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 838 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: £685, 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 | 1676 kWh | 671 kWh | 1006 kWh | £173 | £101 | £274 | £4,069 | 14.9 yrs | £1,408 |
| 3 kW | 2514 kWh | 1006 kWh | 1509 kWh | £260 | £151 | £411 | £6,104 | 14.9 yrs | £2,112 |
| 4 kW | 3353 kWh | 1341 kWh | 2012 kWh | £347 | £201 | £548 | £8,138 | 14.9 yrs | £2,816 |
| 5 kW | 4191 kWh | 1676 kWh | 2514 kWh | £433 | £251 | £685 | £10,173 | 14.9 yrs | £3,520 |
| 6 kW | 5029 kWh | 2012 kWh | 3017 kWh | £520 | £302 | £822 | £12,207 | 14.9 yrs | £4,224 |
| 7 kW | 5867 kWh | 2347 kWh | 3520 kWh | £606 | £352 | £958 | £14,242 | 14.9 yrs | £4,927 |
| 8 kW | 6705 kWh | 2682 kWh | 4023 kWh | £693 | £402 | £1,095 | £16,276 | 14.9 yrs | £5,631 |
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: £817, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1676 kWh | 1006 kWh | 671 kWh | £260 | £67 | £327 | £6,169 | 18.9 yrs | £370 |
| 3 kW | 2514 kWh | 1509 kWh | 1006 kWh | £390 | £101 | £490 | £8,204 | 16.7 yrs | £1,605 |
| 4 kW | 3353 kWh | 2012 kWh | 1341 kWh | £520 | £134 | £654 | £10,238 | 15.7 yrs | £2,840 |
| 5 kW | 4191 kWh | 2514 kWh | 1676 kWh | £650 | £168 | £817 | £12,273 | 15.0 yrs | £4,075 |
| 6 kW | 5029 kWh | 3017 kWh | 2012 kWh | £780 | £201 | £981 | £14,307 | 14.6 yrs | £5,310 |
| 7 kW | 5867 kWh | 3520 kWh | 2347 kWh | £910 | £235 | £1,144 | £16,342 | 14.3 yrs | £6,545 |
| 8 kW | 6705 kWh | 4023 kWh | 2682 kWh | £1,040 | £268 | £1,308 | £18,376 | 14.1 yrs | £7,780 |
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: £884, 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 | 1676 kWh | 1173 kWh | 503 kWh | £303 | £50 | £354 | £7,569 | 21.4 yrs | £-499 |
| 3 kW | 2514 kWh | 1760 kWh | 754 kWh | £455 | £75 | £530 | £9,604 | 18.1 yrs | £1,002 |
| 4 kW | 3353 kWh | 2347 kWh | 1006 kWh | £606 | £101 | £707 | £11,638 | 16.5 yrs | £2,502 |
| 5 kW | 4191 kWh | 2934 kWh | 1257 kWh | £758 | £126 | £884 | £13,673 | 15.5 yrs | £4,003 |
| 6 kW | 5029 kWh | 3520 kWh | 1509 kWh | £910 | £151 | £1,061 | £15,707 | 14.8 yrs | £5,503 |
| 7 kW | 5867 kWh | 4107 kWh | 1760 kWh | £1,061 | £176 | £1,237 | £17,742 | 14.3 yrs | £7,004 |
| 8 kW | 6705 kWh | 4694 kWh | 2012 kWh | £1,213 | £201 | £1,414 | £19,776 | 14.0 yrs | £8,504 |
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: £904, 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 | 1676 kWh | 1224 kWh | 453 kWh | £316 | £45 | £361 | £9,319 | 25.8 yrs | £-2,090 |
| 3 kW | 2514 kWh | 1836 kWh | 679 kWh | £474 | £68 | £542 | £11,354 | 20.9 yrs | £-509 |
| 4 kW | 3353 kWh | 2447 kWh | 905 kWh | £632 | £91 | £723 | £13,388 | 18.5 yrs | £1,071 |
| 5 kW | 4191 kWh | 3059 kWh | 1132 kWh | £791 | £113 | £904 | £15,423 | 17.1 yrs | £2,651 |
| 6 kW | 5029 kWh | 3671 kWh | 1358 kWh | £949 | £136 | £1,084 | £17,457 | 16.1 yrs | £4,231 |
| 7 kW | 5867 kWh | 4283 kWh | 1584 kWh | £1,107 | £158 | £1,265 | £19,492 | 15.4 yrs | £5,811 |
| 8 kW | 6705 kWh | 4895 kWh | 1810 kWh | £1,265 | £181 | £1,446 | £21,526 | 14.9 yrs | £7,391 |
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: £917, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1676 kWh | 1257 kWh | 419 kWh | £325 | £42 | £367 | £11,069 | 30.2 yrs | £-3,733 |
| 3 kW | 2514 kWh | 1886 kWh | 629 kWh | £487 | £63 | £550 | £13,104 | 23.8 yrs | £-2,100 |
| 4 kW | 3353 kWh | 2514 kWh | 838 kWh | £650 | £84 | £734 | £15,138 | 20.6 yrs | £-467 |
| 5 kW | 4191 kWh | 3143 kWh | 1048 kWh | £812 | £105 | £917 | £17,173 | 18.7 yrs | £1,166 |
| 6 kW | 5029 kWh | 3772 kWh | 1257 kWh | £975 | £126 | £1,100 | £19,207 | 17.5 yrs | £2,800 |
| 7 kW | 5867 kWh | 4400 kWh | 1467 kWh | £1,137 | £147 | £1,284 | £21,242 | 16.5 yrs | £4,433 |
| 8 kW | 6705 kWh | 5029 kWh | 1676 kWh | £1,299 | £168 | £1,467 | £23,276 | 15.9 yrs | £6,066 |
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: £930, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1676 kWh | 1291 kWh | 386 kWh | £334 | £39 | £372 | £13,519 | 36.3 yrs | £-6,077 |
| 3 kW | 2514 kWh | 1936 kWh | 578 kWh | £500 | £58 | £558 | £15,554 | 27.9 yrs | £-4,391 |
| 4 kW | 3353 kWh | 2582 kWh | 771 kWh | £667 | £77 | £744 | £17,588 | 23.6 yrs | £-2,704 |
| 5 kW | 4191 kWh | 3227 kWh | 964 kWh | £834 | £96 | £930 | £19,623 | 21.1 yrs | £-1,018 |
| 6 kW | 5029 kWh | 3872 kWh | 1157 kWh | £1,001 | £116 | £1,116 | £21,657 | 19.4 yrs | £668 |
| 7 kW | 5867 kWh | 4518 kWh | 1349 kWh | £1,167 | £135 | £1,302 | £23,692 | 18.2 yrs | £2,355 |
| 8 kW | 6705 kWh | 5163 kWh | 1542 kWh | £1,334 | £154 | £1,488 | £25,726 | 17.3 yrs | £4,041 |
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.