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 1027 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: £859, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2053 kWh | 821 kWh | 1232 kWh | £220 | £123 | £343 | £4,069 | 11.8 yrs | £2,800 |
| 3 kW | 3080 kWh | 1232 kWh | 1848 kWh | £330 | £185 | £515 | £6,104 | 11.8 yrs | £4,200 |
| 4 kW | 4106 kWh | 1642 kWh | 2464 kWh | £441 | £246 | £687 | £8,138 | 11.8 yrs | £5,600 |
| 5 kW | 5133 kWh | 2053 kWh | 3080 kWh | £551 | £308 | £859 | £10,173 | 11.8 yrs | £7,000 |
| 6 kW | 6159 kWh | 2464 kWh | 3696 kWh | £661 | £370 | £1,030 | £12,207 | 11.8 yrs | £8,400 |
| 7 kW | 7186 kWh | 2874 kWh | 4312 kWh | £771 | £431 | £1,202 | £14,242 | 11.8 yrs | £9,800 |
| 8 kW | 8212 kWh | 3285 kWh | 4927 kWh | £881 | £493 | £1,374 | £16,276 | 11.8 yrs | £11,200 |
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: £1,031, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2053 kWh | 1232 kWh | 821 kWh | £330 | £82 | £413 | £6,169 | 15.0 yrs | £2,081 |
| 3 kW | 3080 kWh | 1848 kWh | 1232 kWh | £496 | £123 | £619 | £8,204 | 13.3 yrs | £4,172 |
| 4 kW | 4106 kWh | 2464 kWh | 1642 kWh | £661 | £164 | £825 | £10,238 | 12.4 yrs | £6,262 |
| 5 kW | 5133 kWh | 3080 kWh | 2053 kWh | £826 | £205 | £1,031 | £12,273 | 11.9 yrs | £8,353 |
| 6 kW | 6159 kWh | 3696 kWh | 2464 kWh | £991 | £246 | £1,238 | £14,307 | 11.6 yrs | £10,444 |
| 7 kW | 7186 kWh | 4312 kWh | 2874 kWh | £1,156 | £287 | £1,444 | £16,342 | 11.3 yrs | £12,534 |
| 8 kW | 8212 kWh | 4927 kWh | 3285 kWh | £1,322 | £328 | £1,650 | £18,376 | 11.1 yrs | £14,625 |
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: £1,118, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2053 kWh | 1437 kWh | 616 kWh | £385 | £62 | £447 | £7,569 | 16.9 yrs | £1,372 |
| 3 kW | 3080 kWh | 2156 kWh | 924 kWh | £578 | £92 | £671 | £9,604 | 14.3 yrs | £3,808 |
| 4 kW | 4106 kWh | 2874 kWh | 1232 kWh | £771 | £123 | £894 | £11,638 | 13.0 yrs | £6,244 |
| 5 kW | 5133 kWh | 3593 kWh | 1540 kWh | £964 | £154 | £1,118 | £13,673 | 12.2 yrs | £8,680 |
| 6 kW | 6159 kWh | 4312 kWh | 1848 kWh | £1,156 | £185 | £1,341 | £15,707 | 11.7 yrs | £11,116 |
| 7 kW | 7186 kWh | 5030 kWh | 2156 kWh | £1,349 | £216 | £1,565 | £17,742 | 11.3 yrs | £13,552 |
| 8 kW | 8212 kWh | 5749 kWh | 2464 kWh | £1,542 | £246 | £1,788 | £19,776 | 11.1 yrs | £15,988 |
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: £1,144, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 2053 kWh | 1499 kWh | 554 kWh | £402 | £55 | £457 | £9,319 | 20.4 yrs | £-171 |
| 3 kW | 3080 kWh | 2248 kWh | 832 kWh | £603 | £83 | £686 | £11,354 | 16.5 yrs | £2,369 |
| 4 kW | 4106 kWh | 2998 kWh | 1109 kWh | £804 | £111 | £915 | £13,388 | 14.6 yrs | £4,908 |
| 5 kW | 5133 kWh | 3747 kWh | 1386 kWh | £1,005 | £139 | £1,144 | £15,423 | 13.5 yrs | £7,448 |
| 6 kW | 6159 kWh | 4496 kWh | 1663 kWh | £1,206 | £166 | £1,372 | £17,457 | 12.7 yrs | £9,987 |
| 7 kW | 7186 kWh | 5246 kWh | 1940 kWh | £1,407 | £194 | £1,601 | £19,492 | 12.2 yrs | £12,527 |
| 8 kW | 8212 kWh | 5995 kWh | 2217 kWh | £1,608 | £222 | £1,830 | £21,526 | 11.8 yrs | £15,066 |
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: £1,161, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2053 kWh | 1540 kWh | 513 kWh | £413 | £51 | £464 | £11,069 | 23.8 yrs | £-1,783 |
| 3 kW | 3080 kWh | 2310 kWh | 770 kWh | £619 | £77 | £696 | £13,104 | 18.8 yrs | £826 |
| 4 kW | 4106 kWh | 3080 kWh | 1027 kWh | £826 | £103 | £929 | £15,138 | 16.3 yrs | £3,434 |
| 5 kW | 5133 kWh | 3850 kWh | 1283 kWh | £1,032 | £128 | £1,161 | £17,173 | 14.8 yrs | £6,043 |
| 6 kW | 6159 kWh | 4620 kWh | 1540 kWh | £1,239 | £154 | £1,393 | £19,207 | 13.8 yrs | £8,652 |
| 7 kW | 7186 kWh | 5389 kWh | 1796 kWh | £1,445 | £180 | £1,625 | £21,242 | 13.1 yrs | £11,260 |
| 8 kW | 8212 kWh | 6159 kWh | 2053 kWh | £1,652 | £205 | £1,857 | £23,276 | 12.5 yrs | £13,869 |
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: £1,178, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 2053 kWh | 1581 kWh | 472 kWh | £424 | £47 | £471 | £13,519 | 28.7 yrs | £-4,095 |
| 3 kW | 3080 kWh | 2371 kWh | 708 kWh | £636 | £71 | £707 | £15,554 | 22.0 yrs | £-1,417 |
| 4 kW | 4106 kWh | 3162 kWh | 944 kWh | £848 | £94 | £942 | £17,588 | 18.7 yrs | £1,261 |
| 5 kW | 5133 kWh | 3952 kWh | 1181 kWh | £1,060 | £118 | £1,178 | £19,623 | 16.7 yrs | £3,938 |
| 6 kW | 6159 kWh | 4743 kWh | 1417 kWh | £1,272 | £142 | £1,414 | £21,657 | 15.3 yrs | £6,616 |
| 7 kW | 7186 kWh | 5533 kWh | 1653 kWh | £1,484 | £165 | £1,649 | £23,692 | 14.4 yrs | £9,294 |
| 8 kW | 8212 kWh | 6324 kWh | 1889 kWh | £1,696 | £189 | £1,885 | £25,726 | 13.6 yrs | £11,972 |
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.