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 950 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: £770, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1900 kWh | 760 kWh | 1140 kWh | £194 | £114 | £308 | £4,069 | 13.2 yrs | £2,093 |
| 3 kW | 2849 kWh | 1140 kWh | 1710 kWh | £291 | £171 | £462 | £6,104 | 13.2 yrs | £3,140 |
| 4 kW | 3799 kWh | 1520 kWh | 2279 kWh | £388 | £228 | £616 | £8,138 | 13.2 yrs | £4,186 |
| 5 kW | 4749 kWh | 1900 kWh | 2849 kWh | £485 | £285 | £770 | £10,173 | 13.2 yrs | £5,233 |
| 6 kW | 5699 kWh | 2279 kWh | 3419 kWh | £582 | £342 | £924 | £12,207 | 13.2 yrs | £6,279 |
| 7 kW | 6648 kWh | 2659 kWh | 3989 kWh | £679 | £399 | £1,078 | £14,242 | 13.2 yrs | £7,326 |
| 8 kW | 7598 kWh | 3039 kWh | 4559 kWh | £777 | £456 | £1,232 | £16,276 | 13.2 yrs | £8,372 |
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 | 1900 kWh | 1140 kWh | 760 kWh | £291 | £76 | £367 | £6,169 | 16.8 yrs | £1,175 |
| 3 kW | 2849 kWh | 1710 kWh | 1140 kWh | £437 | £114 | £551 | £8,204 | 14.9 yrs | £2,812 |
| 4 kW | 3799 kWh | 2279 kWh | 1520 kWh | £582 | £152 | £734 | £10,238 | 13.9 yrs | £4,449 |
| 5 kW | 4749 kWh | 2849 kWh | 1900 kWh | £728 | £190 | £918 | £12,273 | 13.4 yrs | £6,086 |
| 6 kW | 5699 kWh | 3419 kWh | 2279 kWh | £874 | £228 | £1,102 | £14,307 | 13.0 yrs | £7,724 |
| 7 kW | 6648 kWh | 3989 kWh | 2659 kWh | £1,019 | £266 | £1,285 | £16,342 | 12.7 yrs | £9,361 |
| 8 kW | 7598 kWh | 4559 kWh | 3039 kWh | £1,165 | £304 | £1,469 | £18,376 | 12.5 yrs | £10,998 |
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: £992, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1900 kWh | 1330 kWh | 570 kWh | £340 | £57 | £397 | £7,569 | 19.1 yrs | £365 |
| 3 kW | 2849 kWh | 1994 kWh | 855 kWh | £510 | £85 | £595 | £9,604 | 16.1 yrs | £2,298 |
| 4 kW | 3799 kWh | 2659 kWh | 1140 kWh | £679 | £114 | £793 | £11,638 | 14.7 yrs | £4,231 |
| 5 kW | 4749 kWh | 3324 kWh | 1425 kWh | £849 | £142 | £992 | £13,673 | 13.8 yrs | £6,163 |
| 6 kW | 5699 kWh | 3989 kWh | 1710 kWh | £1,019 | £171 | £1,190 | £15,707 | 13.2 yrs | £8,096 |
| 7 kW | 6648 kWh | 4654 kWh | 1994 kWh | £1,189 | £199 | £1,389 | £17,742 | 12.8 yrs | £10,028 |
| 8 kW | 7598 kWh | 5319 kWh | 2279 kWh | £1,359 | £228 | £1,587 | £19,776 | 12.5 yrs | £11,961 |
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: £1,014, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1900 kWh | 1387 kWh | 513 kWh | £354 | £51 | £406 | £9,319 | 23.0 yrs | £-1,207 |
| 3 kW | 2849 kWh | 2080 kWh | 769 kWh | £531 | £77 | £608 | £11,354 | 18.7 yrs | £814 |
| 4 kW | 3799 kWh | 2773 kWh | 1026 kWh | £709 | £103 | £811 | £13,388 | 16.5 yrs | £2,835 |
| 5 kW | 4749 kWh | 3467 kWh | 1282 kWh | £886 | £128 | £1,014 | £15,423 | 15.2 yrs | £4,856 |
| 6 kW | 5699 kWh | 4160 kWh | 1539 kWh | £1,063 | £154 | £1,217 | £17,457 | 14.3 yrs | £6,878 |
| 7 kW | 6648 kWh | 4853 kWh | 1795 kWh | £1,240 | £180 | £1,420 | £19,492 | 13.7 yrs | £8,899 |
| 8 kW | 7598 kWh | 5547 kWh | 2051 kWh | £1,417 | £205 | £1,622 | £21,526 | 13.3 yrs | £10,920 |
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: £1,029, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1900 kWh | 1425 kWh | 475 kWh | £364 | £47 | £411 | £11,069 | 26.9 yrs | £-2,839 |
| 3 kW | 2849 kWh | 2137 kWh | 712 kWh | £546 | £71 | £617 | £13,104 | 21.2 yrs | £-759 |
| 4 kW | 3799 kWh | 2849 kWh | 950 kWh | £728 | £95 | £823 | £15,138 | 18.4 yrs | £1,321 |
| 5 kW | 4749 kWh | 3562 kWh | 1187 kWh | £910 | £119 | £1,029 | £17,173 | 16.7 yrs | £3,402 |
| 6 kW | 5699 kWh | 4274 kWh | 1425 kWh | £1,092 | £142 | £1,234 | £19,207 | 15.6 yrs | £5,482 |
| 7 kW | 6648 kWh | 4986 kWh | 1662 kWh | £1,274 | £166 | £1,440 | £21,242 | 14.7 yrs | £7,562 |
| 8 kW | 7598 kWh | 5699 kWh | 1900 kWh | £1,456 | £190 | £1,646 | £23,276 | 14.1 yrs | £9,643 |
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: £1,043, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1900 kWh | 1463 kWh | 437 kWh | £374 | £44 | £417 | £13,519 | 32.4 yrs | £-5,171 |
| 3 kW | 2849 kWh | 2194 kWh | 655 kWh | £561 | £66 | £626 | £15,554 | 24.8 yrs | £-3,032 |
| 4 kW | 3799 kWh | 2925 kWh | 874 kWh | £747 | £87 | £835 | £17,588 | 21.1 yrs | £-892 |
| 5 kW | 4749 kWh | 3657 kWh | 1092 kWh | £934 | £109 | £1,043 | £19,623 | 18.8 yrs | £1,247 |
| 6 kW | 5699 kWh | 4388 kWh | 1311 kWh | £1,121 | £131 | £1,252 | £21,657 | 17.3 yrs | £3,386 |
| 7 kW | 6648 kWh | 5119 kWh | 1529 kWh | £1,308 | £153 | £1,461 | £23,692 | 16.2 yrs | £5,526 |
| 8 kW | 7598 kWh | 5851 kWh | 1748 kWh | £1,495 | £175 | £1,670 | £25,726 | 15.4 yrs | £7,665 |
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.