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 968 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: £785, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1936 kWh | 774 kWh | 1161 kWh | £198 | £116 | £314 | £4,069 | 13.0 yrs | £2,210 |
| 3 kW | 2903 kWh | 1161 kWh | 1742 kWh | £297 | £174 | £471 | £6,104 | 13.0 yrs | £3,315 |
| 4 kW | 3871 kWh | 1548 kWh | 2323 kWh | £396 | £232 | £628 | £8,138 | 13.0 yrs | £4,420 |
| 5 kW | 4839 kWh | 1936 kWh | 2903 kWh | £495 | £290 | £785 | £10,173 | 13.0 yrs | £5,525 |
| 6 kW | 5807 kWh | 2323 kWh | 3484 kWh | £593 | £348 | £942 | £12,207 | 13.0 yrs | £6,630 |
| 7 kW | 6775 kWh | 2710 kWh | 4065 kWh | £692 | £406 | £1,099 | £14,242 | 13.0 yrs | £7,735 |
| 8 kW | 7742 kWh | 3097 kWh | 4645 kWh | £791 | £465 | £1,256 | £16,276 | 13.0 yrs | £8,841 |
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: £935, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1936 kWh | 1161 kWh | 774 kWh | £297 | £77 | £374 | £6,169 | 16.5 yrs | £1,314 |
| 3 kW | 2903 kWh | 1742 kWh | 1161 kWh | £445 | £116 | £561 | £8,204 | 14.6 yrs | £3,021 |
| 4 kW | 3871 kWh | 2323 kWh | 1548 kWh | £593 | £155 | £748 | £10,238 | 13.7 yrs | £4,728 |
| 5 kW | 4839 kWh | 2903 kWh | 1936 kWh | £742 | £194 | £935 | £12,273 | 13.1 yrs | £6,435 |
| 6 kW | 5807 kWh | 3484 kWh | 2323 kWh | £890 | £232 | £1,122 | £14,307 | 12.7 yrs | £8,142 |
| 7 kW | 6775 kWh | 4065 kWh | 2710 kWh | £1,039 | £271 | £1,310 | £16,342 | 12.5 yrs | £9,849 |
| 8 kW | 7742 kWh | 4645 kWh | 3097 kWh | £1,187 | £310 | £1,497 | £18,376 | 12.3 yrs | £11,556 |
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: £1,011, 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 | 1936 kWh | 1355 kWh | 581 kWh | £346 | £58 | £404 | £7,569 | 18.7 yrs | £516 |
| 3 kW | 2903 kWh | 2032 kWh | 871 kWh | £519 | £87 | £606 | £9,604 | 15.8 yrs | £2,524 |
| 4 kW | 3871 kWh | 2710 kWh | 1161 kWh | £692 | £116 | £809 | £11,638 | 14.4 yrs | £4,532 |
| 5 kW | 4839 kWh | 3387 kWh | 1452 kWh | £865 | £145 | £1,011 | £13,673 | 13.5 yrs | £6,540 |
| 6 kW | 5807 kWh | 4065 kWh | 1742 kWh | £1,039 | £174 | £1,213 | £15,707 | 13.0 yrs | £8,548 |
| 7 kW | 6775 kWh | 4742 kWh | 2032 kWh | £1,212 | £203 | £1,415 | £17,742 | 12.5 yrs | £10,556 |
| 8 kW | 7742 kWh | 5420 kWh | 2323 kWh | £1,385 | £232 | £1,617 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,564 |
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: £1,033, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1936 kWh | 1413 kWh | 523 kWh | £361 | £52 | £413 | £9,319 | 22.5 yrs | £-1,053 |
| 3 kW | 2903 kWh | 2120 kWh | 784 kWh | £542 | £78 | £620 | £11,354 | 18.3 yrs | £1,045 |
| 4 kW | 3871 kWh | 2826 kWh | 1045 kWh | £722 | £105 | £827 | £13,388 | 16.2 yrs | £3,143 |
| 5 kW | 4839 kWh | 3533 kWh | 1307 kWh | £903 | £131 | £1,033 | £15,423 | 14.9 yrs | £5,242 |
| 6 kW | 5807 kWh | 4239 kWh | 1568 kWh | £1,083 | £157 | £1,240 | £17,457 | 14.1 yrs | £7,340 |
| 7 kW | 6775 kWh | 4946 kWh | 1829 kWh | £1,264 | £183 | £1,446 | £19,492 | 13.5 yrs | £9,438 |
| 8 kW | 7742 kWh | 5652 kWh | 2090 kWh | £1,444 | £209 | £1,653 | £21,526 | 13.0 yrs | £11,537 |
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: £1,048, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1936 kWh | 1452 kWh | 484 kWh | £371 | £48 | £419 | £11,069 | 26.4 yrs | £-2,683 |
| 3 kW | 2903 kWh | 2178 kWh | 726 kWh | £556 | £73 | £629 | £13,104 | 20.8 yrs | £-524 |
| 4 kW | 3871 kWh | 2903 kWh | 968 kWh | £742 | £97 | £839 | £15,138 | 18.1 yrs | £1,634 |
| 5 kW | 4839 kWh | 3629 kWh | 1210 kWh | £927 | £121 | £1,048 | £17,173 | 16.4 yrs | £3,793 |
| 6 kW | 5807 kWh | 4355 kWh | 1452 kWh | £1,113 | £145 | £1,258 | £19,207 | 15.3 yrs | £5,951 |
| 7 kW | 6775 kWh | 5081 kWh | 1694 kWh | £1,298 | £169 | £1,468 | £21,242 | 14.5 yrs | £8,110 |
| 8 kW | 7742 kWh | 5807 kWh | 1936 kWh | £1,484 | £194 | £1,677 | £23,276 | 13.9 yrs | £10,268 |
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: £1,063, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1936 kWh | 1490 kWh | 445 kWh | £381 | £45 | £425 | £13,519 | 31.8 yrs | £-5,013 |
| 3 kW | 2903 kWh | 2236 kWh | 668 kWh | £571 | £67 | £638 | £15,554 | 24.4 yrs | £-2,794 |
| 4 kW | 3871 kWh | 2981 kWh | 890 kWh | £762 | £89 | £851 | £17,588 | 20.7 yrs | £-575 |
| 5 kW | 4839 kWh | 3726 kWh | 1113 kWh | £952 | £111 | £1,063 | £19,623 | 18.5 yrs | £1,644 |
| 6 kW | 5807 kWh | 4471 kWh | 1336 kWh | £1,142 | £134 | £1,276 | £21,657 | 17.0 yrs | £3,862 |
| 7 kW | 6775 kWh | 5216 kWh | 1558 kWh | £1,333 | £156 | £1,489 | £23,692 | 15.9 yrs | £6,081 |
| 8 kW | 7742 kWh | 5962 kWh | 1781 kWh | £1,523 | £178 | £1,701 | £25,726 | 15.1 yrs | £8,300 |
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.