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 981 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: £797, 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 | 1962 kWh | 785 kWh | 1177 kWh | £201 | £118 | £319 | £4,069 | 12.8 yrs | £2,310 |
| 3 kW | 2943 kWh | 1177 kWh | 1766 kWh | £302 | £177 | £478 | £6,104 | 12.8 yrs | £3,465 |
| 4 kW | 3924 kWh | 1570 kWh | 2354 kWh | £402 | £235 | £638 | £8,138 | 12.8 yrs | £4,620 |
| 5 kW | 4905 kWh | 1962 kWh | 2943 kWh | £503 | £294 | £797 | £10,173 | 12.8 yrs | £5,774 |
| 6 kW | 5886 kWh | 2354 kWh | 3532 kWh | £604 | £353 | £957 | £12,207 | 12.8 yrs | £6,929 |
| 7 kW | 6867 kWh | 2747 kWh | 4120 kWh | £704 | £412 | £1,116 | £14,242 | 12.8 yrs | £8,084 |
| 8 kW | 7848 kWh | 3139 kWh | 4709 kWh | £805 | £471 | £1,276 | £16,276 | 12.8 yrs | £9,239 |
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: £951, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1962 kWh | 1177 kWh | 785 kWh | £302 | £78 | £380 | £6,169 | 16.2 yrs | £1,437 |
| 3 kW | 2943 kWh | 1766 kWh | 1177 kWh | £453 | £118 | £570 | £8,204 | 14.4 yrs | £3,206 |
| 4 kW | 3924 kWh | 2354 kWh | 1570 kWh | £604 | £157 | £761 | £10,238 | 13.5 yrs | £4,974 |
| 5 kW | 4905 kWh | 2943 kWh | 1962 kWh | £755 | £196 | £951 | £12,273 | 12.9 yrs | £6,743 |
| 6 kW | 5886 kWh | 3532 kWh | 2354 kWh | £905 | £235 | £1,141 | £14,307 | 12.5 yrs | £8,512 |
| 7 kW | 6867 kWh | 4120 kWh | 2747 kWh | £1,056 | £275 | £1,331 | £16,342 | 12.3 yrs | £10,280 |
| 8 kW | 7848 kWh | 4709 kWh | 3139 kWh | £1,207 | £314 | £1,521 | £18,376 | 12.1 yrs | £12,049 |
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: £1,027, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1962 kWh | 1373 kWh | 589 kWh | £352 | £59 | £411 | £7,569 | 18.4 yrs | £651 |
| 3 kW | 2943 kWh | 2060 kWh | 883 kWh | £528 | £88 | £616 | £9,604 | 15.6 yrs | £2,726 |
| 4 kW | 3924 kWh | 2747 kWh | 1177 kWh | £704 | £118 | £822 | £11,638 | 14.2 yrs | £4,802 |
| 5 kW | 4905 kWh | 3433 kWh | 1471 kWh | £880 | £147 | £1,027 | £13,673 | 13.3 yrs | £6,877 |
| 6 kW | 5886 kWh | 4120 kWh | 1766 kWh | £1,056 | £177 | £1,233 | £15,707 | 12.7 yrs | £8,953 |
| 7 kW | 6867 kWh | 4807 kWh | 2060 kWh | £1,232 | £206 | £1,438 | £17,742 | 12.3 yrs | £11,028 |
| 8 kW | 7848 kWh | 5494 kWh | 2354 kWh | £1,409 | £235 | £1,644 | £19,776 | 12.0 yrs | £13,104 |
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: £1,051, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1962 kWh | 1432 kWh | 530 kWh | £367 | £53 | £420 | £9,319 | 22.2 yrs | £-915 |
| 3 kW | 2943 kWh | 2148 kWh | 795 kWh | £551 | £79 | £630 | £11,354 | 18.0 yrs | £1,253 |
| 4 kW | 3924 kWh | 2864 kWh | 1059 kWh | £734 | £106 | £840 | £13,388 | 15.9 yrs | £3,420 |
| 5 kW | 4905 kWh | 3581 kWh | 1324 kWh | £918 | £132 | £1,051 | £15,423 | 14.7 yrs | £5,588 |
| 6 kW | 5886 kWh | 4297 kWh | 1589 kWh | £1,102 | £159 | £1,261 | £17,457 | 13.8 yrs | £7,755 |
| 7 kW | 6867 kWh | 5013 kWh | 1854 kWh | £1,285 | £185 | £1,471 | £19,492 | 13.3 yrs | £9,923 |
| 8 kW | 7848 kWh | 5729 kWh | 2119 kWh | £1,469 | £212 | £1,681 | £21,526 | 12.8 yrs | £12,090 |
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: £1,066, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1962 kWh | 1471 kWh | 490 kWh | £377 | £49 | £426 | £11,069 | 26.0 yrs | £-2,542 |
| 3 kW | 2943 kWh | 2207 kWh | 736 kWh | £566 | £74 | £640 | £13,104 | 20.5 yrs | £-313 |
| 4 kW | 3924 kWh | 2943 kWh | 981 kWh | £755 | £98 | £853 | £15,138 | 17.8 yrs | £1,915 |
| 5 kW | 4905 kWh | 3679 kWh | 1226 kWh | £943 | £123 | £1,066 | £17,173 | 16.1 yrs | £4,144 |
| 6 kW | 5886 kWh | 4414 kWh | 1471 kWh | £1,132 | £147 | £1,279 | £19,207 | 15.0 yrs | £6,373 |
| 7 kW | 6867 kWh | 5150 kWh | 1717 kWh | £1,321 | £172 | £1,492 | £21,242 | 14.2 yrs | £8,602 |
| 8 kW | 7848 kWh | 5886 kWh | 1962 kWh | £1,509 | £196 | £1,705 | £23,276 | 13.6 yrs | £10,831 |
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: £1,081, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1962 kWh | 1511 kWh | 451 kWh | £387 | £45 | £432 | £13,519 | 31.3 yrs | £-4,870 |
| 3 kW | 2943 kWh | 2266 kWh | 677 kWh | £581 | £68 | £649 | £15,554 | 24.0 yrs | £-2,579 |
| 4 kW | 3924 kWh | 3021 kWh | 903 kWh | £775 | £90 | £865 | £17,588 | 20.3 yrs | £-289 |
| 5 kW | 4905 kWh | 3777 kWh | 1128 kWh | £968 | £113 | £1,081 | £19,623 | 18.1 yrs | £2,001 |
| 6 kW | 5886 kWh | 4532 kWh | 1354 kWh | £1,162 | £135 | £1,297 | £21,657 | 16.7 yrs | £4,291 |
| 7 kW | 6867 kWh | 5288 kWh | 1579 kWh | £1,356 | £158 | £1,514 | £23,692 | 15.7 yrs | £6,582 |
| 8 kW | 7848 kWh | 6043 kWh | 1805 kWh | £1,549 | £181 | £1,730 | £25,726 | 14.9 yrs | £8,872 |
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.