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 753 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p 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: £634, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1507 kWh | 603 kWh | 904 kWh | £163 | £90 | £254 | £4,069 | 16.0 yrs | £1,002 |
| 3 kW | 2260 kWh | 904 kWh | 1356 kWh | £245 | £136 | £380 | £6,104 | 16.0 yrs | £1,502 |
| 4 kW | 3014 kWh | 1206 kWh | 1808 kWh | £326 | £181 | £507 | £8,138 | 16.0 yrs | £2,003 |
| 5 kW | 3767 kWh | 1507 kWh | 2260 kWh | £408 | £226 | £634 | £10,173 | 16.0 yrs | £2,504 |
| 6 kW | 4521 kWh | 1808 kWh | 2713 kWh | £489 | £271 | £761 | £12,207 | 16.0 yrs | £3,005 |
| 7 kW | 5274 kWh | 2110 kWh | 3165 kWh | £571 | £316 | £887 | £14,242 | 16.0 yrs | £3,506 |
| 8 kW | 6028 kWh | 2411 kWh | 3617 kWh | £652 | £362 | £1,014 | £16,276 | 16.0 yrs | £4,007 |
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: £762, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 16.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1507 kWh | 904 kWh | 603 kWh | £245 | £60 | £305 | £6,169 | 20.2 yrs | £-70 |
| 3 kW | 2260 kWh | 1356 kWh | 904 kWh | £367 | £90 | £457 | £8,204 | 17.9 yrs | £945 |
| 4 kW | 3014 kWh | 1808 kWh | 1206 kWh | £489 | £121 | £610 | £10,238 | 16.8 yrs | £1,960 |
| 5 kW | 3767 kWh | 2260 kWh | 1507 kWh | £612 | £151 | £762 | £12,273 | 16.1 yrs | £2,975 |
| 6 kW | 4521 kWh | 2713 kWh | 1808 kWh | £734 | £181 | £915 | £14,307 | 15.6 yrs | £3,990 |
| 7 kW | 5274 kWh | 3165 kWh | 2110 kWh | £856 | £211 | £1,067 | £16,342 | 15.3 yrs | £5,005 |
| 8 kW | 6028 kWh | 3617 kWh | 2411 kWh | £979 | £241 | £1,220 | £18,376 | 15.1 yrs | £6,020 |
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: £827, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 16.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1507 kWh | 1055 kWh | 452 kWh | £285 | £45 | £331 | £7,569 | 22.9 yrs | £-956 |
| 3 kW | 2260 kWh | 1582 kWh | 678 kWh | £428 | £68 | £496 | £9,604 | 19.4 yrs | £316 |
| 4 kW | 3014 kWh | 2110 kWh | 904 kWh | £571 | £90 | £661 | £11,638 | 17.6 yrs | £1,588 |
| 5 kW | 3767 kWh | 2637 kWh | 1130 kWh | £714 | £113 | £827 | £13,673 | 16.5 yrs | £2,861 |
| 6 kW | 4521 kWh | 3165 kWh | 1356 kWh | £856 | £136 | £992 | £15,707 | 15.8 yrs | £4,133 |
| 7 kW | 5274 kWh | 3692 kWh | 1582 kWh | £999 | £158 | £1,157 | £17,742 | 15.3 yrs | £5,405 |
| 8 kW | 6028 kWh | 4220 kWh | 1808 kWh | £1,142 | £181 | £1,323 | £19,776 | 15.0 yrs | £6,677 |
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: £846, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 1507 kWh | 1100 kWh | 407 kWh | £298 | £41 | £338 | £9,319 | 27.5 yrs | £-2,552 |
| 3 kW | 2260 kWh | 1650 kWh | 610 kWh | £447 | £61 | £508 | £11,354 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,202 |
| 4 kW | 3014 kWh | 2200 kWh | 814 kWh | £595 | £81 | £677 | £13,388 | 19.8 yrs | £147 |
| 5 kW | 3767 kWh | 2750 kWh | 1017 kWh | £744 | £102 | £846 | £15,423 | 18.2 yrs | £1,496 |
| 6 kW | 4521 kWh | 3300 kWh | 1221 kWh | £893 | £122 | £1,015 | £17,457 | 17.2 yrs | £2,845 |
| 7 kW | 5274 kWh | 3850 kWh | 1424 kWh | £1,042 | £142 | £1,184 | £19,492 | 16.5 yrs | £4,195 |
| 8 kW | 6028 kWh | 4400 kWh | 1628 kWh | £1,191 | £163 | £1,353 | £21,526 | 15.9 yrs | £5,544 |
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: £859, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 20.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1507 kWh | 1130 kWh | 377 kWh | £306 | £38 | £344 | £11,069 | 32.2 yrs | £-4,199 |
| 3 kW | 2260 kWh | 1695 kWh | 565 kWh | £459 | £57 | £515 | £13,104 | 25.4 yrs | £-2,798 |
| 4 kW | 3014 kWh | 2260 kWh | 753 kWh | £612 | £75 | £687 | £15,138 | 22.0 yrs | £-1,397 |
| 5 kW | 3767 kWh | 2826 kWh | 942 kWh | £765 | £94 | £859 | £17,173 | 20.0 yrs | £3 |
| 6 kW | 4521 kWh | 3391 kWh | 1130 kWh | £918 | £113 | £1,031 | £19,207 | 18.6 yrs | £1,404 |
| 7 kW | 5274 kWh | 3956 kWh | 1319 kWh | £1,070 | £132 | £1,202 | £21,242 | 17.7 yrs | £2,805 |
| 8 kW | 6028 kWh | 4521 kWh | 1507 kWh | £1,223 | £151 | £1,374 | £23,276 | 16.9 yrs | £4,205 |
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: £872, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 22.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1507 kWh | 1160 kWh | 347 kWh | £314 | £35 | £349 | £13,519 | 38.8 yrs | £-6,546 |
| 3 kW | 2260 kWh | 1741 kWh | 520 kWh | £471 | £52 | £523 | £15,554 | 29.7 yrs | £-5,094 |
| 4 kW | 3014 kWh | 2321 kWh | 693 kWh | £628 | £69 | £697 | £17,588 | 25.2 yrs | £-3,642 |
| 5 kW | 3767 kWh | 2901 kWh | 867 kWh | £785 | £87 | £872 | £19,623 | 22.5 yrs | £-2,190 |
| 6 kW | 4521 kWh | 3481 kWh | 1040 kWh | £942 | £104 | £1,046 | £21,657 | 20.7 yrs | £-738 |
| 7 kW | 5274 kWh | 4061 kWh | 1213 kWh | £1,099 | £121 | £1,220 | £23,692 | 19.4 yrs | £714 |
| 8 kW | 6028 kWh | 4641 kWh | 1386 kWh | £1,256 | £139 | £1,395 | £25,726 | 18.4 yrs | £2,167 |
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.