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 978 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: £789, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1955 kWh | 782 kWh | 1173 kWh | £198 | £117 | £315 | £4,069 | 12.9 yrs | £2,239 |
| 3 kW | 2933 kWh | 1173 kWh | 1760 kWh | £297 | £176 | £473 | £6,104 | 12.9 yrs | £3,359 |
| 4 kW | 3910 kWh | 1564 kWh | 2346 kWh | £396 | £235 | £631 | £8,138 | 12.9 yrs | £4,478 |
| 5 kW | 4888 kWh | 1955 kWh | 2933 kWh | £495 | £293 | £789 | £10,173 | 12.9 yrs | £5,598 |
| 6 kW | 5865 kWh | 2346 kWh | 3519 kWh | £594 | £352 | £946 | £12,207 | 12.9 yrs | £6,717 |
| 7 kW | 6843 kWh | 2737 kWh | 4106 kWh | £693 | £411 | £1,104 | £14,242 | 12.9 yrs | £7,837 |
| 8 kW | 7821 kWh | 3128 kWh | 4692 kWh | £792 | £469 | £1,262 | £16,276 | 12.9 yrs | £8,956 |
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: £938, 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 | 1955 kWh | 1173 kWh | 782 kWh | £297 | £78 | £375 | £6,169 | 16.4 yrs | £1,338 |
| 3 kW | 2933 kWh | 1760 kWh | 1173 kWh | £446 | £117 | £563 | £8,204 | 14.6 yrs | £3,057 |
| 4 kW | 3910 kWh | 2346 kWh | 1564 kWh | £594 | £156 | £751 | £10,238 | 13.6 yrs | £4,776 |
| 5 kW | 4888 kWh | 2933 kWh | 1955 kWh | £743 | £196 | £938 | £12,273 | 13.1 yrs | £6,495 |
| 6 kW | 5865 kWh | 3519 kWh | 2346 kWh | £891 | £235 | £1,126 | £14,307 | 12.7 yrs | £8,214 |
| 7 kW | 6843 kWh | 4106 kWh | 2737 kWh | £1,040 | £274 | £1,314 | £16,342 | 12.4 yrs | £9,933 |
| 8 kW | 7821 kWh | 4692 kWh | 3128 kWh | £1,189 | £313 | £1,501 | £18,376 | 12.2 yrs | £11,652 |
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: £1,013, 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 | 1955 kWh | 1369 kWh | 587 kWh | £347 | £59 | £405 | £7,569 | 18.7 yrs | £537 |
| 3 kW | 2933 kWh | 2053 kWh | 880 kWh | £520 | £88 | £608 | £9,604 | 15.8 yrs | £2,556 |
| 4 kW | 3910 kWh | 2737 kWh | 1173 kWh | £693 | £117 | £811 | £11,638 | 14.4 yrs | £4,575 |
| 5 kW | 4888 kWh | 3422 kWh | 1466 kWh | £867 | £147 | £1,013 | £13,673 | 13.5 yrs | £6,594 |
| 6 kW | 5865 kWh | 4106 kWh | 1760 kWh | £1,040 | £176 | £1,216 | £15,707 | 12.9 yrs | £8,612 |
| 7 kW | 6843 kWh | 4790 kWh | 2053 kWh | £1,213 | £205 | £1,419 | £17,742 | 12.5 yrs | £10,631 |
| 8 kW | 7821 kWh | 5474 kWh | 2346 kWh | £1,387 | £235 | £1,621 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,650 |
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: £1,036, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1955 kWh | 1427 kWh | 528 kWh | £362 | £53 | £414 | £9,319 | 22.5 yrs | £-1,033 |
| 3 kW | 2933 kWh | 2141 kWh | 792 kWh | £542 | £79 | £621 | £11,354 | 18.3 yrs | £1,076 |
| 4 kW | 3910 kWh | 2855 kWh | 1056 kWh | £723 | £106 | £829 | £13,388 | 16.2 yrs | £3,185 |
| 5 kW | 4888 kWh | 3568 kWh | 1320 kWh | £904 | £132 | £1,036 | £15,423 | 14.9 yrs | £5,293 |
| 6 kW | 5865 kWh | 4282 kWh | 1584 kWh | £1,085 | £158 | £1,243 | £17,457 | 14.0 yrs | £7,402 |
| 7 kW | 6843 kWh | 4995 kWh | 1848 kWh | £1,265 | £185 | £1,450 | £19,492 | 13.4 yrs | £9,511 |
| 8 kW | 7821 kWh | 5709 kWh | 2112 kWh | £1,446 | £211 | £1,657 | £21,526 | 13.0 yrs | £11,619 |
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: £1,051, 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 | 1955 kWh | 1466 kWh | 489 kWh | £371 | £49 | £420 | £11,069 | 26.3 yrs | £-2,663 |
| 3 kW | 2933 kWh | 2200 kWh | 733 kWh | £557 | £73 | £630 | £13,104 | 20.8 yrs | £-494 |
| 4 kW | 3910 kWh | 2933 kWh | 978 kWh | £743 | £98 | £841 | £15,138 | 18.0 yrs | £1,674 |
| 5 kW | 4888 kWh | 3666 kWh | 1222 kWh | £929 | £122 | £1,051 | £17,173 | 16.3 yrs | £3,843 |
| 6 kW | 5865 kWh | 4399 kWh | 1466 kWh | £1,114 | £147 | £1,261 | £19,207 | 15.2 yrs | £6,012 |
| 7 kW | 6843 kWh | 5132 kWh | 1711 kWh | £1,300 | £171 | £1,471 | £21,242 | 14.4 yrs | £8,180 |
| 8 kW | 7821 kWh | 5865 kWh | 1955 kWh | £1,486 | £196 | £1,681 | £23,276 | 13.8 yrs | £10,349 |
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: £1,066, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1955 kWh | 1505 kWh | 450 kWh | £381 | £45 | £426 | £13,519 | 31.7 yrs | £-4,993 |
| 3 kW | 2933 kWh | 2258 kWh | 675 kWh | £572 | £67 | £639 | £15,554 | 24.3 yrs | £-2,764 |
| 4 kW | 3910 kWh | 3011 kWh | 899 kWh | £763 | £90 | £853 | £17,588 | 20.6 yrs | £-536 |
| 5 kW | 4888 kWh | 3764 kWh | 1124 kWh | £953 | £112 | £1,066 | £19,623 | 18.4 yrs | £1,693 |
| 6 kW | 5865 kWh | 4516 kWh | 1349 kWh | £1,144 | £135 | £1,279 | £21,657 | 16.9 yrs | £3,921 |
| 7 kW | 6843 kWh | 5269 kWh | 1574 kWh | £1,335 | £157 | £1,492 | £23,692 | 15.9 yrs | £6,150 |
| 8 kW | 7821 kWh | 6022 kWh | 1799 kWh | £1,525 | £180 | £1,705 | £25,726 | 15.1 yrs | £8,378 |
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.