A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 960 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p 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: £778, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1919 kWh | 768 kWh | 1151 kWh | £196 | £115 | £311 | £4,069 | 13.1 yrs | £2,156 |
| 3 kW | 2879 kWh | 1151 kWh | 1727 kWh | £294 | £173 | £467 | £6,104 | 13.1 yrs | £3,234 |
| 4 kW | 3838 kWh | 1535 kWh | 2303 kWh | £392 | £230 | £623 | £8,138 | 13.1 yrs | £4,313 |
| 5 kW | 4798 kWh | 1919 kWh | 2879 kWh | £490 | £288 | £778 | £10,173 | 13.1 yrs | £5,391 |
| 6 kW | 5757 kWh | 2303 kWh | 3454 kWh | £588 | £345 | £934 | £12,207 | 13.1 yrs | £6,469 |
| 7 kW | 6717 kWh | 2687 kWh | 4030 kWh | £686 | £403 | £1,089 | £14,242 | 13.1 yrs | £7,547 |
| 8 kW | 7676 kWh | 3070 kWh | 4606 kWh | £784 | £461 | £1,245 | £16,276 | 13.1 yrs | £8,625 |
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: £927, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1919 kWh | 1151 kWh | 768 kWh | £294 | £77 | £371 | £6,169 | 16.6 yrs | £1,250 |
| 3 kW | 2879 kWh | 1727 kWh | 1151 kWh | £441 | £115 | £556 | £8,204 | 14.7 yrs | £2,925 |
| 4 kW | 3838 kWh | 2303 kWh | 1535 kWh | £588 | £154 | £742 | £10,238 | 13.8 yrs | £4,600 |
| 5 kW | 4798 kWh | 2879 kWh | 1919 kWh | £735 | £192 | £927 | £12,273 | 13.2 yrs | £6,275 |
| 6 kW | 5757 kWh | 3454 kWh | 2303 kWh | £883 | £230 | £1,113 | £14,307 | 12.9 yrs | £7,950 |
| 7 kW | 6717 kWh | 4030 kWh | 2687 kWh | £1,030 | £269 | £1,298 | £16,342 | 12.6 yrs | £9,625 |
| 8 kW | 7676 kWh | 4606 kWh | 3070 kWh | £1,177 | £307 | £1,484 | £18,376 | 12.4 yrs | £11,300 |
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: £1,002, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1919 kWh | 1343 kWh | 576 kWh | £343 | £58 | £401 | £7,569 | 18.9 yrs | £447 |
| 3 kW | 2879 kWh | 2015 kWh | 864 kWh | £515 | £86 | £601 | £9,604 | 16.0 yrs | £2,420 |
| 4 kW | 3838 kWh | 2687 kWh | 1151 kWh | £686 | £115 | £802 | £11,638 | 14.5 yrs | £4,393 |
| 5 kW | 4798 kWh | 3358 kWh | 1439 kWh | £858 | £144 | £1,002 | £13,673 | 13.6 yrs | £6,367 |
| 6 kW | 5757 kWh | 4030 kWh | 1727 kWh | £1,030 | £173 | £1,202 | £15,707 | 13.1 yrs | £8,340 |
| 7 kW | 6717 kWh | 4702 kWh | 2015 kWh | £1,201 | £201 | £1,403 | £17,742 | 12.6 yrs | £10,314 |
| 8 kW | 7676 kWh | 5373 kWh | 2303 kWh | £1,373 | £230 | £1,603 | £19,776 | 12.3 yrs | £12,287 |
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: £1,024, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1919 kWh | 1401 kWh | 518 kWh | £358 | £52 | £410 | £9,319 | 22.7 yrs | £-1,124 |
| 3 kW | 2879 kWh | 2101 kWh | 777 kWh | £537 | £78 | £615 | £11,354 | 18.5 yrs | £939 |
| 4 kW | 3838 kWh | 2802 kWh | 1036 kWh | £716 | £104 | £819 | £13,388 | 16.3 yrs | £3,002 |
| 5 kW | 4798 kWh | 3502 kWh | 1295 kWh | £895 | £130 | £1,024 | £15,423 | 15.1 yrs | £5,064 |
| 6 kW | 5757 kWh | 4203 kWh | 1554 kWh | £1,074 | £155 | £1,229 | £17,457 | 14.2 yrs | £7,127 |
| 7 kW | 6717 kWh | 4903 kWh | 1813 kWh | £1,253 | £181 | £1,434 | £19,492 | 13.6 yrs | £9,190 |
| 8 kW | 7676 kWh | 5604 kWh | 2073 kWh | £1,432 | £207 | £1,639 | £21,526 | 13.1 yrs | £11,253 |
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: £1,039, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1919 kWh | 1439 kWh | 480 kWh | £368 | £48 | £416 | £11,069 | 26.6 yrs | £-2,755 |
| 3 kW | 2879 kWh | 2159 kWh | 720 kWh | £552 | £72 | £624 | £13,104 | 21.0 yrs | £-632 |
| 4 kW | 3838 kWh | 2879 kWh | 960 kWh | £735 | £96 | £831 | £15,138 | 18.2 yrs | £1,490 |
| 5 kW | 4798 kWh | 3598 kWh | 1199 kWh | £919 | £120 | £1,039 | £17,173 | 16.5 yrs | £3,613 |
| 6 kW | 5757 kWh | 4318 kWh | 1439 kWh | £1,103 | £144 | £1,247 | £19,207 | 15.4 yrs | £5,735 |
| 7 kW | 6717 kWh | 5037 kWh | 1679 kWh | £1,287 | £168 | £1,455 | £21,242 | 14.6 yrs | £7,858 |
| 8 kW | 7676 kWh | 5757 kWh | 1919 kWh | £1,471 | £192 | £1,663 | £23,276 | 14.0 yrs | £9,981 |
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: £1,054, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1919 kWh | 1478 kWh | 441 kWh | £378 | £44 | £422 | £13,519 | 32.1 yrs | £-5,086 |
| 3 kW | 2879 kWh | 2216 kWh | 662 kWh | £566 | £66 | £633 | £15,554 | 24.6 yrs | £-2,903 |
| 4 kW | 3838 kWh | 2955 kWh | 883 kWh | £755 | £88 | £843 | £17,588 | 20.9 yrs | £-721 |
| 5 kW | 4798 kWh | 3694 kWh | 1103 kWh | £944 | £110 | £1,054 | £19,623 | 18.6 yrs | £1,461 |
| 6 kW | 5757 kWh | 4433 kWh | 1324 kWh | £1,133 | £132 | £1,265 | £21,657 | 17.1 yrs | £3,643 |
| 7 kW | 6717 kWh | 5172 kWh | 1545 kWh | £1,321 | £154 | £1,476 | £23,692 | 16.1 yrs | £5,826 |
| 8 kW | 7676 kWh | 5911 kWh | 1765 kWh | £1,510 | £177 | £1,687 | £25,726 | 15.3 yrs | £8,008 |
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.