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 1071 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.9p 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: £898, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2141 kWh | 856 kWh | 1285 kWh | £231 | £128 | £359 | £4,069 | 11.3 yrs | £3,111 |
| 3 kW | 3212 kWh | 1285 kWh | 1927 kWh | £346 | £193 | £539 | £6,104 | 11.3 yrs | £4,667 |
| 4 kW | 4282 kWh | 1713 kWh | 2569 kWh | £461 | £257 | £718 | £8,138 | 11.3 yrs | £6,223 |
| 5 kW | 5353 kWh | 2141 kWh | 3212 kWh | £576 | £321 | £898 | £10,173 | 11.3 yrs | £7,778 |
| 6 kW | 6423 kWh | 2569 kWh | 3854 kWh | £692 | £385 | £1,077 | £12,207 | 11.3 yrs | £9,334 |
| 7 kW | 7494 kWh | 2998 kWh | 4496 kWh | £807 | £450 | £1,257 | £14,242 | 11.3 yrs | £10,890 |
| 8 kW | 8564 kWh | 3426 kWh | 5139 kWh | £922 | £514 | £1,436 | £16,276 | 11.3 yrs | £12,445 |
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: £1,079, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2141 kWh | 1285 kWh | 856 kWh | £346 | £86 | £431 | £6,169 | 14.3 yrs | £2,460 |
| 3 kW | 3212 kWh | 1927 kWh | 1285 kWh | £519 | £128 | £647 | £8,204 | 12.7 yrs | £4,741 |
| 4 kW | 4282 kWh | 2569 kWh | 1713 kWh | £692 | £171 | £863 | £10,238 | 11.9 yrs | £7,021 |
| 5 kW | 5353 kWh | 3212 kWh | 2141 kWh | £865 | £214 | £1,079 | £12,273 | 11.4 yrs | £9,301 |
| 6 kW | 6423 kWh | 3854 kWh | 2569 kWh | £1,037 | £257 | £1,294 | £14,307 | 11.1 yrs | £11,581 |
| 7 kW | 7494 kWh | 4496 kWh | 2998 kWh | £1,210 | £300 | £1,510 | £16,342 | 10.8 yrs | £13,862 |
| 8 kW | 8564 kWh | 5139 kWh | 3426 kWh | £1,383 | £343 | £1,726 | £18,376 | 10.6 yrs | £16,142 |
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: £1,169, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2141 kWh | 1499 kWh | 642 kWh | £403 | £64 | £468 | £7,569 | 16.2 yrs | £1,785 |
| 3 kW | 3212 kWh | 2248 kWh | 963 kWh | £605 | £96 | £702 | £9,604 | 13.7 yrs | £4,428 |
| 4 kW | 4282 kWh | 2998 kWh | 1285 kWh | £807 | £128 | £935 | £11,638 | 12.4 yrs | £7,070 |
| 5 kW | 5353 kWh | 3747 kWh | 1606 kWh | £1,009 | £161 | £1,169 | £13,673 | 11.7 yrs | £9,713 |
| 6 kW | 6423 kWh | 4496 kWh | 1927 kWh | £1,210 | £193 | £1,403 | £15,707 | 11.2 yrs | £12,355 |
| 7 kW | 7494 kWh | 5246 kWh | 2248 kWh | £1,412 | £225 | £1,637 | £17,742 | 10.8 yrs | £14,998 |
| 8 kW | 8564 kWh | 5995 kWh | 2569 kWh | £1,614 | £257 | £1,871 | £19,776 | 10.6 yrs | £17,640 |
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: £1,196, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2141 kWh | 1563 kWh | 578 kWh | £421 | £58 | £479 | £9,319 | 19.5 yrs | £252 |
| 3 kW | 3212 kWh | 2345 kWh | 867 kWh | £631 | £87 | £718 | £11,354 | 15.8 yrs | £3,004 |
| 4 kW | 4282 kWh | 3126 kWh | 1156 kWh | £842 | £116 | £957 | £13,388 | 14.0 yrs | £5,755 |
| 5 kW | 5353 kWh | 3908 kWh | 1445 kWh | £1,052 | £145 | £1,196 | £15,423 | 12.9 yrs | £8,506 |
| 6 kW | 6423 kWh | 4689 kWh | 1734 kWh | £1,262 | £173 | £1,436 | £17,457 | 12.2 yrs | £11,257 |
| 7 kW | 7494 kWh | 5471 kWh | 2023 kWh | £1,473 | £202 | £1,675 | £19,492 | 11.6 yrs | £14,008 |
| 8 kW | 8564 kWh | 6252 kWh | 2312 kWh | £1,683 | £231 | £1,914 | £21,526 | 11.2 yrs | £16,760 |
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: £1,215, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2141 kWh | 1606 kWh | 535 kWh | £432 | £54 | £486 | £11,069 | 22.8 yrs | £-1,353 |
| 3 kW | 3212 kWh | 2409 kWh | 803 kWh | £648 | £80 | £729 | £13,104 | 18.0 yrs | £1,471 |
| 4 kW | 4282 kWh | 3212 kWh | 1071 kWh | £865 | £107 | £972 | £15,138 | 15.6 yrs | £4,295 |
| 5 kW | 5353 kWh | 4015 kWh | 1338 kWh | £1,081 | £134 | £1,215 | £17,173 | 14.1 yrs | £7,118 |
| 6 kW | 6423 kWh | 4817 kWh | 1606 kWh | £1,297 | £161 | £1,457 | £19,207 | 13.2 yrs | £9,942 |
| 7 kW | 7494 kWh | 5620 kWh | 1873 kWh | £1,513 | £187 | £1,700 | £21,242 | 12.5 yrs | £12,766 |
| 8 kW | 8564 kWh | 6423 kWh | 2141 kWh | £1,729 | £214 | £1,943 | £23,276 | 12.0 yrs | £15,589 |
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: £1,233, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 2141 kWh | 1649 kWh | 492 kWh | £444 | £49 | £493 | £13,519 | 27.4 yrs | £-3,658 |
| 3 kW | 3212 kWh | 2473 kWh | 739 kWh | £666 | £74 | £740 | £15,554 | 21.0 yrs | £-762 |
| 4 kW | 4282 kWh | 3297 kWh | 985 kWh | £888 | £98 | £986 | £17,588 | 17.8 yrs | £2,134 |
| 5 kW | 5353 kWh | 4122 kWh | 1231 kWh | £1,110 | £123 | £1,233 | £19,623 | 15.9 yrs | £5,031 |
| 6 kW | 6423 kWh | 4946 kWh | 1477 kWh | £1,331 | £148 | £1,479 | £21,657 | 14.6 yrs | £7,927 |
| 7 kW | 7494 kWh | 5770 kWh | 1724 kWh | £1,553 | £172 | £1,726 | £23,692 | 13.7 yrs | £10,823 |
| 8 kW | 8564 kWh | 6595 kWh | 1970 kWh | £1,775 | £197 | £1,972 | £25,726 | 13.0 yrs | £13,719 |
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.