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 834 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: £681, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1668 kWh | 667 kWh | 1001 kWh | £172 | £100 | £273 | £4,069 | 14.9 yrs | £1,382 |
| 3 kW | 2503 kWh | 1001 kWh | 1502 kWh | £259 | £150 | £409 | £6,104 | 14.9 yrs | £2,073 |
| 4 kW | 3337 kWh | 1335 kWh | 2002 kWh | £345 | £200 | £545 | £8,138 | 14.9 yrs | £2,765 |
| 5 kW | 4171 kWh | 1668 kWh | 2503 kWh | £431 | £250 | £681 | £10,173 | 14.9 yrs | £3,456 |
| 6 kW | 5006 kWh | 2002 kWh | 3003 kWh | £517 | £300 | £818 | £12,207 | 14.9 yrs | £4,147 |
| 7 kW | 5840 kWh | 2336 kWh | 3504 kWh | £604 | £350 | £954 | £14,242 | 14.9 yrs | £4,838 |
| 8 kW | 6674 kWh | 2670 kWh | 4004 kWh | £690 | £400 | £1,090 | £16,276 | 14.9 yrs | £5,529 |
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: £814, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1668 kWh | 1001 kWh | 667 kWh | £259 | £67 | £325 | £6,169 | 19.0 yrs | £339 |
| 3 kW | 2503 kWh | 1502 kWh | 1001 kWh | £388 | £100 | £488 | £8,204 | 16.8 yrs | £1,559 |
| 4 kW | 3337 kWh | 2002 kWh | 1335 kWh | £517 | £133 | £651 | £10,238 | 15.7 yrs | £2,779 |
| 5 kW | 4171 kWh | 2503 kWh | 1668 kWh | £647 | £167 | £814 | £12,273 | 15.1 yrs | £3,999 |
| 6 kW | 5006 kWh | 3003 kWh | 2002 kWh | £776 | £200 | £976 | £14,307 | 14.7 yrs | £5,218 |
| 7 kW | 5840 kWh | 3504 kWh | 2336 kWh | £905 | £234 | £1,139 | £16,342 | 14.3 yrs | £6,438 |
| 8 kW | 6674 kWh | 4004 kWh | 2670 kWh | £1,035 | £267 | £1,302 | £18,376 | 14.1 yrs | £7,658 |
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: £880, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1668 kWh | 1168 kWh | 501 kWh | £302 | £50 | £352 | £7,569 | 21.5 yrs | £-532 |
| 3 kW | 2503 kWh | 1752 kWh | 751 kWh | £453 | £75 | £528 | £9,604 | 18.2 yrs | £952 |
| 4 kW | 3337 kWh | 2336 kWh | 1001 kWh | £604 | £100 | £704 | £11,638 | 16.5 yrs | £2,436 |
| 5 kW | 4171 kWh | 2920 kWh | 1251 kWh | £754 | £125 | £880 | £13,673 | 15.5 yrs | £3,920 |
| 6 kW | 5006 kWh | 3504 kWh | 1502 kWh | £905 | £150 | £1,056 | £15,707 | 14.9 yrs | £5,404 |
| 7 kW | 5840 kWh | 4088 kWh | 1752 kWh | £1,056 | £175 | £1,231 | £17,742 | 14.4 yrs | £6,888 |
| 8 kW | 6674 kWh | 4672 kWh | 2002 kWh | £1,207 | £200 | £1,407 | £19,776 | 14.1 yrs | £8,372 |
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: £899, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1668 kWh | 1218 kWh | 450 kWh | £315 | £45 | £360 | £9,319 | 25.9 yrs | £-2,123 |
| 3 kW | 2503 kWh | 1827 kWh | 676 kWh | £472 | £68 | £540 | £11,354 | 21.0 yrs | £-560 |
| 4 kW | 3337 kWh | 2436 kWh | 901 kWh | £629 | £90 | £720 | £13,388 | 18.6 yrs | £1,003 |
| 5 kW | 4171 kWh | 3045 kWh | 1126 kWh | £787 | £113 | £899 | £15,423 | 17.1 yrs | £2,567 |
| 6 kW | 5006 kWh | 3654 kWh | 1351 kWh | £944 | £135 | £1,079 | £17,457 | 16.2 yrs | £4,130 |
| 7 kW | 5840 kWh | 4263 kWh | 1577 kWh | £1,102 | £158 | £1,259 | £19,492 | 15.5 yrs | £5,693 |
| 8 kW | 6674 kWh | 4872 kWh | 1802 kWh | £1,259 | £180 | £1,439 | £21,526 | 15.0 yrs | £7,256 |
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: £913, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1668 kWh | 1251 kWh | 417 kWh | £323 | £42 | £365 | £11,069 | 30.3 yrs | £-3,768 |
| 3 kW | 2503 kWh | 1877 kWh | 626 kWh | £485 | £63 | £548 | £13,104 | 23.9 yrs | £-2,151 |
| 4 kW | 3337 kWh | 2503 kWh | 834 kWh | £647 | £83 | £730 | £15,138 | 20.7 yrs | £-535 |
| 5 kW | 4171 kWh | 3128 kWh | 1043 kWh | £808 | £104 | £913 | £17,173 | 18.8 yrs | £1,081 |
| 6 kW | 5006 kWh | 3754 kWh | 1251 kWh | £970 | £125 | £1,095 | £19,207 | 17.5 yrs | £2,697 |
| 7 kW | 5840 kWh | 4380 kWh | 1460 kWh | £1,132 | £146 | £1,278 | £21,242 | 16.6 yrs | £4,313 |
| 8 kW | 6674 kWh | 5006 kWh | 1668 kWh | £1,293 | £167 | £1,460 | £23,276 | 15.9 yrs | £5,929 |
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: £926, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1668 kWh | 1285 kWh | 384 kWh | £332 | £38 | £370 | £13,519 | 36.5 yrs | £-6,112 |
| 3 kW | 2503 kWh | 1927 kWh | 576 kWh | £498 | £58 | £556 | £15,554 | 28.0 yrs | £-4,443 |
| 4 kW | 3337 kWh | 2569 kWh | 768 kWh | £664 | £77 | £741 | £17,588 | 23.7 yrs | £-2,774 |
| 5 kW | 4171 kWh | 3212 kWh | 959 kWh | £830 | £96 | £926 | £19,623 | 21.2 yrs | £-1,105 |
| 6 kW | 5006 kWh | 3854 kWh | 1151 kWh | £996 | £115 | £1,111 | £21,657 | 19.5 yrs | £564 |
| 7 kW | 5840 kWh | 4497 kWh | 1343 kWh | £1,162 | £134 | £1,296 | £23,692 | 18.3 yrs | £2,233 |
| 8 kW | 6674 kWh | 5139 kWh | 1535 kWh | £1,328 | £154 | £1,481 | £25,726 | 17.4 yrs | £3,902 |
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.