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 818 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: £668, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1636 kWh | 654 kWh | 981 kWh | £169 | £98 | £267 | £4,069 | 15.2 yrs | £1,276 |
| 3 kW | 2454 kWh | 981 kWh | 1472 kWh | £254 | £147 | £401 | £6,104 | 15.2 yrs | £1,913 |
| 4 kW | 3272 kWh | 1309 kWh | 1963 kWh | £338 | £196 | £534 | £8,138 | 15.2 yrs | £2,551 |
| 5 kW | 4090 kWh | 1636 kWh | 2454 kWh | £423 | £245 | £668 | £10,173 | 15.2 yrs | £3,189 |
| 6 kW | 4907 kWh | 1963 kWh | 2944 kWh | £507 | £294 | £802 | £12,207 | 15.2 yrs | £3,827 |
| 7 kW | 5725 kWh | 2290 kWh | 3435 kWh | £592 | £344 | £935 | £14,242 | 15.2 yrs | £4,464 |
| 8 kW | 6543 kWh | 2617 kWh | 3926 kWh | £676 | £393 | £1,069 | £16,276 | 15.2 yrs | £5,102 |
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: £798, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1636 kWh | 981 kWh | 654 kWh | £254 | £65 | £319 | £6,169 | 19.3 yrs | £212 |
| 3 kW | 2454 kWh | 1472 kWh | 981 kWh | £380 | £98 | £479 | £8,204 | 17.1 yrs | £1,368 |
| 4 kW | 3272 kWh | 1963 kWh | 1309 kWh | £507 | £131 | £638 | £10,238 | 16.0 yrs | £2,524 |
| 5 kW | 4090 kWh | 2454 kWh | 1636 kWh | £634 | £164 | £798 | £12,273 | 15.4 yrs | £3,680 |
| 6 kW | 4907 kWh | 2944 kWh | 1963 kWh | £761 | £196 | £957 | £14,307 | 14.9 yrs | £4,836 |
| 7 kW | 5725 kWh | 3435 kWh | 2290 kWh | £888 | £229 | £1,117 | £16,342 | 14.6 yrs | £5,992 |
| 8 kW | 6543 kWh | 3926 kWh | 2617 kWh | £1,014 | £262 | £1,276 | £18,376 | 14.4 yrs | £7,148 |
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: £862, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1636 kWh | 1145 kWh | 491 kWh | £296 | £49 | £345 | £7,569 | 21.9 yrs | £-670 |
| 3 kW | 2454 kWh | 1718 kWh | 736 kWh | £444 | £74 | £517 | £9,604 | 18.6 yrs | £745 |
| 4 kW | 3272 kWh | 2290 kWh | 981 kWh | £592 | £98 | £690 | £11,638 | 16.9 yrs | £2,160 |
| 5 kW | 4090 kWh | 2863 kWh | 1227 kWh | £740 | £123 | £862 | £13,673 | 15.9 yrs | £3,576 |
| 6 kW | 4907 kWh | 3435 kWh | 1472 kWh | £888 | £147 | £1,035 | £15,707 | 15.2 yrs | £4,991 |
| 7 kW | 5725 kWh | 4008 kWh | 1718 kWh | £1,036 | £172 | £1,207 | £17,742 | 14.7 yrs | £6,406 |
| 8 kW | 6543 kWh | 4580 kWh | 1963 kWh | £1,184 | £196 | £1,380 | £19,776 | 14.3 yrs | £7,821 |
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: £882, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1636 kWh | 1194 kWh | 442 kWh | £309 | £44 | £353 | £9,319 | 26.4 yrs | £-2,264 |
| 3 kW | 2454 kWh | 1791 kWh | 663 kWh | £463 | £66 | £529 | £11,354 | 21.5 yrs | £-771 |
| 4 kW | 3272 kWh | 2388 kWh | 883 kWh | £617 | £88 | £705 | £13,388 | 19.0 yrs | £721 |
| 5 kW | 4090 kWh | 2985 kWh | 1104 kWh | £771 | £110 | £882 | £15,423 | 17.5 yrs | £2,214 |
| 6 kW | 4907 kWh | 3582 kWh | 1325 kWh | £926 | £133 | £1,058 | £17,457 | 16.5 yrs | £3,707 |
| 7 kW | 5725 kWh | 4180 kWh | 1546 kWh | £1,080 | £155 | £1,235 | £19,492 | 15.8 yrs | £5,200 |
| 8 kW | 6543 kWh | 4777 kWh | 1767 kWh | £1,234 | £177 | £1,411 | £21,526 | 15.3 yrs | £6,693 |
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: £895, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1636 kWh | 1227 kWh | 409 kWh | £317 | £41 | £358 | £11,069 | 30.9 yrs | £-3,911 |
| 3 kW | 2454 kWh | 1840 kWh | 613 kWh | £476 | £61 | £537 | £13,104 | 24.4 yrs | £-2,366 |
| 4 kW | 3272 kWh | 2454 kWh | 818 kWh | £634 | £82 | £716 | £15,138 | 21.1 yrs | £-821 |
| 5 kW | 4090 kWh | 3067 kWh | 1022 kWh | £793 | £102 | £895 | £17,173 | 19.2 yrs | £723 |
| 6 kW | 4907 kWh | 3681 kWh | 1227 kWh | £951 | £123 | £1,074 | £19,207 | 17.9 yrs | £2,268 |
| 7 kW | 5725 kWh | 4294 kWh | 1431 kWh | £1,110 | £143 | £1,253 | £21,242 | 17.0 yrs | £3,813 |
| 8 kW | 6543 kWh | 4907 kWh | 1636 kWh | £1,268 | £164 | £1,432 | £23,276 | 16.3 yrs | £5,357 |
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: £908, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1636 kWh | 1260 kWh | 376 kWh | £325 | £38 | £363 | £13,519 | 37.2 yrs | £-6,257 |
| 3 kW | 2454 kWh | 1889 kWh | 564 kWh | £488 | £56 | £545 | £15,554 | 28.6 yrs | £-4,661 |
| 4 kW | 3272 kWh | 2519 kWh | 752 kWh | £651 | £75 | £726 | £17,588 | 24.2 yrs | £-3,064 |
| 5 kW | 4090 kWh | 3149 kWh | 941 kWh | £814 | £94 | £908 | £19,623 | 21.6 yrs | £-1,468 |
| 6 kW | 4907 kWh | 3779 kWh | 1129 kWh | £976 | £113 | £1,089 | £21,657 | 19.9 yrs | £129 |
| 7 kW | 5725 kWh | 4409 kWh | 1317 kWh | £1,139 | £132 | £1,271 | £23,692 | 18.6 yrs | £1,725 |
| 8 kW | 6543 kWh | 5038 kWh | 1505 kWh | £1,302 | £150 | £1,452 | £25,726 | 17.7 yrs | £3,322 |
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.