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 853 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: £697, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1706 kWh | 682 kWh | 1024 kWh | £176 | £102 | £279 | £4,069 | 14.6 yrs | £1,505 |
| 3 kW | 2559 kWh | 1024 kWh | 1535 kWh | £264 | £154 | £418 | £6,104 | 14.6 yrs | £2,257 |
| 4 kW | 3412 kWh | 1365 kWh | 2047 kWh | £353 | £205 | £557 | £8,138 | 14.6 yrs | £3,010 |
| 5 kW | 4265 kWh | 1706 kWh | 2559 kWh | £441 | £256 | £697 | £10,173 | 14.6 yrs | £3,762 |
| 6 kW | 5118 kWh | 2047 kWh | 3071 kWh | £529 | £307 | £836 | £12,207 | 14.6 yrs | £4,514 |
| 7 kW | 5971 kWh | 2388 kWh | 3583 kWh | £617 | £358 | £975 | £14,242 | 14.6 yrs | £5,267 |
| 8 kW | 6824 kWh | 2730 kWh | 4094 kWh | £705 | £409 | £1,115 | £16,276 | 14.6 yrs | £6,019 |
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: £832, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1706 kWh | 1024 kWh | 682 kWh | £264 | £68 | £333 | £6,169 | 18.5 yrs | £486 |
| 3 kW | 2559 kWh | 1535 kWh | 1024 kWh | £397 | £102 | £499 | £8,204 | 16.4 yrs | £1,779 |
| 4 kW | 3412 kWh | 2047 kWh | 1365 kWh | £529 | £136 | £665 | £10,238 | 15.4 yrs | £3,071 |
| 5 kW | 4265 kWh | 2559 kWh | 1706 kWh | £661 | £171 | £832 | £12,273 | 14.8 yrs | £4,364 |
| 6 kW | 5118 kWh | 3071 kWh | 2047 kWh | £793 | £205 | £998 | £14,307 | 14.3 yrs | £5,657 |
| 7 kW | 5971 kWh | 3583 kWh | 2388 kWh | £926 | £239 | £1,165 | £16,342 | 14.0 yrs | £6,950 |
| 8 kW | 6824 kWh | 4094 kWh | 2730 kWh | £1,058 | £273 | £1,331 | £18,376 | 13.8 yrs | £8,243 |
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: £899, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1706 kWh | 1194 kWh | 512 kWh | £309 | £51 | £360 | £7,569 | 21.0 yrs | £-374 |
| 3 kW | 2559 kWh | 1791 kWh | 768 kWh | £463 | £77 | £540 | £9,604 | 17.8 yrs | £1,189 |
| 4 kW | 3412 kWh | 2388 kWh | 1024 kWh | £617 | £102 | £720 | £11,638 | 16.2 yrs | £2,752 |
| 5 kW | 4265 kWh | 2985 kWh | 1279 kWh | £771 | £128 | £899 | £13,673 | 15.2 yrs | £4,315 |
| 6 kW | 5118 kWh | 3583 kWh | 1535 kWh | £926 | £154 | £1,079 | £15,707 | 14.6 yrs | £5,878 |
| 7 kW | 5971 kWh | 4180 kWh | 1791 kWh | £1,080 | £179 | £1,259 | £17,742 | 14.1 yrs | £7,441 |
| 8 kW | 6824 kWh | 4777 kWh | 2047 kWh | £1,234 | £205 | £1,439 | £19,776 | 13.7 yrs | £9,004 |
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: £920, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1706 kWh | 1245 kWh | 461 kWh | £322 | £46 | £368 | £9,319 | 25.3 yrs | £-1,962 |
| 3 kW | 2559 kWh | 1868 kWh | 691 kWh | £483 | £69 | £552 | £11,354 | 20.6 yrs | £-318 |
| 4 kW | 3412 kWh | 2491 kWh | 921 kWh | £644 | £92 | £736 | £13,388 | 18.2 yrs | £1,327 |
| 5 kW | 4265 kWh | 3113 kWh | 1152 kWh | £805 | £115 | £920 | £15,423 | 16.8 yrs | £2,971 |
| 6 kW | 5118 kWh | 3736 kWh | 1382 kWh | £965 | £138 | £1,104 | £17,457 | 15.8 yrs | £4,615 |
| 7 kW | 5971 kWh | 4359 kWh | 1612 kWh | £1,126 | £161 | £1,288 | £19,492 | 15.1 yrs | £6,259 |
| 8 kW | 6824 kWh | 4981 kWh | 1842 kWh | £1,287 | £184 | £1,471 | £21,526 | 14.6 yrs | £7,903 |
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: £933, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 1706 kWh | 1279 kWh | 426 kWh | £331 | £43 | £373 | £11,069 | 29.7 yrs | £-3,604 |
| 3 kW | 2559 kWh | 1919 kWh | 640 kWh | £496 | £64 | £560 | £13,104 | 23.4 yrs | £-1,905 |
| 4 kW | 3412 kWh | 2559 kWh | 853 kWh | £661 | £85 | £747 | £15,138 | 20.3 yrs | £-207 |
| 5 kW | 4265 kWh | 3199 kWh | 1066 kWh | £827 | £107 | £933 | £17,173 | 18.4 yrs | £1,491 |
| 6 kW | 5118 kWh | 3838 kWh | 1279 kWh | £992 | £128 | £1,120 | £19,207 | 17.2 yrs | £3,189 |
| 7 kW | 5971 kWh | 4478 kWh | 1493 kWh | £1,157 | £149 | £1,306 | £21,242 | 16.3 yrs | £4,887 |
| 8 kW | 6824 kWh | 5118 kWh | 1706 kWh | £1,322 | £171 | £1,493 | £23,276 | 15.6 yrs | £6,585 |
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: £947, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1706 kWh | 1314 kWh | 392 kWh | £339 | £39 | £379 | £13,519 | 35.7 yrs | £-5,946 |
| 3 kW | 2559 kWh | 1970 kWh | 589 kWh | £509 | £59 | £568 | £15,554 | 27.4 yrs | £-4,193 |
| 4 kW | 3412 kWh | 2627 kWh | 785 kWh | £679 | £78 | £757 | £17,588 | 23.2 yrs | £-2,441 |
| 5 kW | 4265 kWh | 3284 kWh | 981 kWh | £849 | £98 | £947 | £19,623 | 20.7 yrs | £-689 |
| 6 kW | 5118 kWh | 3941 kWh | 1177 kWh | £1,018 | £118 | £1,136 | £21,657 | 19.1 yrs | £1,063 |
| 7 kW | 5971 kWh | 4598 kWh | 1373 kWh | £1,188 | £137 | £1,325 | £23,692 | 17.9 yrs | £2,816 |
| 8 kW | 6824 kWh | 5254 kWh | 1570 kWh | £1,358 | £157 | £1,515 | £25,726 | 17.0 yrs | £4,568 |
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.