A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 929 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.8p 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: £759, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1858 kWh | 743 kWh | 1115 kWh | £192 | £111 | £304 | £4,069 | 13.4 yrs | £2,001 |
| 3 kW | 2787 kWh | 1115 kWh | 1672 kWh | £288 | £167 | £455 | £6,104 | 13.4 yrs | £3,002 |
| 4 kW | 3716 kWh | 1486 kWh | 2230 kWh | £384 | £223 | £607 | £8,138 | 13.4 yrs | £4,002 |
| 5 kW | 4645 kWh | 1858 kWh | 2787 kWh | £480 | £279 | £759 | £10,173 | 13.4 yrs | £5,003 |
| 6 kW | 5574 kWh | 2230 kWh | 3344 kWh | £576 | £334 | £911 | £12,207 | 13.4 yrs | £6,004 |
| 7 kW | 6503 kWh | 2601 kWh | 3902 kWh | £672 | £390 | £1,062 | £14,242 | 13.4 yrs | £7,004 |
| 8 kW | 7432 kWh | 2973 kWh | 4459 kWh | £768 | £446 | £1,214 | £16,276 | 13.4 yrs | £8,005 |
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: £906, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1858 kWh | 1115 kWh | 743 kWh | £288 | £74 | £362 | £6,169 | 17.0 yrs | £1,078 |
| 3 kW | 2787 kWh | 1672 kWh | 1115 kWh | £432 | £111 | £544 | £8,204 | 15.1 yrs | £2,668 |
| 4 kW | 3716 kWh | 2230 kWh | 1486 kWh | £576 | £149 | £725 | £10,238 | 14.1 yrs | £4,257 |
| 5 kW | 4645 kWh | 2787 kWh | 1858 kWh | £720 | £186 | £906 | £12,273 | 13.5 yrs | £5,846 |
| 6 kW | 5574 kWh | 3344 kWh | 2230 kWh | £864 | £223 | £1,087 | £14,307 | 13.2 yrs | £7,435 |
| 7 kW | 6503 kWh | 3902 kWh | 2601 kWh | £1,008 | £260 | £1,268 | £16,342 | 12.9 yrs | £9,024 |
| 8 kW | 7432 kWh | 4459 kWh | 2973 kWh | £1,152 | £297 | £1,449 | £18,376 | 12.7 yrs | £10,613 |
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: £979, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1858 kWh | 1301 kWh | 557 kWh | £336 | £56 | £392 | £7,569 | 19.3 yrs | £267 |
| 3 kW | 2787 kWh | 1951 kWh | 836 kWh | £504 | £84 | £588 | £9,604 | 16.3 yrs | £2,150 |
| 4 kW | 3716 kWh | 2601 kWh | 1115 kWh | £672 | £111 | £784 | £11,638 | 14.9 yrs | £4,034 |
| 5 kW | 4645 kWh | 3251 kWh | 1393 kWh | £840 | £139 | £979 | £13,673 | 14.0 yrs | £5,917 |
| 6 kW | 5574 kWh | 3902 kWh | 1672 kWh | £1,008 | £167 | £1,175 | £15,707 | 13.4 yrs | £7,801 |
| 7 kW | 6503 kWh | 4552 kWh | 1951 kWh | £1,176 | £195 | £1,371 | £17,742 | 12.9 yrs | £9,684 |
| 8 kW | 7432 kWh | 5202 kWh | 2230 kWh | £1,344 | £223 | £1,567 | £19,776 | 12.6 yrs | £11,568 |
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: £1,002, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1858 kWh | 1356 kWh | 502 kWh | £350 | £50 | £401 | £9,319 | 23.3 yrs | £-1,306 |
| 3 kW | 2787 kWh | 2034 kWh | 752 kWh | £526 | £75 | £601 | £11,354 | 18.9 yrs | £665 |
| 4 kW | 3716 kWh | 2713 kWh | 1003 kWh | £701 | £100 | £801 | £13,388 | 16.7 yrs | £2,637 |
| 5 kW | 4645 kWh | 3391 kWh | 1254 kWh | £876 | £125 | £1,002 | £15,423 | 15.4 yrs | £4,609 |
| 6 kW | 5574 kWh | 4069 kWh | 1505 kWh | £1,051 | £150 | £1,202 | £17,457 | 14.5 yrs | £6,581 |
| 7 kW | 6503 kWh | 4747 kWh | 1756 kWh | £1,227 | £176 | £1,402 | £19,492 | 13.9 yrs | £8,552 |
| 8 kW | 7432 kWh | 5425 kWh | 2007 kWh | £1,402 | £201 | £1,603 | £21,526 | 13.4 yrs | £10,524 |
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: £1,016, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1858 kWh | 1393 kWh | 464 kWh | £360 | £46 | £407 | £11,069 | 27.2 yrs | £-2,939 |
| 3 kW | 2787 kWh | 2090 kWh | 697 kWh | £540 | £70 | £610 | £13,104 | 21.5 yrs | £-908 |
| 4 kW | 3716 kWh | 2787 kWh | 929 kWh | £720 | £93 | £813 | £15,138 | 18.6 yrs | £1,122 |
| 5 kW | 4645 kWh | 3484 kWh | 1161 kWh | £900 | £116 | £1,016 | £17,173 | 16.9 yrs | £3,153 |
| 6 kW | 5574 kWh | 4180 kWh | 1393 kWh | £1,080 | £139 | £1,220 | £19,207 | 15.7 yrs | £5,184 |
| 7 kW | 6503 kWh | 4877 kWh | 1626 kWh | £1,260 | £163 | £1,423 | £21,242 | 14.9 yrs | £7,214 |
| 8 kW | 7432 kWh | 5574 kWh | 1858 kWh | £1,440 | £186 | £1,626 | £23,276 | 14.3 yrs | £9,245 |
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: £1,031, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1858 kWh | 1431 kWh | 427 kWh | £370 | £43 | £412 | £13,519 | 32.8 yrs | £-5,271 |
| 3 kW | 2787 kWh | 2146 kWh | 641 kWh | £554 | £64 | £619 | £15,554 | 25.1 yrs | £-3,182 |
| 4 kW | 3716 kWh | 2861 kWh | 855 kWh | £739 | £85 | £825 | £17,588 | 21.3 yrs | £-1,092 |
| 5 kW | 4645 kWh | 3576 kWh | 1068 kWh | £924 | £107 | £1,031 | £19,623 | 19.0 yrs | £997 |
| 6 kW | 5574 kWh | 4292 kWh | 1282 kWh | £1,109 | £128 | £1,237 | £21,657 | 17.5 yrs | £3,087 |
| 7 kW | 6503 kWh | 5007 kWh | 1496 kWh | £1,294 | £150 | £1,443 | £23,692 | 16.4 yrs | £5,176 |
| 8 kW | 7432 kWh | 5722 kWh | 1709 kWh | £1,479 | £171 | £1,650 | £25,726 | 15.6 yrs | £7,266 |
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.