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 977 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: £822, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1953 kWh | 781 kWh | 1172 kWh | £212 | £117 | £329 | £4,069 | 12.4 yrs | £2,511 |
| 3 kW | 2930 kWh | 1172 kWh | 1758 kWh | £318 | £176 | £493 | £6,104 | 12.4 yrs | £3,766 |
| 4 kW | 3906 kWh | 1563 kWh | 2344 kWh | £424 | £234 | £658 | £8,138 | 12.4 yrs | £5,022 |
| 5 kW | 4883 kWh | 1953 kWh | 2930 kWh | £530 | £293 | £822 | £10,173 | 12.4 yrs | £6,277 |
| 6 kW | 5860 kWh | 2344 kWh | 3516 kWh | £635 | £352 | £987 | £12,207 | 12.4 yrs | £7,533 |
| 7 kW | 6836 kWh | 2734 kWh | 4102 kWh | £741 | £410 | £1,151 | £14,242 | 12.4 yrs | £8,788 |
| 8 kW | 7813 kWh | 3125 kWh | 4688 kWh | £847 | £469 | £1,316 | £16,276 | 12.4 yrs | £10,043 |
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: £990, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1953 kWh | 1172 kWh | 781 kWh | £318 | £78 | £396 | £6,169 | 15.6 yrs | £1,748 |
| 3 kW | 2930 kWh | 1758 kWh | 1172 kWh | £477 | £117 | £594 | £8,204 | 13.8 yrs | £3,671 |
| 4 kW | 3906 kWh | 2344 kWh | 1563 kWh | £635 | £156 | £792 | £10,238 | 12.9 yrs | £5,595 |
| 5 kW | 4883 kWh | 2930 kWh | 1953 kWh | £794 | £195 | £990 | £12,273 | 12.4 yrs | £7,519 |
| 6 kW | 5860 kWh | 3516 kWh | 2344 kWh | £953 | £234 | £1,187 | £14,307 | 12.0 yrs | £9,443 |
| 7 kW | 6836 kWh | 4102 kWh | 2734 kWh | £1,112 | £273 | £1,385 | £16,342 | 11.8 yrs | £11,367 |
| 8 kW | 7813 kWh | 4688 kWh | 3125 kWh | £1,271 | £313 | £1,583 | £18,376 | 11.6 yrs | £13,290 |
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: £1,073, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1953 kWh | 1367 kWh | 586 kWh | £371 | £59 | £429 | £7,569 | 17.6 yrs | £1,016 |
| 3 kW | 2930 kWh | 2051 kWh | 879 kWh | £556 | £88 | £644 | £9,604 | 14.9 yrs | £3,274 |
| 4 kW | 3906 kWh | 2734 kWh | 1172 kWh | £741 | £117 | £859 | £11,638 | 13.6 yrs | £5,532 |
| 5 kW | 4883 kWh | 3418 kWh | 1465 kWh | £927 | £146 | £1,073 | £13,673 | 12.7 yrs | £7,790 |
| 6 kW | 5860 kWh | 4102 kWh | 1758 kWh | £1,112 | £176 | £1,288 | £15,707 | 12.2 yrs | £10,048 |
| 7 kW | 6836 kWh | 4785 kWh | 2051 kWh | £1,297 | £205 | £1,502 | £17,742 | 11.8 yrs | £12,306 |
| 8 kW | 7813 kWh | 5469 kWh | 2344 kWh | £1,483 | £234 | £1,717 | £19,776 | 11.5 yrs | £14,564 |
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: £1,098, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1953 kWh | 1426 kWh | 527 kWh | £387 | £53 | £439 | £9,319 | 21.2 yrs | £-533 |
| 3 kW | 2930 kWh | 2139 kWh | 791 kWh | £580 | £79 | £659 | £11,354 | 17.2 yrs | £1,825 |
| 4 kW | 3906 kWh | 2852 kWh | 1055 kWh | £773 | £105 | £879 | £13,388 | 15.2 yrs | £4,183 |
| 5 kW | 4883 kWh | 3565 kWh | 1318 kWh | £966 | £132 | £1,098 | £15,423 | 14.0 yrs | £6,541 |
| 6 kW | 5860 kWh | 4277 kWh | 1582 kWh | £1,160 | £158 | £1,318 | £17,457 | 13.2 yrs | £8,900 |
| 7 kW | 6836 kWh | 4990 kWh | 1846 kWh | £1,353 | £185 | £1,537 | £19,492 | 12.7 yrs | £11,258 |
| 8 kW | 7813 kWh | 5703 kWh | 2109 kWh | £1,546 | £211 | £1,757 | £21,526 | 12.3 yrs | £13,616 |
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: £1,115, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1953 kWh | 1465 kWh | 488 kWh | £397 | £49 | £446 | £11,069 | 24.8 yrs | £-2,150 |
| 3 kW | 2930 kWh | 2197 kWh | 732 kWh | £596 | £73 | £669 | £13,104 | 19.6 yrs | £275 |
| 4 kW | 3906 kWh | 2930 kWh | 977 kWh | £794 | £98 | £892 | £15,138 | 17.0 yrs | £2,700 |
| 5 kW | 4883 kWh | 3662 kWh | 1221 kWh | £993 | £122 | £1,115 | £17,173 | 15.4 yrs | £5,125 |
| 6 kW | 5860 kWh | 4395 kWh | 1465 kWh | £1,191 | £146 | £1,338 | £19,207 | 14.4 yrs | £7,551 |
| 7 kW | 6836 kWh | 5127 kWh | 1709 kWh | £1,390 | £171 | £1,561 | £21,242 | 13.6 yrs | £9,976 |
| 8 kW | 7813 kWh | 5860 kWh | 1953 kWh | £1,589 | £195 | £1,784 | £23,276 | 13.0 yrs | £12,401 |
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: £1,132, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 1953 kWh | 1504 kWh | 449 kWh | £408 | £45 | £453 | £13,519 | 29.9 yrs | £-4,466 |
| 3 kW | 2930 kWh | 2256 kWh | 674 kWh | £612 | £67 | £679 | £15,554 | 22.9 yrs | £-1,974 |
| 4 kW | 3906 kWh | 3008 kWh | 898 kWh | £815 | £90 | £905 | £17,588 | 19.4 yrs | £518 |
| 5 kW | 4883 kWh | 3760 kWh | 1123 kWh | £1,019 | £112 | £1,132 | £19,623 | 17.3 yrs | £3,010 |
| 6 kW | 5860 kWh | 4512 kWh | 1348 kWh | £1,223 | £135 | £1,358 | £21,657 | 15.9 yrs | £5,502 |
| 7 kW | 6836 kWh | 5264 kWh | 1572 kWh | £1,427 | £157 | £1,584 | £23,692 | 15.0 yrs | £7,993 |
| 8 kW | 7813 kWh | 6016 kWh | 1797 kWh | £1,631 | £180 | £1,811 | £25,726 | 14.2 yrs | £10,485 |
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.