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 1000 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p 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: £807, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2000 kWh | 800 kWh | 1200 kWh | £203 | £120 | £323 | £4,069 | 12.6 yrs | £2,385 |
| 3 kW | 3001 kWh | 1200 kWh | 1800 kWh | £304 | £180 | £484 | £6,104 | 12.6 yrs | £3,578 |
| 4 kW | 4001 kWh | 1600 kWh | 2401 kWh | £405 | £240 | £645 | £8,138 | 12.6 yrs | £4,771 |
| 5 kW | 5001 kWh | 2000 kWh | 3001 kWh | £507 | £300 | £807 | £10,173 | 12.6 yrs | £5,963 |
| 6 kW | 6001 kWh | 2401 kWh | 3601 kWh | £608 | £360 | £968 | £12,207 | 12.6 yrs | £7,156 |
| 7 kW | 7002 kWh | 2801 kWh | 4201 kWh | £709 | £420 | £1,129 | £14,242 | 12.6 yrs | £8,348 |
| 8 kW | 8002 kWh | 3201 kWh | 4801 kWh | £811 | £480 | £1,291 | £16,276 | 12.6 yrs | £9,541 |
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: £960, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2000 kWh | 1200 kWh | 800 kWh | £304 | £80 | £384 | £6,169 | 16.1 yrs | £1,512 |
| 3 kW | 3001 kWh | 1800 kWh | 1200 kWh | £456 | £120 | £576 | £8,204 | 14.2 yrs | £3,318 |
| 4 kW | 4001 kWh | 2401 kWh | 1600 kWh | £608 | £160 | £768 | £10,238 | 13.3 yrs | £5,124 |
| 5 kW | 5001 kWh | 3001 kWh | 2000 kWh | £760 | £200 | £960 | £12,273 | 12.8 yrs | £6,930 |
| 6 kW | 6001 kWh | 3601 kWh | 2401 kWh | £912 | £240 | £1,152 | £14,307 | 12.4 yrs | £8,736 |
| 7 kW | 7002 kWh | 4201 kWh | 2801 kWh | £1,064 | £280 | £1,344 | £16,342 | 12.2 yrs | £10,542 |
| 8 kW | 8002 kWh | 4801 kWh | 3201 kWh | £1,216 | £320 | £1,536 | £18,376 | 12.0 yrs | £12,348 |
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: £1,037, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 2000 kWh | 1400 kWh | 600 kWh | £355 | £60 | £415 | £7,569 | 18.3 yrs | £725 |
| 3 kW | 3001 kWh | 2100 kWh | 900 kWh | £532 | £90 | £622 | £9,604 | 15.4 yrs | £2,838 |
| 4 kW | 4001 kWh | 2801 kWh | 1200 kWh | £709 | £120 | £829 | £11,638 | 14.0 yrs | £4,951 |
| 5 kW | 5001 kWh | 3501 kWh | 1500 kWh | £887 | £150 | £1,037 | £13,673 | 13.2 yrs | £7,063 |
| 6 kW | 6001 kWh | 4201 kWh | 1800 kWh | £1,064 | £180 | £1,244 | £15,707 | 12.6 yrs | £9,176 |
| 7 kW | 7002 kWh | 4901 kWh | 2100 kWh | £1,241 | £210 | £1,452 | £17,742 | 12.2 yrs | £11,289 |
| 8 kW | 8002 kWh | 5601 kWh | 2401 kWh | £1,419 | £240 | £1,659 | £19,776 | 11.9 yrs | £13,401 |
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: £1,060, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2000 kWh | 1460 kWh | 540 kWh | £370 | £54 | £424 | £9,319 | 22.0 yrs | £-841 |
| 3 kW | 3001 kWh | 2191 kWh | 810 kWh | £555 | £81 | £636 | £11,354 | 17.9 yrs | £1,364 |
| 4 kW | 4001 kWh | 2921 kWh | 1080 kWh | £740 | £108 | £848 | £13,388 | 15.8 yrs | £3,569 |
| 5 kW | 5001 kWh | 3651 kWh | 1350 kWh | £925 | £135 | £1,060 | £15,423 | 14.6 yrs | £5,773 |
| 6 kW | 6001 kWh | 4381 kWh | 1620 kWh | £1,110 | £162 | £1,272 | £17,457 | 13.7 yrs | £7,978 |
| 7 kW | 7002 kWh | 5111 kWh | 1890 kWh | £1,295 | £189 | £1,484 | £19,492 | 13.1 yrs | £10,183 |
| 8 kW | 8002 kWh | 5841 kWh | 2160 kWh | £1,480 | £216 | £1,696 | £21,526 | 12.7 yrs | £12,387 |
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: £1,075, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2000 kWh | 1500 kWh | 500 kWh | £380 | £50 | £430 | £11,069 | 25.7 yrs | £-2,468 |
| 3 kW | 3001 kWh | 2251 kWh | 750 kWh | £570 | £75 | £645 | £13,104 | 20.3 yrs | £-202 |
| 4 kW | 4001 kWh | 3001 kWh | 1000 kWh | £760 | £100 | £860 | £15,138 | 17.6 yrs | £2,064 |
| 5 kW | 5001 kWh | 3751 kWh | 1250 kWh | £950 | £125 | £1,075 | £17,173 | 16.0 yrs | £4,330 |
| 6 kW | 6001 kWh | 4501 kWh | 1500 kWh | £1,140 | £150 | £1,290 | £19,207 | 14.9 yrs | £6,596 |
| 7 kW | 7002 kWh | 5251 kWh | 1750 kWh | £1,330 | £175 | £1,505 | £21,242 | 14.1 yrs | £8,862 |
| 8 kW | 8002 kWh | 6001 kWh | 2000 kWh | £1,520 | £200 | £1,720 | £23,276 | 13.5 yrs | £11,128 |
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: £1,090, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2000 kWh | 1540 kWh | 460 kWh | £390 | £46 | £436 | £13,519 | 31.0 yrs | £-4,795 |
| 3 kW | 3001 kWh | 2311 kWh | 690 kWh | £585 | £69 | £654 | £15,554 | 23.8 yrs | £-2,468 |
| 4 kW | 4001 kWh | 3081 kWh | 920 kWh | £780 | £92 | £872 | £17,588 | 20.2 yrs | £-141 |
| 5 kW | 5001 kWh | 3851 kWh | 1150 kWh | £975 | £115 | £1,090 | £19,623 | 18.0 yrs | £2,187 |
| 6 kW | 6001 kWh | 4621 kWh | 1380 kWh | £1,171 | £138 | £1,309 | £21,657 | 16.6 yrs | £4,514 |
| 7 kW | 7002 kWh | 5391 kWh | 1610 kWh | £1,366 | £161 | £1,527 | £23,692 | 15.5 yrs | £6,841 |
| 8 kW | 8002 kWh | 6161 kWh | 1840 kWh | £1,561 | £184 | £1,745 | £25,726 | 14.7 yrs | £9,169 |
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.