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 911 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p 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: £766, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1822 kWh | 729 kWh | 1093 kWh | £197 | £109 | £307 | £4,069 | 13.3 yrs | £2,062 |
| 3 kW | 2733 kWh | 1093 kWh | 1640 kWh | £296 | £164 | £460 | £6,104 | 13.3 yrs | £3,092 |
| 4 kW | 3644 kWh | 1458 kWh | 2186 kWh | £394 | £219 | £613 | £8,138 | 13.3 yrs | £4,123 |
| 5 kW | 4555 kWh | 1822 kWh | 2733 kWh | £493 | £273 | £766 | £10,173 | 13.3 yrs | £5,154 |
| 6 kW | 5466 kWh | 2186 kWh | 3280 kWh | £592 | £328 | £920 | £12,207 | 13.3 yrs | £6,185 |
| 7 kW | 6377 kWh | 2551 kWh | 3826 kWh | £690 | £383 | £1,073 | £14,242 | 13.3 yrs | £7,215 |
| 8 kW | 7288 kWh | 2915 kWh | 4373 kWh | £789 | £437 | £1,226 | £16,276 | 13.3 yrs | £8,246 |
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: £922, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1822 kWh | 1093 kWh | 729 kWh | £296 | £73 | £369 | £6,169 | 16.7 yrs | £1,205 |
| 3 kW | 2733 kWh | 1640 kWh | 1093 kWh | £444 | £109 | £553 | £8,204 | 14.8 yrs | £2,857 |
| 4 kW | 3644 kWh | 2186 kWh | 1458 kWh | £592 | £146 | £737 | £10,238 | 13.9 yrs | £4,510 |
| 5 kW | 4555 kWh | 2733 kWh | 1822 kWh | £740 | £182 | £922 | £12,273 | 13.3 yrs | £6,162 |
| 6 kW | 5466 kWh | 3280 kWh | 2186 kWh | £887 | £219 | £1,106 | £14,307 | 12.9 yrs | £7,814 |
| 7 kW | 6377 kWh | 3826 kWh | 2551 kWh | £1,035 | £255 | £1,290 | £16,342 | 12.7 yrs | £9,467 |
| 8 kW | 7288 kWh | 4373 kWh | 2915 kWh | £1,183 | £292 | £1,475 | £18,376 | 12.5 yrs | £11,119 |
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: £999, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1822 kWh | 1275 kWh | 547 kWh | £345 | £55 | £400 | £7,569 | 18.9 yrs | £426 |
| 3 kW | 2733 kWh | 1913 kWh | 820 kWh | £518 | £82 | £600 | £9,604 | 16.0 yrs | £2,390 |
| 4 kW | 3644 kWh | 2551 kWh | 1093 kWh | £690 | £109 | £800 | £11,638 | 14.6 yrs | £4,353 |
| 5 kW | 4555 kWh | 3188 kWh | 1366 kWh | £863 | £137 | £999 | £13,673 | 13.7 yrs | £6,316 |
| 6 kW | 5466 kWh | 3826 kWh | 1640 kWh | £1,035 | £164 | £1,199 | £15,707 | 13.1 yrs | £8,279 |
| 7 kW | 6377 kWh | 4464 kWh | 1913 kWh | £1,208 | £191 | £1,399 | £17,742 | 12.7 yrs | £10,243 |
| 8 kW | 7288 kWh | 5101 kWh | 2186 kWh | £1,380 | £219 | £1,599 | £19,776 | 12.4 yrs | £12,206 |
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: £1,023, 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 | 1822 kWh | 1330 kWh | 492 kWh | £360 | £49 | £409 | £9,319 | 22.8 yrs | £-1,137 |
| 3 kW | 2733 kWh | 1995 kWh | 738 kWh | £540 | £74 | £614 | £11,354 | 18.5 yrs | £919 |
| 4 kW | 3644 kWh | 2660 kWh | 984 kWh | £720 | £98 | £818 | £13,388 | 16.4 yrs | £2,976 |
| 5 kW | 4555 kWh | 3325 kWh | 1230 kWh | £900 | £123 | £1,023 | £15,423 | 15.1 yrs | £5,032 |
| 6 kW | 5466 kWh | 3990 kWh | 1476 kWh | £1,080 | £148 | £1,227 | £17,457 | 14.2 yrs | £7,089 |
| 7 kW | 6377 kWh | 4655 kWh | 1722 kWh | £1,260 | £172 | £1,432 | £19,492 | 13.6 yrs | £9,145 |
| 8 kW | 7288 kWh | 5320 kWh | 1968 kWh | £1,440 | £197 | £1,636 | £21,526 | 13.2 yrs | £11,202 |
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: £1,038, 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 | 1822 kWh | 1366 kWh | 455 kWh | £370 | £46 | £415 | £11,069 | 26.7 yrs | £-2,763 |
| 3 kW | 2733 kWh | 2050 kWh | 683 kWh | £555 | £68 | £623 | £13,104 | 21.0 yrs | £-644 |
| 4 kW | 3644 kWh | 2733 kWh | 911 kWh | £740 | £91 | £831 | £15,138 | 18.2 yrs | £1,475 |
| 5 kW | 4555 kWh | 3416 kWh | 1139 kWh | £924 | £114 | £1,038 | £17,173 | 16.5 yrs | £3,593 |
| 6 kW | 5466 kWh | 4099 kWh | 1366 kWh | £1,109 | £137 | £1,246 | £19,207 | 15.4 yrs | £5,712 |
| 7 kW | 6377 kWh | 4783 kWh | 1594 kWh | £1,294 | £159 | £1,454 | £21,242 | 14.6 yrs | £7,831 |
| 8 kW | 7288 kWh | 5466 kWh | 1822 kWh | £1,479 | £182 | £1,661 | £23,276 | 14.0 yrs | £9,949 |
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 | 1822 kWh | 1403 kWh | 419 kWh | £380 | £42 | £422 | £13,519 | 32.1 yrs | £-5,088 |
| 3 kW | 2733 kWh | 2104 kWh | 629 kWh | £569 | £63 | £632 | £15,554 | 24.6 yrs | £-2,908 |
| 4 kW | 3644 kWh | 2806 kWh | 838 kWh | £759 | £84 | £843 | £17,588 | 20.9 yrs | £-727 |
| 5 kW | 4555 kWh | 3507 kWh | 1048 kWh | £949 | £105 | £1,054 | £19,623 | 18.6 yrs | £1,454 |
| 6 kW | 5466 kWh | 4209 kWh | 1257 kWh | £1,139 | £126 | £1,265 | £21,657 | 17.1 yrs | £3,635 |
| 7 kW | 6377 kWh | 4910 kWh | 1467 kWh | £1,329 | £147 | £1,475 | £23,692 | 16.1 yrs | £5,816 |
| 8 kW | 7288 kWh | 5612 kWh | 1676 kWh | £1,519 | £168 | £1,686 | £25,726 | 15.3 yrs | £7,997 |
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.