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 840 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: £686, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1679 kWh | 672 kWh | 1008 kWh | £174 | £101 | £274 | £4,069 | 14.8 yrs | £1,418 |
| 3 kW | 2519 kWh | 1008 kWh | 1512 kWh | £260 | £151 | £412 | £6,104 | 14.8 yrs | £2,127 |
| 4 kW | 3359 kWh | 1344 kWh | 2015 kWh | £347 | £202 | £549 | £8,138 | 14.8 yrs | £2,836 |
| 5 kW | 4199 kWh | 1679 kWh | 2519 kWh | £434 | £252 | £686 | £10,173 | 14.8 yrs | £3,545 |
| 6 kW | 5038 kWh | 2015 kWh | 3023 kWh | £521 | £302 | £823 | £12,207 | 14.8 yrs | £4,254 |
| 7 kW | 5878 kWh | 2351 kWh | 3527 kWh | £608 | £353 | £960 | £14,242 | 14.8 yrs | £4,963 |
| 8 kW | 6718 kWh | 2687 kWh | 4031 kWh | £694 | £403 | £1,097 | £16,276 | 14.8 yrs | £5,672 |
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: £819, 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 | 1679 kWh | 1008 kWh | 672 kWh | £260 | £67 | £328 | £6,169 | 18.8 yrs | £382 |
| 3 kW | 2519 kWh | 1512 kWh | 1008 kWh | £391 | £101 | £491 | £8,204 | 16.7 yrs | £1,623 |
| 4 kW | 3359 kWh | 2015 kWh | 1344 kWh | £521 | £134 | £655 | £10,238 | 15.6 yrs | £2,864 |
| 5 kW | 4199 kWh | 2519 kWh | 1679 kWh | £651 | £168 | £819 | £12,273 | 15.0 yrs | £4,106 |
| 6 kW | 5038 kWh | 3023 kWh | 2015 kWh | £781 | £202 | £983 | £14,307 | 14.6 yrs | £5,347 |
| 7 kW | 5878 kWh | 3527 kWh | 2351 kWh | £911 | £235 | £1,146 | £16,342 | 14.3 yrs | £6,588 |
| 8 kW | 6718 kWh | 4031 kWh | 2687 kWh | £1,042 | £269 | £1,310 | £18,376 | 14.0 yrs | £7,829 |
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: £885, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1679 kWh | 1176 kWh | 504 kWh | £304 | £50 | £354 | £7,569 | 21.4 yrs | £-486 |
| 3 kW | 2519 kWh | 1763 kWh | 756 kWh | £456 | £76 | £531 | £9,604 | 18.1 yrs | £1,021 |
| 4 kW | 3359 kWh | 2351 kWh | 1008 kWh | £608 | £101 | £708 | £11,638 | 16.4 yrs | £2,529 |
| 5 kW | 4199 kWh | 2939 kWh | 1260 kWh | £759 | £126 | £885 | £13,673 | 15.4 yrs | £4,036 |
| 6 kW | 5038 kWh | 3527 kWh | 1512 kWh | £911 | £151 | £1,062 | £15,707 | 14.8 yrs | £5,543 |
| 7 kW | 5878 kWh | 4115 kWh | 1763 kWh | £1,063 | £176 | £1,240 | £17,742 | 14.3 yrs | £7,050 |
| 8 kW | 6718 kWh | 4702 kWh | 2015 kWh | £1,215 | £202 | £1,417 | £19,776 | 14.0 yrs | £8,557 |
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: £905, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1679 kWh | 1226 kWh | 453 kWh | £317 | £45 | £362 | £9,319 | 25.7 yrs | £-2,076 |
| 3 kW | 2519 kWh | 1839 kWh | 680 kWh | £475 | £68 | £543 | £11,354 | 20.9 yrs | £-489 |
| 4 kW | 3359 kWh | 2452 kWh | 907 kWh | £634 | £91 | £724 | £13,388 | 18.5 yrs | £1,098 |
| 5 kW | 4199 kWh | 3065 kWh | 1134 kWh | £792 | £113 | £905 | £15,423 | 17.0 yrs | £2,685 |
| 6 kW | 5038 kWh | 3678 kWh | 1360 kWh | £950 | £136 | £1,086 | £17,457 | 16.1 yrs | £4,272 |
| 7 kW | 5878 kWh | 4291 kWh | 1587 kWh | £1,109 | £159 | £1,268 | £19,492 | 15.4 yrs | £5,859 |
| 8 kW | 6718 kWh | 4904 kWh | 1814 kWh | £1,267 | £181 | £1,449 | £21,526 | 14.9 yrs | £7,446 |
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: £919, 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 | 1679 kWh | 1260 kWh | 420 kWh | £325 | £42 | £367 | £11,069 | 30.1 yrs | £-3,720 |
| 3 kW | 2519 kWh | 1889 kWh | 630 kWh | £488 | £63 | £551 | £13,104 | 23.8 yrs | £-2,080 |
| 4 kW | 3359 kWh | 2519 kWh | 840 kWh | £651 | £84 | £735 | £15,138 | 20.6 yrs | £-439 |
| 5 kW | 4199 kWh | 3149 kWh | 1050 kWh | £814 | £105 | £919 | £17,173 | 18.7 yrs | £1,201 |
| 6 kW | 5038 kWh | 3779 kWh | 1260 kWh | £976 | £126 | £1,102 | £19,207 | 17.4 yrs | £2,841 |
| 7 kW | 5878 kWh | 4409 kWh | 1470 kWh | £1,139 | £147 | £1,286 | £21,242 | 16.5 yrs | £4,481 |
| 8 kW | 6718 kWh | 5038 kWh | 1679 kWh | £1,302 | £168 | £1,470 | £23,276 | 15.8 yrs | £6,121 |
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: £932, 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 | 1679 kWh | 1293 kWh | 386 kWh | £334 | £39 | £373 | £13,519 | 36.3 yrs | £-6,063 |
| 3 kW | 2519 kWh | 1940 kWh | 579 kWh | £501 | £58 | £559 | £15,554 | 27.8 yrs | £-4,370 |
| 4 kW | 3359 kWh | 2586 kWh | 773 kWh | £668 | £77 | £746 | £17,588 | 23.6 yrs | £-2,677 |
| 5 kW | 4199 kWh | 3233 kWh | 966 kWh | £835 | £97 | £932 | £19,623 | 21.1 yrs | £-983 |
| 6 kW | 5038 kWh | 3880 kWh | 1159 kWh | £1,002 | £116 | £1,118 | £21,657 | 19.4 yrs | £710 |
| 7 kW | 5878 kWh | 4526 kWh | 1352 kWh | £1,170 | £135 | £1,305 | £23,692 | 18.2 yrs | £2,403 |
| 8 kW | 6718 kWh | 5173 kWh | 1545 kWh | £1,337 | £155 | £1,491 | £25,726 | 17.3 yrs | £4,097 |
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.