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 860 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.8p 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: £703, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1720 kWh | 688 kWh | 1032 kWh | £178 | £103 | £281 | £4,069 | 14.5 yrs | £1,552 |
| 3 kW | 2581 kWh | 1032 kWh | 1548 kWh | £267 | £155 | £422 | £6,104 | 14.5 yrs | £2,328 |
| 4 kW | 3441 kWh | 1376 kWh | 2064 kWh | £356 | £206 | £562 | £8,138 | 14.5 yrs | £3,104 |
| 5 kW | 4301 kWh | 1720 kWh | 2581 kWh | £445 | £258 | £703 | £10,173 | 14.5 yrs | £3,880 |
| 6 kW | 5161 kWh | 2064 kWh | 3097 kWh | £533 | £310 | £843 | £12,207 | 14.5 yrs | £4,656 |
| 7 kW | 6021 kWh | 2409 kWh | 3613 kWh | £622 | £361 | £984 | £14,242 | 14.5 yrs | £5,432 |
| 8 kW | 6882 kWh | 2753 kWh | 4129 kWh | £711 | £413 | £1,124 | £16,276 | 14.5 yrs | £6,207 |
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: £839, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1720 kWh | 1032 kWh | 688 kWh | £267 | £69 | £336 | £6,169 | 18.4 yrs | £542 |
| 3 kW | 2581 kWh | 1548 kWh | 1032 kWh | £400 | £103 | £503 | £8,204 | 16.3 yrs | £1,863 |
| 4 kW | 3441 kWh | 2064 kWh | 1376 kWh | £533 | £138 | £671 | £10,238 | 15.3 yrs | £3,184 |
| 5 kW | 4301 kWh | 2581 kWh | 1720 kWh | £667 | £172 | £839 | £12,273 | 14.6 yrs | £4,505 |
| 6 kW | 5161 kWh | 3097 kWh | 2064 kWh | £800 | £206 | £1,007 | £14,307 | 14.2 yrs | £5,826 |
| 7 kW | 6021 kWh | 3613 kWh | 2409 kWh | £934 | £241 | £1,174 | £16,342 | 13.9 yrs | £7,147 |
| 8 kW | 6882 kWh | 4129 kWh | 2753 kWh | £1,067 | £275 | £1,342 | £18,376 | 13.7 yrs | £8,468 |
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: £907, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1720 kWh | 1204 kWh | 516 kWh | £311 | £52 | £363 | £7,569 | 20.9 yrs | £-313 |
| 3 kW | 2581 kWh | 1806 kWh | 774 kWh | £467 | £77 | £544 | £9,604 | 17.6 yrs | £1,280 |
| 4 kW | 3441 kWh | 2409 kWh | 1032 kWh | £622 | £103 | £726 | £11,638 | 16.0 yrs | £2,874 |
| 5 kW | 4301 kWh | 3011 kWh | 1290 kWh | £778 | £129 | £907 | £13,673 | 15.1 yrs | £4,467 |
| 6 kW | 5161 kWh | 3613 kWh | 1548 kWh | £934 | £155 | £1,088 | £15,707 | 14.4 yrs | £6,061 |
| 7 kW | 6021 kWh | 4215 kWh | 1806 kWh | £1,089 | £181 | £1,270 | £17,742 | 14.0 yrs | £7,654 |
| 8 kW | 6882 kWh | 4817 kWh | 2064 kWh | £1,245 | £206 | £1,451 | £19,776 | 13.6 yrs | £9,248 |
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: £927, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1720 kWh | 1256 kWh | 465 kWh | £325 | £46 | £371 | £9,319 | 25.1 yrs | £-1,900 |
| 3 kW | 2581 kWh | 1884 kWh | 697 kWh | £487 | £70 | £556 | £11,354 | 20.4 yrs | £-224 |
| 4 kW | 3441 kWh | 2512 kWh | 929 kWh | £649 | £93 | £742 | £13,388 | 18.0 yrs | £1,451 |
| 5 kW | 4301 kWh | 3140 kWh | 1161 kWh | £811 | £116 | £927 | £15,423 | 16.6 yrs | £3,126 |
| 6 kW | 5161 kWh | 3768 kWh | 1394 kWh | £974 | £139 | £1,113 | £17,457 | 15.7 yrs | £4,801 |
| 7 kW | 6021 kWh | 4396 kWh | 1626 kWh | £1,136 | £163 | £1,298 | £19,492 | 15.0 yrs | £6,477 |
| 8 kW | 6882 kWh | 5024 kWh | 1858 kWh | £1,298 | £186 | £1,484 | £21,526 | 14.5 yrs | £8,152 |
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: £941, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1720 kWh | 1290 kWh | 430 kWh | £333 | £43 | £376 | £11,069 | 29.4 yrs | £-3,541 |
| 3 kW | 2581 kWh | 1935 kWh | 645 kWh | £500 | £65 | £565 | £13,104 | 23.2 yrs | £-1,811 |
| 4 kW | 3441 kWh | 2581 kWh | 860 kWh | £667 | £86 | £753 | £15,138 | 20.1 yrs | £-81 |
| 5 kW | 4301 kWh | 3226 kWh | 1075 kWh | £834 | £108 | £941 | £17,173 | 18.2 yrs | £1,649 |
| 6 kW | 5161 kWh | 3871 kWh | 1290 kWh | £1,000 | £129 | £1,129 | £19,207 | 17.0 yrs | £3,378 |
| 7 kW | 6021 kWh | 4516 kWh | 1505 kWh | £1,167 | £151 | £1,317 | £21,242 | 16.1 yrs | £5,108 |
| 8 kW | 6882 kWh | 5161 kWh | 1720 kWh | £1,334 | £172 | £1,506 | £23,276 | 15.5 yrs | £6,838 |
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: £955, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1720 kWh | 1325 kWh | 396 kWh | £342 | £40 | £382 | £13,519 | 35.4 yrs | £-5,882 |
| 3 kW | 2581 kWh | 1987 kWh | 594 kWh | £513 | £59 | £573 | £15,554 | 27.2 yrs | £-4,097 |
| 4 kW | 3441 kWh | 2649 kWh | 791 kWh | £685 | £79 | £764 | £17,588 | 23.0 yrs | £-2,313 |
| 5 kW | 4301 kWh | 3312 kWh | 989 kWh | £856 | £99 | £955 | £19,623 | 20.6 yrs | £-529 |
| 6 kW | 5161 kWh | 3974 kWh | 1187 kWh | £1,027 | £119 | £1,146 | £21,657 | 18.9 yrs | £1,255 |
| 7 kW | 6021 kWh | 4636 kWh | 1385 kWh | £1,198 | £138 | £1,337 | £23,692 | 17.7 yrs | £3,040 |
| 8 kW | 6882 kWh | 5299 kWh | 1583 kWh | £1,369 | £158 | £1,527 | £25,726 | 16.8 yrs | £4,824 |
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.