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 973 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: £789, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1947 kWh | 779 kWh | 1168 kWh | £199 | £117 | £316 | £4,069 | 12.9 yrs | £2,246 |
| 3 kW | 2920 kWh | 1168 kWh | 1752 kWh | £298 | £175 | £474 | £6,104 | 12.9 yrs | £3,369 |
| 4 kW | 3893 kWh | 1557 kWh | 2336 kWh | £398 | £234 | £631 | £8,138 | 12.9 yrs | £4,492 |
| 5 kW | 4866 kWh | 1947 kWh | 2920 kWh | £497 | £292 | £789 | £10,173 | 12.9 yrs | £5,614 |
| 6 kW | 5840 kWh | 2336 kWh | 3504 kWh | £597 | £350 | £947 | £12,207 | 12.9 yrs | £6,737 |
| 7 kW | 6813 kWh | 2725 kWh | 4088 kWh | £696 | £409 | £1,105 | £14,242 | 12.9 yrs | £7,860 |
| 8 kW | 7786 kWh | 3115 kWh | 4672 kWh | £796 | £467 | £1,263 | £16,276 | 12.9 yrs | £8,983 |
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: £941, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1168 kWh | 779 kWh | £298 | £78 | £376 | £6,169 | 16.4 yrs | £1,357 |
| 3 kW | 2920 kWh | 1752 kWh | 1168 kWh | £448 | £117 | £564 | £8,204 | 14.5 yrs | £3,085 |
| 4 kW | 3893 kWh | 2336 kWh | 1557 kWh | £597 | £156 | £753 | £10,238 | 13.6 yrs | £4,813 |
| 5 kW | 4866 kWh | 2920 kWh | 1947 kWh | £746 | £195 | £941 | £12,273 | 13.0 yrs | £6,541 |
| 6 kW | 5840 kWh | 3504 kWh | 2336 kWh | £895 | £234 | £1,129 | £14,307 | 12.7 yrs | £8,270 |
| 7 kW | 6813 kWh | 4088 kWh | 2725 kWh | £1,044 | £273 | £1,317 | £16,342 | 12.4 yrs | £9,998 |
| 8 kW | 7786 kWh | 4672 kWh | 3115 kWh | £1,194 | £311 | £1,505 | £18,376 | 12.2 yrs | £11,726 |
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: £1,016, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1363 kWh | 584 kWh | £348 | £58 | £407 | £7,569 | 18.6 yrs | £562 |
| 3 kW | 2920 kWh | 2044 kWh | 876 kWh | £522 | £88 | £610 | £9,604 | 15.7 yrs | £2,593 |
| 4 kW | 3893 kWh | 2725 kWh | 1168 kWh | £696 | £117 | £813 | £11,638 | 14.3 yrs | £4,624 |
| 5 kW | 4866 kWh | 3407 kWh | 1460 kWh | £870 | £146 | £1,016 | £13,673 | 13.5 yrs | £6,655 |
| 6 kW | 5840 kWh | 4088 kWh | 1752 kWh | £1,044 | £175 | £1,220 | £15,707 | 12.9 yrs | £8,686 |
| 7 kW | 6813 kWh | 4769 kWh | 2044 kWh | £1,219 | £204 | £1,423 | £17,742 | 12.5 yrs | £10,717 |
| 8 kW | 7786 kWh | 5450 kWh | 2336 kWh | £1,393 | £234 | £1,626 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,748 |
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: £1,039, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1421 kWh | 526 kWh | £363 | £53 | £416 | £9,319 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,006 |
| 3 kW | 2920 kWh | 2132 kWh | 788 kWh | £545 | £79 | £623 | £11,354 | 18.2 yrs | £1,115 |
| 4 kW | 3893 kWh | 2842 kWh | 1051 kWh | £726 | £105 | £831 | £13,388 | 16.1 yrs | £3,237 |
| 5 kW | 4866 kWh | 3553 kWh | 1314 kWh | £908 | £131 | £1,039 | £15,423 | 14.8 yrs | £5,359 |
| 6 kW | 5840 kWh | 4263 kWh | 1577 kWh | £1,089 | £158 | £1,247 | £17,457 | 14.0 yrs | £7,481 |
| 7 kW | 6813 kWh | 4974 kWh | 1840 kWh | £1,271 | £184 | £1,455 | £19,492 | 13.4 yrs | £9,602 |
| 8 kW | 7786 kWh | 5684 kWh | 2102 kWh | £1,452 | £210 | £1,663 | £21,526 | 12.9 yrs | £11,724 |
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: £1,054, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1460 kWh | 487 kWh | £373 | £49 | £422 | £11,069 | 26.2 yrs | £-2,635 |
| 3 kW | 2920 kWh | 2190 kWh | 730 kWh | £560 | £73 | £633 | £13,104 | 20.7 yrs | £-453 |
| 4 kW | 3893 kWh | 2920 kWh | 973 kWh | £746 | £97 | £843 | £15,138 | 17.9 yrs | £1,729 |
| 5 kW | 4866 kWh | 3650 kWh | 1217 kWh | £933 | £122 | £1,054 | £17,173 | 16.3 yrs | £3,912 |
| 6 kW | 5840 kWh | 4380 kWh | 1460 kWh | £1,119 | £146 | £1,265 | £19,207 | 15.2 yrs | £6,094 |
| 7 kW | 6813 kWh | 5110 kWh | 1703 kWh | £1,306 | £170 | £1,476 | £21,242 | 14.4 yrs | £8,276 |
| 8 kW | 7786 kWh | 5840 kWh | 1947 kWh | £1,492 | £195 | £1,687 | £23,276 | 13.8 yrs | £10,458 |
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: £1,069, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1499 kWh | 448 kWh | £383 | £45 | £428 | £13,519 | 31.6 yrs | £-4,964 |
| 3 kW | 2920 kWh | 2248 kWh | 672 kWh | £574 | £67 | £642 | £15,554 | 24.2 yrs | £-2,721 |
| 4 kW | 3893 kWh | 2998 kWh | 895 kWh | £766 | £90 | £855 | £17,588 | 20.6 yrs | £-479 |
| 5 kW | 4866 kWh | 3747 kWh | 1119 kWh | £957 | £112 | £1,069 | £19,623 | 18.4 yrs | £1,764 |
| 6 kW | 5840 kWh | 4497 kWh | 1343 kWh | £1,149 | £134 | £1,283 | £21,657 | 16.9 yrs | £4,007 |
| 7 kW | 6813 kWh | 5246 kWh | 1567 kWh | £1,340 | £157 | £1,497 | £23,692 | 15.8 yrs | £6,250 |
| 8 kW | 7786 kWh | 5996 kWh | 1791 kWh | £1,532 | £179 | £1,711 | £25,726 | 15.0 yrs | £8,493 |
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.