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 962 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: £780, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1925 kWh | 770 kWh | 1155 kWh | £197 | £115 | £312 | £4,069 | 13.0 yrs | £2,175 |
| 3 kW | 2887 kWh | 1155 kWh | 1732 kWh | £295 | £173 | £468 | £6,104 | 13.0 yrs | £3,262 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 1540 kWh | 2310 kWh | £393 | £231 | £624 | £8,138 | 13.0 yrs | £4,350 |
| 5 kW | 4812 kWh | 1925 kWh | 2887 kWh | £492 | £289 | £780 | £10,173 | 13.0 yrs | £5,437 |
| 6 kW | 5774 kWh | 2310 kWh | 3465 kWh | £590 | £346 | £937 | £12,207 | 13.0 yrs | £6,525 |
| 7 kW | 6737 kWh | 2695 kWh | 4042 kWh | £688 | £404 | £1,093 | £14,242 | 13.0 yrs | £7,612 |
| 8 kW | 7699 kWh | 3080 kWh | 4619 kWh | £787 | £462 | £1,249 | £16,276 | 13.0 yrs | £8,700 |
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: £930, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1925 kWh | 1155 kWh | 770 kWh | £295 | £77 | £372 | £6,169 | 16.6 yrs | £1,272 |
| 3 kW | 2887 kWh | 1732 kWh | 1155 kWh | £443 | £115 | £558 | £8,204 | 14.7 yrs | £2,958 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2310 kWh | 1540 kWh | £590 | £154 | £744 | £10,238 | 13.8 yrs | £4,644 |
| 5 kW | 4812 kWh | 2887 kWh | 1925 kWh | £738 | £192 | £930 | £12,273 | 13.2 yrs | £6,330 |
| 6 kW | 5774 kWh | 3465 kWh | 2310 kWh | £885 | £231 | £1,116 | £14,307 | 12.8 yrs | £8,017 |
| 7 kW | 6737 kWh | 4042 kWh | 2695 kWh | £1,033 | £269 | £1,302 | £16,342 | 12.5 yrs | £9,703 |
| 8 kW | 7699 kWh | 4619 kWh | 3080 kWh | £1,180 | £308 | £1,488 | £18,376 | 12.3 yrs | £11,389 |
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: £1,005, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1925 kWh | 1347 kWh | 577 kWh | £344 | £58 | £402 | £7,569 | 18.8 yrs | £471 |
| 3 kW | 2887 kWh | 2021 kWh | 866 kWh | £516 | £87 | £603 | £9,604 | 15.9 yrs | £2,456 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2695 kWh | 1155 kWh | £688 | £115 | £804 | £11,638 | 14.5 yrs | £4,442 |
| 5 kW | 4812 kWh | 3368 kWh | 1444 kWh | £861 | £144 | £1,005 | £13,673 | 13.6 yrs | £6,427 |
| 6 kW | 5774 kWh | 4042 kWh | 1732 kWh | £1,033 | £173 | £1,206 | £15,707 | 13.0 yrs | £8,412 |
| 7 kW | 6737 kWh | 4716 kWh | 2021 kWh | £1,205 | £202 | £1,407 | £17,742 | 12.6 yrs | £10,398 |
| 8 kW | 7699 kWh | 5389 kWh | 2310 kWh | £1,377 | £231 | £1,608 | £19,776 | 12.3 yrs | £12,383 |
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: £1,027, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1925 kWh | 1405 kWh | 520 kWh | £359 | £52 | £411 | £9,319 | 22.7 yrs | £-1,100 |
| 3 kW | 2887 kWh | 2108 kWh | 780 kWh | £539 | £78 | £616 | £11,354 | 18.4 yrs | £976 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2810 kWh | 1039 kWh | £718 | £104 | £822 | £13,388 | 16.3 yrs | £3,051 |
| 5 kW | 4812 kWh | 3513 kWh | 1299 kWh | £898 | £130 | £1,027 | £15,423 | 15.0 yrs | £5,126 |
| 6 kW | 5774 kWh | 4215 kWh | 1559 kWh | £1,077 | £156 | £1,233 | £17,457 | 14.2 yrs | £7,201 |
| 7 kW | 6737 kWh | 4918 kWh | 1819 kWh | £1,257 | £182 | £1,438 | £19,492 | 13.6 yrs | £9,276 |
| 8 kW | 7699 kWh | 5620 kWh | 2079 kWh | £1,436 | £208 | £1,644 | £21,526 | 13.1 yrs | £11,351 |
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: £1,042, 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 | 1925 kWh | 1444 kWh | 481 kWh | £369 | £48 | £417 | £11,069 | 26.5 yrs | £-2,730 |
| 3 kW | 2887 kWh | 2165 kWh | 722 kWh | £553 | £72 | £625 | £13,104 | 21.0 yrs | £-595 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2887 kWh | 962 kWh | £738 | £96 | £834 | £15,138 | 18.2 yrs | £1,540 |
| 5 kW | 4812 kWh | 3609 kWh | 1203 kWh | £922 | £120 | £1,042 | £17,173 | 16.5 yrs | £3,675 |
| 6 kW | 5774 kWh | 4331 kWh | 1444 kWh | £1,107 | £144 | £1,251 | £19,207 | 15.4 yrs | £5,810 |
| 7 kW | 6737 kWh | 5053 kWh | 1684 kWh | £1,291 | £168 | £1,459 | £21,242 | 14.6 yrs | £7,945 |
| 8 kW | 7699 kWh | 5774 kWh | 1925 kWh | £1,475 | £192 | £1,668 | £23,276 | 14.0 yrs | £10,080 |
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: £1,057, 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 | 1925 kWh | 1482 kWh | 443 kWh | £379 | £44 | £423 | £13,519 | 32.0 yrs | £-5,060 |
| 3 kW | 2887 kWh | 2223 kWh | 664 kWh | £568 | £66 | £634 | £15,554 | 24.5 yrs | £-2,865 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2964 kWh | 885 kWh | £757 | £89 | £846 | £17,588 | 20.8 yrs | £-670 |
| 5 kW | 4812 kWh | 3705 kWh | 1107 kWh | £947 | £111 | £1,057 | £19,623 | 18.6 yrs | £1,525 |
| 6 kW | 5774 kWh | 4446 kWh | 1328 kWh | £1,136 | £133 | £1,269 | £21,657 | 17.1 yrs | £3,719 |
| 7 kW | 6737 kWh | 5187 kWh | 1549 kWh | £1,325 | £155 | £1,480 | £23,692 | 16.0 yrs | £5,914 |
| 8 kW | 7699 kWh | 5928 kWh | 1771 kWh | £1,515 | £177 | £1,692 | £25,726 | 15.2 yrs | £8,109 |
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.