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 831 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: £679, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1662 kWh | 665 kWh | 997 kWh | £172 | £100 | £271 | £4,069 | 15.0 yrs | £1,359 |
| 3 kW | 2492 kWh | 997 kWh | 1495 kWh | £258 | £150 | £407 | £6,104 | 15.0 yrs | £2,039 |
| 4 kW | 3323 kWh | 1329 kWh | 1994 kWh | £343 | £199 | £543 | £8,138 | 15.0 yrs | £2,719 |
| 5 kW | 4154 kWh | 1662 kWh | 2492 kWh | £429 | £249 | £679 | £10,173 | 15.0 yrs | £3,399 |
| 6 kW | 4984 kWh | 1994 kWh | 2991 kWh | £515 | £299 | £814 | £12,207 | 15.0 yrs | £4,078 |
| 7 kW | 5815 kWh | 2326 kWh | 3489 kWh | £601 | £349 | £950 | £14,242 | 15.0 yrs | £4,758 |
| 8 kW | 6646 kWh | 2658 kWh | 3988 kWh | £687 | £399 | £1,086 | £16,276 | 15.0 yrs | £5,438 |
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: £810, 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 | 1662 kWh | 997 kWh | 665 kWh | £258 | £66 | £324 | £6,169 | 19.0 yrs | £312 |
| 3 kW | 2492 kWh | 1495 kWh | 997 kWh | £386 | £100 | £486 | £8,204 | 16.9 yrs | £1,518 |
| 4 kW | 3323 kWh | 1994 kWh | 1329 kWh | £515 | £133 | £648 | £10,238 | 15.8 yrs | £2,724 |
| 5 kW | 4154 kWh | 2492 kWh | 1662 kWh | £644 | £166 | £810 | £12,273 | 15.1 yrs | £3,930 |
| 6 kW | 4984 kWh | 2991 kWh | 1994 kWh | £773 | £199 | £972 | £14,307 | 14.7 yrs | £5,136 |
| 7 kW | 5815 kWh | 3489 kWh | 2326 kWh | £902 | £233 | £1,134 | £16,342 | 14.4 yrs | £6,343 |
| 8 kW | 6646 kWh | 3988 kWh | 2658 kWh | £1,030 | £266 | £1,296 | £18,376 | 14.2 yrs | £7,549 |
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: £876, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1662 kWh | 1163 kWh | 498 kWh | £301 | £50 | £350 | £7,569 | 21.6 yrs | £-561 |
| 3 kW | 2492 kWh | 1745 kWh | 748 kWh | £451 | £75 | £526 | £9,604 | 18.3 yrs | £908 |
| 4 kW | 3323 kWh | 2326 kWh | 997 kWh | £601 | £100 | £701 | £11,638 | 16.6 yrs | £2,377 |
| 5 kW | 4154 kWh | 2908 kWh | 1246 kWh | £751 | £125 | £876 | £13,673 | 15.6 yrs | £3,846 |
| 6 kW | 4984 kWh | 3489 kWh | 1495 kWh | £902 | £150 | £1,051 | £15,707 | 14.9 yrs | £5,316 |
| 7 kW | 5815 kWh | 4071 kWh | 1745 kWh | £1,052 | £174 | £1,226 | £17,742 | 14.5 yrs | £6,785 |
| 8 kW | 6646 kWh | 4652 kWh | 1994 kWh | £1,202 | £199 | £1,402 | £19,776 | 14.1 yrs | £8,254 |
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: £896, 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 | 1662 kWh | 1213 kWh | 449 kWh | £313 | £45 | £358 | £9,319 | 26.0 yrs | £-2,154 |
| 3 kW | 2492 kWh | 1819 kWh | 673 kWh | £470 | £67 | £537 | £11,354 | 21.1 yrs | £-605 |
| 4 kW | 3323 kWh | 2426 kWh | 897 kWh | £627 | £90 | £717 | £13,388 | 18.7 yrs | £943 |
| 5 kW | 4154 kWh | 3032 kWh | 1122 kWh | £784 | £112 | £896 | £15,423 | 17.2 yrs | £2,491 |
| 6 kW | 4984 kWh | 3639 kWh | 1346 kWh | £940 | £135 | £1,075 | £17,457 | 16.2 yrs | £4,039 |
| 7 kW | 5815 kWh | 4245 kWh | 1570 kWh | £1,097 | £157 | £1,254 | £19,492 | 15.5 yrs | £5,588 |
| 8 kW | 6646 kWh | 4852 kWh | 1794 kWh | £1,254 | £179 | £1,433 | £21,526 | 15.0 yrs | £7,136 |
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: £909, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1662 kWh | 1246 kWh | 415 kWh | £322 | £42 | £364 | £11,069 | 30.4 yrs | £-3,798 |
| 3 kW | 2492 kWh | 1869 kWh | 623 kWh | £483 | £62 | £545 | £13,104 | 24.0 yrs | £-2,197 |
| 4 kW | 3323 kWh | 2492 kWh | 831 kWh | £644 | £83 | £727 | £15,138 | 20.8 yrs | £-597 |
| 5 kW | 4154 kWh | 3115 kWh | 1038 kWh | £805 | £104 | £909 | £17,173 | 18.9 yrs | £1,004 |
| 6 kW | 4984 kWh | 3738 kWh | 1246 kWh | £966 | £125 | £1,091 | £19,207 | 17.6 yrs | £2,605 |
| 7 kW | 5815 kWh | 4361 kWh | 1454 kWh | £1,127 | £145 | £1,272 | £21,242 | 16.7 yrs | £4,206 |
| 8 kW | 6646 kWh | 4984 kWh | 1662 kWh | £1,288 | £166 | £1,454 | £23,276 | 16.0 yrs | £5,807 |
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: £922, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1662 kWh | 1279 kWh | 382 kWh | £331 | £38 | £369 | £13,519 | 36.7 yrs | £-6,143 |
| 3 kW | 2492 kWh | 1919 kWh | 573 kWh | £496 | £57 | £553 | £15,554 | 28.1 yrs | £-4,490 |
| 4 kW | 3323 kWh | 2559 kWh | 764 kWh | £661 | £76 | £738 | £17,588 | 23.8 yrs | £-2,836 |
| 5 kW | 4154 kWh | 3198 kWh | 955 kWh | £826 | £96 | £922 | £19,623 | 21.3 yrs | £-1,183 |
| 6 kW | 4984 kWh | 3838 kWh | 1146 kWh | £992 | £115 | £1,106 | £21,657 | 19.6 yrs | £471 |
| 7 kW | 5815 kWh | 4478 kWh | 1338 kWh | £1,157 | £134 | £1,291 | £23,692 | 18.4 yrs | £2,124 |
| 8 kW | 6646 kWh | 5117 kWh | 1529 kWh | £1,322 | £153 | £1,475 | £25,726 | 17.4 yrs | £3,778 |
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.