A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 991 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p 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: £823, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1983 kWh | 793 kWh | 1190 kWh | £210 | £119 | £329 | £4,069 | 12.4 yrs | £2,519 |
| 3 kW | 2974 kWh | 1190 kWh | 1785 kWh | £316 | £178 | £494 | £6,104 | 12.4 yrs | £3,778 |
| 4 kW | 3966 kWh | 1586 kWh | 2379 kWh | £421 | £238 | £659 | £8,138 | 12.4 yrs | £5,037 |
| 5 kW | 4957 kWh | 1983 kWh | 2974 kWh | £526 | £297 | £823 | £10,173 | 12.4 yrs | £6,297 |
| 6 kW | 5948 kWh | 2379 kWh | 3569 kWh | £631 | £357 | £988 | £12,207 | 12.4 yrs | £7,556 |
| 7 kW | 6940 kWh | 2776 kWh | 4164 kWh | £736 | £416 | £1,153 | £14,242 | 12.4 yrs | £8,815 |
| 8 kW | 7931 kWh | 3172 kWh | 4759 kWh | £842 | £476 | £1,318 | £16,276 | 12.4 yrs | £10,075 |
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: £987, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1983 kWh | 1190 kWh | 793 kWh | £316 | £79 | £395 | £6,169 | 15.6 yrs | £1,730 |
| 3 kW | 2974 kWh | 1785 kWh | 1190 kWh | £473 | £119 | £592 | £8,204 | 13.8 yrs | £3,644 |
| 4 kW | 3966 kWh | 2379 kWh | 1586 kWh | £631 | £159 | £790 | £10,238 | 13.0 yrs | £5,559 |
| 5 kW | 4957 kWh | 2974 kWh | 1983 kWh | £789 | £198 | £987 | £12,273 | 12.4 yrs | £7,474 |
| 6 kW | 5948 kWh | 3569 kWh | 2379 kWh | £947 | £238 | £1,185 | £14,307 | 12.1 yrs | £9,389 |
| 7 kW | 6940 kWh | 4164 kWh | 2776 kWh | £1,105 | £278 | £1,382 | £16,342 | 11.8 yrs | £11,304 |
| 8 kW | 7931 kWh | 4759 kWh | 3172 kWh | £1,262 | £317 | £1,580 | £18,376 | 11.6 yrs | £13,219 |
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: £1,069, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1983 kWh | 1388 kWh | 595 kWh | £368 | £59 | £428 | £7,569 | 17.7 yrs | £985 |
| 3 kW | 2974 kWh | 2082 kWh | 892 kWh | £552 | £89 | £642 | £9,604 | 15.0 yrs | £3,228 |
| 4 kW | 3966 kWh | 2776 kWh | 1190 kWh | £736 | £119 | £855 | £11,638 | 13.6 yrs | £5,470 |
| 5 kW | 4957 kWh | 3470 kWh | 1487 kWh | £921 | £149 | £1,069 | £13,673 | 12.8 yrs | £7,713 |
| 6 kW | 5948 kWh | 4164 kWh | 1785 kWh | £1,105 | £178 | £1,283 | £15,707 | 12.2 yrs | £9,956 |
| 7 kW | 6940 kWh | 4858 kWh | 2082 kWh | £1,289 | £208 | £1,497 | £17,742 | 11.9 yrs | £12,198 |
| 8 kW | 7931 kWh | 5552 kWh | 2379 kWh | £1,473 | £238 | £1,711 | £19,776 | 11.6 yrs | £14,441 |
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: £1,094, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1983 kWh | 1447 kWh | 535 kWh | £384 | £54 | £438 | £9,319 | 21.3 yrs | £-568 |
| 3 kW | 2974 kWh | 2171 kWh | 803 kWh | £576 | £80 | £656 | £11,354 | 17.3 yrs | £1,773 |
| 4 kW | 3966 kWh | 2895 kWh | 1071 kWh | £768 | £107 | £875 | £13,388 | 15.3 yrs | £4,114 |
| 5 kW | 4957 kWh | 3619 kWh | 1338 kWh | £960 | £134 | £1,094 | £15,423 | 14.1 yrs | £6,455 |
| 6 kW | 5948 kWh | 4342 kWh | 1606 kWh | £1,152 | £161 | £1,313 | £17,457 | 13.3 yrs | £8,795 |
| 7 kW | 6940 kWh | 5066 kWh | 1874 kWh | £1,344 | £187 | £1,531 | £19,492 | 12.7 yrs | £11,136 |
| 8 kW | 7931 kWh | 5790 kWh | 2141 kWh | £1,536 | £214 | £1,750 | £21,526 | 12.3 yrs | £13,477 |
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: £1,110, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 1983 kWh | 1487 kWh | 496 kWh | £395 | £50 | £444 | £11,069 | 24.9 yrs | £-2,187 |
| 3 kW | 2974 kWh | 2231 kWh | 744 kWh | £592 | £74 | £666 | £13,104 | 19.7 yrs | £219 |
| 4 kW | 3966 kWh | 2974 kWh | 991 kWh | £789 | £99 | £888 | £15,138 | 17.0 yrs | £2,626 |
| 5 kW | 4957 kWh | 3718 kWh | 1239 kWh | £986 | £124 | £1,110 | £17,173 | 15.5 yrs | £5,032 |
| 6 kW | 5948 kWh | 4461 kWh | 1487 kWh | £1,184 | £149 | £1,332 | £19,207 | 14.4 yrs | £7,439 |
| 7 kW | 6940 kWh | 5205 kWh | 1735 kWh | £1,381 | £173 | £1,554 | £21,242 | 13.7 yrs | £9,845 |
| 8 kW | 7931 kWh | 5948 kWh | 1983 kWh | £1,578 | £198 | £1,776 | £23,276 | 13.1 yrs | £12,252 |
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: £1,127, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1983 kWh | 1527 kWh | 456 kWh | £405 | £46 | £451 | £13,519 | 30.0 yrs | £-4,506 |
| 3 kW | 2974 kWh | 2290 kWh | 684 kWh | £608 | £68 | £676 | £15,554 | 23.0 yrs | £-2,034 |
| 4 kW | 3966 kWh | 3054 kWh | 912 kWh | £810 | £91 | £901 | £17,588 | 19.5 yrs | £438 |
| 5 kW | 4957 kWh | 3817 kWh | 1140 kWh | £1,013 | £114 | £1,127 | £19,623 | 17.4 yrs | £2,910 |
| 6 kW | 5948 kWh | 4580 kWh | 1368 kWh | £1,215 | £137 | £1,352 | £21,657 | 16.0 yrs | £5,382 |
| 7 kW | 6940 kWh | 5344 kWh | 1596 kWh | £1,418 | £160 | £1,577 | £23,692 | 15.0 yrs | £7,854 |
| 8 kW | 7931 kWh | 6107 kWh | 1824 kWh | £1,620 | £182 | £1,803 | £25,726 | 14.3 yrs | £10,326 |
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.