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 876 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.8p 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: £733, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1752 kWh | 701 kWh | 1051 kWh | £188 | £105 | £293 | £4,069 | 13.9 yrs | £1,793 |
| 3 kW | 2628 kWh | 1051 kWh | 1577 kWh | £282 | £158 | £440 | £6,104 | 13.9 yrs | £2,689 |
| 4 kW | 3504 kWh | 1402 kWh | 2103 kWh | £376 | £210 | £586 | £8,138 | 13.9 yrs | £3,586 |
| 5 kW | 4380 kWh | 1752 kWh | 2628 kWh | £470 | £263 | £733 | £10,173 | 13.9 yrs | £4,482 |
| 6 kW | 5256 kWh | 2103 kWh | 3154 kWh | £564 | £315 | £879 | £12,207 | 13.9 yrs | £5,379 |
| 7 kW | 6132 kWh | 2453 kWh | 3679 kWh | £658 | £368 | £1,026 | £14,242 | 13.9 yrs | £6,275 |
| 8 kW | 7009 kWh | 2803 kWh | 4205 kWh | £752 | £421 | £1,172 | £16,276 | 13.9 yrs | £7,172 |
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: £880, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1752 kWh | 1051 kWh | 701 kWh | £282 | £70 | £352 | £6,169 | 17.5 yrs | £872 |
| 3 kW | 2628 kWh | 1577 kWh | 1051 kWh | £423 | £105 | £528 | £8,204 | 15.5 yrs | £2,358 |
| 4 kW | 3504 kWh | 2103 kWh | 1402 kWh | £564 | £140 | £704 | £10,238 | 14.5 yrs | £3,844 |
| 5 kW | 4380 kWh | 2628 kWh | 1752 kWh | £705 | £175 | £880 | £12,273 | 13.9 yrs | £5,329 |
| 6 kW | 5256 kWh | 3154 kWh | 2103 kWh | £846 | £210 | £1,056 | £14,307 | 13.5 yrs | £6,815 |
| 7 kW | 6132 kWh | 3679 kWh | 2453 kWh | £987 | £245 | £1,232 | £16,342 | 13.3 yrs | £8,301 |
| 8 kW | 7009 kWh | 4205 kWh | 2803 kWh | £1,128 | £280 | £1,408 | £18,376 | 13.0 yrs | £9,787 |
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: £954, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1752 kWh | 1226 kWh | 526 kWh | £329 | £53 | £382 | £7,569 | 19.8 yrs | £61 |
| 3 kW | 2628 kWh | 1840 kWh | 788 kWh | £493 | £79 | £572 | £9,604 | 16.8 yrs | £1,842 |
| 4 kW | 3504 kWh | 2453 kWh | 1051 kWh | £658 | £105 | £763 | £11,638 | 15.3 yrs | £3,622 |
| 5 kW | 4380 kWh | 3066 kWh | 1314 kWh | £822 | £131 | £954 | £13,673 | 14.3 yrs | £5,403 |
| 6 kW | 5256 kWh | 3679 kWh | 1577 kWh | £987 | £158 | £1,145 | £15,707 | 13.7 yrs | £7,184 |
| 7 kW | 6132 kWh | 4293 kWh | 1840 kWh | £1,151 | £184 | £1,335 | £17,742 | 13.3 yrs | £8,964 |
| 8 kW | 7009 kWh | 4906 kWh | 2103 kWh | £1,316 | £210 | £1,526 | £19,776 | 13.0 yrs | £10,745 |
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: £976, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1752 kWh | 1279 kWh | 473 kWh | £343 | £47 | £390 | £9,319 | 23.9 yrs | £-1,512 |
| 3 kW | 2628 kWh | 1919 kWh | 710 kWh | £515 | £71 | £586 | £11,354 | 19.4 yrs | £357 |
| 4 kW | 3504 kWh | 2558 kWh | 946 kWh | £686 | £95 | £781 | £13,388 | 17.1 yrs | £2,226 |
| 5 kW | 4380 kWh | 3198 kWh | 1183 kWh | £858 | £118 | £976 | £15,423 | 15.8 yrs | £4,095 |
| 6 kW | 5256 kWh | 3837 kWh | 1419 kWh | £1,029 | £142 | £1,171 | £17,457 | 14.9 yrs | £5,964 |
| 7 kW | 6132 kWh | 4477 kWh | 1656 kWh | £1,201 | £166 | £1,366 | £19,492 | 14.3 yrs | £7,833 |
| 8 kW | 7009 kWh | 5116 kWh | 1892 kWh | £1,372 | £189 | £1,561 | £21,526 | 13.8 yrs | £9,702 |
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: £991, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1752 kWh | 1314 kWh | 438 kWh | £352 | £44 | £396 | £11,069 | 27.9 yrs | £-3,144 |
| 3 kW | 2628 kWh | 1971 kWh | 657 kWh | £529 | £66 | £594 | £13,104 | 22.0 yrs | £-1,216 |
| 4 kW | 3504 kWh | 2628 kWh | 876 kWh | £705 | £88 | £792 | £15,138 | 19.1 yrs | £712 |
| 5 kW | 4380 kWh | 3285 kWh | 1095 kWh | £881 | £110 | £991 | £17,173 | 17.3 yrs | £2,640 |
| 6 kW | 5256 kWh | 3942 kWh | 1314 kWh | £1,057 | £131 | £1,189 | £19,207 | 16.2 yrs | £4,568 |
| 7 kW | 6132 kWh | 4599 kWh | 1533 kWh | £1,234 | £153 | £1,387 | £21,242 | 15.3 yrs | £6,496 |
| 8 kW | 7009 kWh | 5256 kWh | 1752 kWh | £1,410 | £175 | £1,585 | £23,276 | 14.7 yrs | £8,424 |
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: £1,005, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1752 kWh | 1349 kWh | 403 kWh | £362 | £40 | £402 | £13,519 | 33.6 yrs | £-5,476 |
| 3 kW | 2628 kWh | 2024 kWh | 604 kWh | £543 | £60 | £603 | £15,554 | 25.8 yrs | £-3,489 |
| 4 kW | 3504 kWh | 2698 kWh | 806 kWh | £724 | £81 | £804 | £17,588 | 21.9 yrs | £-1,502 |
| 5 kW | 4380 kWh | 3373 kWh | 1007 kWh | £905 | £101 | £1,005 | £19,623 | 19.5 yrs | £484 |
| 6 kW | 5256 kWh | 4047 kWh | 1209 kWh | £1,086 | £121 | £1,206 | £21,657 | 18.0 yrs | £2,471 |
| 7 kW | 6132 kWh | 4722 kWh | 1410 kWh | £1,266 | £141 | £1,407 | £23,692 | 16.8 yrs | £4,458 |
| 8 kW | 7009 kWh | 5397 kWh | 1612 kWh | £1,447 | £161 | £1,609 | £25,726 | 16.0 yrs | £6,445 |
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.