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 | £272 | £4,069 | 14.9 yrs | £1,380 |
| 3 kW | 2502 kWh | 1001 kWh | 1501 kWh | £259 | £150 | £409 | £6,104 | 14.9 yrs | £2,070 |
| 4 kW | 3336 kWh | 1334 kWh | 2001 kWh | £345 | £200 | £545 | £8,138 | 14.9 yrs | £2,761 |
| 5 kW | 4170 kWh | 1668 kWh | 2502 kWh | £431 | £250 | £681 | £10,173 | 14.9 yrs | £3,451 |
| 6 kW | 5004 kWh | 2001 kWh | 3002 kWh | £517 | £300 | £817 | £12,207 | 14.9 yrs | £4,141 |
| 7 kW | 5838 kWh | 2335 kWh | 3503 kWh | £603 | £350 | £954 | £14,242 | 14.9 yrs | £4,831 |
| 8 kW | 6672 kWh | 2669 kWh | 4003 kWh | £690 | £400 | £1,090 | £16,276 | 14.9 yrs | £5,521 |
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: £813, 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 | £337 |
| 3 kW | 2502 kWh | 1501 kWh | 1001 kWh | £388 | £100 | £488 | £8,204 | 16.8 yrs | £1,556 |
| 4 kW | 3336 kWh | 2001 kWh | 1334 kWh | £517 | £133 | £651 | £10,238 | 15.7 yrs | £2,774 |
| 5 kW | 4170 kWh | 2502 kWh | 1668 kWh | £646 | £167 | £813 | £12,273 | 15.1 yrs | £3,993 |
| 6 kW | 5004 kWh | 3002 kWh | 2001 kWh | £776 | £200 | £976 | £14,307 | 14.7 yrs | £5,211 |
| 7 kW | 5838 kWh | 3503 kWh | 2335 kWh | £905 | £234 | £1,139 | £16,342 | 14.4 yrs | £6,430 |
| 8 kW | 6672 kWh | 4003 kWh | 2669 kWh | £1,034 | £267 | £1,301 | £18,376 | 14.1 yrs | £7,648 |
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: £879, 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 | 500 kWh | £302 | £50 | £352 | £7,569 | 21.5 yrs | £-535 |
| 3 kW | 2502 kWh | 1751 kWh | 751 kWh | £453 | £75 | £528 | £9,604 | 18.2 yrs | £948 |
| 4 kW | 3336 kWh | 2335 kWh | 1001 kWh | £603 | £100 | £703 | £11,638 | 16.5 yrs | £2,431 |
| 5 kW | 4170 kWh | 2919 kWh | 1251 kWh | £754 | £125 | £879 | £13,673 | 15.5 yrs | £3,914 |
| 6 kW | 5004 kWh | 3503 kWh | 1501 kWh | £905 | £150 | £1,055 | £15,707 | 14.9 yrs | £5,396 |
| 7 kW | 5838 kWh | 4086 kWh | 1751 kWh | £1,056 | £175 | £1,231 | £17,742 | 14.4 yrs | £6,879 |
| 8 kW | 6672 kWh | 4670 kWh | 2001 kWh | £1,207 | £200 | £1,407 | £19,776 | 14.1 yrs | £8,362 |
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: 17.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1668 kWh | 1218 kWh | 450 kWh | £315 | £45 | £360 | £9,319 | 25.9 yrs | £-2,126 |
| 3 kW | 2502 kWh | 1826 kWh | 675 kWh | £472 | £68 | £539 | £11,354 | 21.0 yrs | £-564 |
| 4 kW | 3336 kWh | 2435 kWh | 901 kWh | £629 | £90 | £719 | £13,388 | 18.6 yrs | £998 |
| 5 kW | 4170 kWh | 3044 kWh | 1126 kWh | £787 | £113 | £899 | £15,423 | 17.2 yrs | £2,560 |
| 6 kW | 5004 kWh | 3653 kWh | 1351 kWh | £944 | £135 | £1,079 | £17,457 | 16.2 yrs | £4,122 |
| 7 kW | 5838 kWh | 4261 kWh | 1576 kWh | £1,101 | £158 | £1,259 | £19,492 | 15.5 yrs | £5,684 |
| 8 kW | 6672 kWh | 4870 kWh | 1801 kWh | £1,258 | £180 | £1,439 | £21,526 | 15.0 yrs | £7,246 |
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: £912, 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 | £-3,770 |
| 3 kW | 2502 kWh | 1876 kWh | 625 kWh | £485 | £63 | £547 | £13,104 | 23.9 yrs | £-2,156 |
| 4 kW | 3336 kWh | 2502 kWh | 834 kWh | £646 | £83 | £730 | £15,138 | 20.7 yrs | £-541 |
| 5 kW | 4170 kWh | 3127 kWh | 1042 kWh | £808 | £104 | £912 | £17,173 | 18.8 yrs | £1,074 |
| 6 kW | 5004 kWh | 3753 kWh | 1251 kWh | £970 | £125 | £1,095 | £19,207 | 17.5 yrs | £2,689 |
| 7 kW | 5838 kWh | 4378 kWh | 1459 kWh | £1,131 | £146 | £1,277 | £21,242 | 16.6 yrs | £4,304 |
| 8 kW | 6672 kWh | 5004 kWh | 1668 kWh | £1,293 | £167 | £1,460 | £23,276 | 15.9 yrs | £5,918 |
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 | 1284 kWh | 384 kWh | £332 | £38 | £370 | £13,519 | 36.5 yrs | £-6,115 |
| 3 kW | 2502 kWh | 1926 kWh | 575 kWh | £498 | £58 | £555 | £15,554 | 28.0 yrs | £-4,447 |
| 4 kW | 3336 kWh | 2569 kWh | 767 kWh | £664 | £77 | £740 | £17,588 | 23.8 yrs | £-2,779 |
| 5 kW | 4170 kWh | 3211 kWh | 959 kWh | £830 | £96 | £926 | £19,623 | 21.2 yrs | £-1,112 |
| 6 kW | 5004 kWh | 3853 kWh | 1151 kWh | £996 | £115 | £1,111 | £21,657 | 19.5 yrs | £556 |
| 7 kW | 5838 kWh | 4495 kWh | 1343 kWh | £1,161 | £134 | £1,296 | £23,692 | 18.3 yrs | £2,224 |
| 8 kW | 6672 kWh | 5137 kWh | 1534 kWh | £1,327 | £153 | £1,481 | £25,726 | 17.4 yrs | £3,891 |
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.