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 907 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: £763, 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 | 1815 kWh | 726 kWh | 1089 kWh | £196 | £109 | £305 | £4,069 | 13.3 yrs | £2,038 |
| 3 kW | 2722 kWh | 1089 kWh | 1633 kWh | £295 | £163 | £458 | £6,104 | 13.3 yrs | £3,057 |
| 4 kW | 3630 kWh | 1452 kWh | 2178 kWh | £393 | £218 | £611 | £8,138 | 13.3 yrs | £4,076 |
| 5 kW | 4537 kWh | 1815 kWh | 2722 kWh | £491 | £272 | £763 | £10,173 | 13.3 yrs | £5,095 |
| 6 kW | 5445 kWh | 2178 kWh | 3267 kWh | £589 | £327 | £916 | £12,207 | 13.3 yrs | £6,114 |
| 7 kW | 6352 kWh | 2541 kWh | 3811 kWh | £688 | £381 | £1,069 | £14,242 | 13.3 yrs | £7,133 |
| 8 kW | 7260 kWh | 2904 kWh | 4356 kWh | £786 | £436 | £1,221 | £16,276 | 13.3 yrs | £8,152 |
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: £918, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1815 kWh | 1089 kWh | 726 kWh | £295 | £73 | £367 | £6,169 | 16.8 yrs | £1,176 |
| 3 kW | 2722 kWh | 1633 kWh | 1089 kWh | £442 | £109 | £551 | £8,204 | 14.9 yrs | £2,815 |
| 4 kW | 3630 kWh | 2178 kWh | 1452 kWh | £589 | £145 | £735 | £10,238 | 13.9 yrs | £4,453 |
| 5 kW | 4537 kWh | 2722 kWh | 1815 kWh | £737 | £181 | £918 | £12,273 | 13.4 yrs | £6,091 |
| 6 kW | 5445 kWh | 3267 kWh | 2178 kWh | £884 | £218 | £1,102 | £14,307 | 13.0 yrs | £7,729 |
| 7 kW | 6352 kWh | 3811 kWh | 2541 kWh | £1,031 | £254 | £1,285 | £16,342 | 12.7 yrs | £9,368 |
| 8 kW | 7260 kWh | 4356 kWh | 2904 kWh | £1,179 | £290 | £1,469 | £18,376 | 12.5 yrs | £11,006 |
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: £996, 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 | 1815 kWh | 1270 kWh | 544 kWh | £344 | £54 | £398 | £7,569 | 19.0 yrs | £396 |
| 3 kW | 2722 kWh | 1906 kWh | 817 kWh | £516 | £82 | £597 | £9,604 | 16.1 yrs | £2,344 |
| 4 kW | 3630 kWh | 2541 kWh | 1089 kWh | £688 | £109 | £796 | £11,638 | 14.6 yrs | £4,292 |
| 5 kW | 4537 kWh | 3176 kWh | 1361 kWh | £859 | £136 | £996 | £13,673 | 13.7 yrs | £6,239 |
| 6 kW | 5445 kWh | 3811 kWh | 1633 kWh | £1,031 | £163 | £1,195 | £15,707 | 13.1 yrs | £8,187 |
| 7 kW | 6352 kWh | 4447 kWh | 1906 kWh | £1,203 | £191 | £1,394 | £17,742 | 12.7 yrs | £10,135 |
| 8 kW | 7260 kWh | 5082 kWh | 2178 kWh | £1,375 | £218 | £1,593 | £19,776 | 12.4 yrs | £12,083 |
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: £1,019, 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 | 1815 kWh | 1325 kWh | 490 kWh | £359 | £49 | £408 | £9,319 | 22.9 yrs | £-1,168 |
| 3 kW | 2722 kWh | 1987 kWh | 735 kWh | £538 | £74 | £611 | £11,354 | 18.6 yrs | £872 |
| 4 kW | 3630 kWh | 2650 kWh | 980 kWh | £717 | £98 | £815 | £13,388 | 16.4 yrs | £2,913 |
| 5 kW | 4537 kWh | 3312 kWh | 1225 kWh | £896 | £123 | £1,019 | £15,423 | 15.1 yrs | £4,954 |
| 6 kW | 5445 kWh | 3975 kWh | 1470 kWh | £1,076 | £147 | £1,223 | £17,457 | 14.3 yrs | £6,995 |
| 7 kW | 6352 kWh | 4637 kWh | 1715 kWh | £1,255 | £172 | £1,426 | £19,492 | 13.7 yrs | £9,035 |
| 8 kW | 7260 kWh | 5300 kWh | 1960 kWh | £1,434 | £196 | £1,630 | £21,526 | 13.2 yrs | £11,076 |
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: £1,034, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1815 kWh | 1361 kWh | 454 kWh | £368 | £45 | £414 | £11,069 | 26.8 yrs | £-2,795 |
| 3 kW | 2722 kWh | 2042 kWh | 681 kWh | £553 | £68 | £621 | £13,104 | 21.1 yrs | £-692 |
| 4 kW | 3630 kWh | 2722 kWh | 907 kWh | £737 | £91 | £827 | £15,138 | 18.3 yrs | £1,411 |
| 5 kW | 4537 kWh | 3403 kWh | 1134 kWh | £921 | £113 | £1,034 | £17,173 | 16.6 yrs | £3,513 |
| 6 kW | 5445 kWh | 4084 kWh | 1361 kWh | £1,105 | £136 | £1,241 | £19,207 | 15.5 yrs | £5,616 |
| 7 kW | 6352 kWh | 4764 kWh | 1588 kWh | £1,289 | £159 | £1,448 | £21,242 | 14.7 yrs | £7,719 |
| 8 kW | 7260 kWh | 5445 kWh | 1815 kWh | £1,473 | £181 | £1,655 | £23,276 | 14.1 yrs | £9,822 |
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: £1,050, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1815 kWh | 1398 kWh | 417 kWh | £378 | £42 | £420 | £13,519 | 32.2 yrs | £-5,121 |
| 3 kW | 2722 kWh | 2096 kWh | 626 kWh | £567 | £63 | £630 | £15,554 | 24.7 yrs | £-2,956 |
| 4 kW | 3630 kWh | 2795 kWh | 835 kWh | £756 | £83 | £840 | £17,588 | 20.9 yrs | £-792 |
| 5 kW | 4537 kWh | 3494 kWh | 1044 kWh | £945 | £104 | £1,050 | £19,623 | 18.7 yrs | £1,373 |
| 6 kW | 5445 kWh | 4193 kWh | 1252 kWh | £1,135 | £125 | £1,260 | £21,657 | 17.2 yrs | £3,538 |
| 7 kW | 6352 kWh | 4891 kWh | 1461 kWh | £1,324 | £146 | £1,470 | £23,692 | 16.1 yrs | £5,702 |
| 8 kW | 7260 kWh | 5590 kWh | 1670 kWh | £1,513 | £167 | £1,680 | £25,726 | 15.3 yrs | £7,867 |
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.