30.7 yrs | £-4,723 |
| 3 kW | 2790 kWh | 2148 kWh | 642 kWh | £596 | £64 | £660 | £15,554 | 23.6 yrs | £-2,359 |
| 4 kW | 3720 kWh | 2865 kWh | 856 kWh | £794 | £86 | £880 | £17,588 | 20.0 yrs | £5 |
| 5 kW | 4650 kWh | 3581 kWh | 1070 kWh | £993 | £107 | £1,100 | £19,623 | 17.8 yrs | £2,369 |
| 6 kW | 5580 kWh | 4297 kWh | 1284 kWh | £1,191 | £128 | £1,319 | £21,657 | 16.4 yrs | £4,732 |
| 7 kW | 6511 kWh | 5013 kWh | 1497 kWh | £1,390 | £150 | £1,539 | £23,692 | 15.4 yrs | £7,096 |
| 8 kW | 7441 kWh | 5729 kWh | 1711 kWh | £1,588 | £171 | £1,759 | £25,726 | 14.6 yrs | £9,460 |
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.