A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 926 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: £779, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1852 kWh | 741 kWh | 1111 kWh | £200 | £111 | £312 | £4,069 | 13.1 yrs | £2,162 |
| 3 kW | 2778 kWh | 1111 kWh | 1667 kWh | £301 | £167 | £467 | £6,104 | 13.1 yrs | £3,244 |
| 4 kW | 3704 kWh | 1482 kWh | 2222 kWh | £401 | £222 | £623 | £8,138 | 13.1 yrs | £4,325 |
| 5 kW | 4630 kWh | 1852 kWh | 2778 kWh | £501 | £278 | £779 | £10,173 | 13.1 yrs | £5,406 |
| 6 kW | 5556 kWh | 2222 kWh | 3334 kWh | £601 | £333 | £935 | £12,207 | 13.1 yrs | £6,487 |
| 7 kW | 6482 kWh | 2593 kWh | 3889 kWh | £702 | £389 | £1,091 | £14,242 | 13.1 yrs | £7,569 |
| 8 kW | 7408 kWh | 2963 kWh | 4445 kWh | £802 | £444 | £1,246 | £16,276 | 13.1 yrs | £8,650 |
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: £937, 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 | 1852 kWh | 1111 kWh | 741 kWh | £301 | £74 | £375 | £6,169 | 16.5 yrs | £1,326 |
| 3 kW | 2778 kWh | 1667 kWh | 1111 kWh | £451 | £111 | £562 | £8,204 | 14.6 yrs | £3,039 |
| 4 kW | 3704 kWh | 2222 kWh | 1482 kWh | £601 | £148 | £750 | £10,238 | 13.7 yrs | £4,752 |
| 5 kW | 4630 kWh | 2778 kWh | 1852 kWh | £752 | £185 | £937 | £12,273 | 13.1 yrs | £6,466 |
| 6 kW | 5556 kWh | 3334 kWh | 2222 kWh | £902 | £222 | £1,124 | £14,307 | 12.7 yrs | £8,179 |
| 7 kW | 6482 kWh | 3889 kWh | 2593 kWh | £1,052 | £259 | £1,312 | £16,342 | 12.5 yrs | £9,892 |
| 8 kW | 7408 kWh | 4445 kWh | 2963 kWh | £1,203 | £296 | £1,499 | £18,376 | 12.3 yrs | £11,605 |
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: £1,016, 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 | 1852 kWh | 1296 kWh | 556 kWh | £351 | £56 | £406 | £7,569 | 18.6 yrs | £558 |
| 3 kW | 2778 kWh | 1945 kWh | 833 kWh | £526 | £83 | £610 | £9,604 | 15.8 yrs | £2,587 |
| 4 kW | 3704 kWh | 2593 kWh | 1111 kWh | £702 | £111 | £813 | £11,638 | 14.3 yrs | £4,616 |
| 5 kW | 4630 kWh | 3241 kWh | 1389 kWh | £877 | £139 | £1,016 | £13,673 | 13.5 yrs | £6,645 |
| 6 kW | 5556 kWh | 3889 kWh | 1667 kWh | £1,052 | £167 | £1,219 | £15,707 | 12.9 yrs | £8,674 |
| 7 kW | 6482 kWh | 4537 kWh | 1945 kWh | £1,228 | £194 | £1,422 | £17,742 | 12.5 yrs | £10,703 |
| 8 kW | 7408 kWh | 5185 kWh | 2222 kWh | £1,403 | £222 | £1,625 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,732 |
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: £1,040, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1852 kWh | 1352 kWh | 500 kWh | £366 | £50 | £416 | £9,319 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,002 |
| 3 kW | 2778 kWh | 2028 kWh | 750 kWh | £549 | £75 | £624 | £11,354 | 18.2 yrs | £1,122 |
| 4 kW | 3704 kWh | 2704 kWh | 1000 kWh | £732 | £100 | £832 | £13,388 | 16.1 yrs | £3,245 |
| 5 kW | 4630 kWh | 3380 kWh | 1250 kWh | £915 | £125 | £1,040 | £15,423 | 14.8 yrs | £5,369 |
| 6 kW | 5556 kWh | 4056 kWh | 1500 kWh | £1,097 | £150 | £1,248 | £17,457 | 14.0 yrs | £7,493 |
| 7 kW | 6482 kWh | 4732 kWh | 1750 kWh | £1,280 | £175 | £1,455 | £19,492 | 13.4 yrs | £9,617 |
| 8 kW | 7408 kWh | 5408 kWh | 2000 kWh | £1,463 | £200 | £1,663 | £21,526 | 12.9 yrs | £11,741 |
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: £1,055, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1852 kWh | 1389 kWh | 463 kWh | £376 | £46 | £422 | £11,069 | 26.2 yrs | £-2,626 |
| 3 kW | 2778 kWh | 2083 kWh | 694 kWh | £564 | £69 | £633 | £13,104 | 20.7 yrs | £-439 |
| 4 kW | 3704 kWh | 2778 kWh | 926 kWh | £752 | £93 | £844 | £15,138 | 17.9 yrs | £1,748 |
| 5 kW | 4630 kWh | 3472 kWh | 1157 kWh | £940 | £116 | £1,055 | £17,173 | 16.3 yrs | £3,935 |
| 6 kW | 5556 kWh | 4167 kWh | 1389 kWh | £1,128 | £139 | £1,266 | £19,207 | 15.2 yrs | £6,122 |
| 7 kW | 6482 kWh | 4861 kWh | 1620 kWh | £1,315 | £162 | £1,478 | £21,242 | 14.4 yrs | £8,309 |
| 8 kW | 7408 kWh | 5556 kWh | 1852 kWh | £1,503 | £185 | £1,689 | £23,276 | 13.8 yrs | £10,496 |
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: £1,071, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1852 kWh | 1426 kWh | 426 kWh | £386 | £43 | £428 | £13,519 | 31.6 yrs | £-4,950 |
| 3 kW | 2778 kWh | 2139 kWh | 639 kWh | £579 | £64 | £643 | £15,554 | 24.2 yrs | £-2,699 |
| 4 kW | 3704 kWh | 2852 kWh | 852 kWh | £772 | £85 | £857 | £17,588 | 20.5 yrs | £-449 |
| 5 kW | 4630 kWh | 3565 kWh | 1065 kWh | £965 | £106 | £1,071 | £19,623 | 18.3 yrs | £1,801 |
| 6 kW | 5556 kWh | 4278 kWh | 1278 kWh | £1,158 | £128 | £1,285 | £21,657 | 16.8 yrs | £4,051 |
| 7 kW | 6482 kWh | 4991 kWh | 1491 kWh | £1,351 | £149 | £1,500 | £23,692 | 15.8 yrs | £6,302 |
| 8 kW | 7408 kWh | 5704 kWh | 1704 kWh | £1,544 | £170 | £1,714 | £25,726 | 15.0 yrs | £8,552 |
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.