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 965 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p 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: £784, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1929 kWh | 772 kWh | 1158 kWh | £198 | £116 | £314 | £4,069 | 13.0 yrs | £2,203 |
| 3 kW | 2894 kWh | 1158 kWh | 1736 kWh | £297 | £174 | £470 | £6,104 | 13.0 yrs | £3,305 |
| 4 kW | 3858 kWh | 1543 kWh | 2315 kWh | £396 | £232 | £627 | £8,138 | 13.0 yrs | £4,407 |
| 5 kW | 4823 kWh | 1929 kWh | 2894 kWh | £495 | £289 | £784 | £10,173 | 13.0 yrs | £5,508 |
| 6 kW | 5788 kWh | 2315 kWh | 3473 kWh | £594 | £347 | £941 | £12,207 | 13.0 yrs | £6,610 |
| 7 kW | 6752 kWh | 2701 kWh | 4051 kWh | £693 | £405 | £1,098 | £14,242 | 13.0 yrs | £7,712 |
| 8 kW | 7717 kWh | 3087 kWh | 4630 kWh | £791 | £463 | £1,254 | £16,276 | 13.0 yrs | £8,813 |
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: £935, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1929 kWh | 1158 kWh | 772 kWh | £297 | £77 | £374 | £6,169 | 16.5 yrs | £1,310 |
| 3 kW | 2894 kWh | 1736 kWh | 1158 kWh | £445 | £116 | £561 | £8,204 | 14.6 yrs | £3,015 |
| 4 kW | 3858 kWh | 2315 kWh | 1543 kWh | £594 | £154 | £748 | £10,238 | 13.7 yrs | £4,721 |
| 5 kW | 4823 kWh | 2894 kWh | 1929 kWh | £742 | £193 | £935 | £12,273 | 13.1 yrs | £6,426 |
| 6 kW | 5788 kWh | 3473 kWh | 2315 kWh | £890 | £232 | £1,122 | £14,307 | 12.8 yrs | £8,131 |
| 7 kW | 6752 kWh | 4051 kWh | 2701 kWh | £1,039 | £270 | £1,309 | £16,342 | 12.5 yrs | £9,836 |
| 8 kW | 7717 kWh | 4630 kWh | 3087 kWh | £1,187 | £309 | £1,496 | £18,376 | 12.3 yrs | £11,541 |
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: £1,010, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1929 kWh | 1350 kWh | 579 kWh | £346 | £58 | £404 | £7,569 | 18.7 yrs | £514 |
| 3 kW | 2894 kWh | 2026 kWh | 868 kWh | £519 | £87 | £606 | £9,604 | 15.8 yrs | £2,521 |
| 4 kW | 3858 kWh | 2701 kWh | 1158 kWh | £693 | £116 | £808 | £11,638 | 14.4 yrs | £4,527 |
| 5 kW | 4823 kWh | 3376 kWh | 1447 kWh | £866 | £145 | £1,010 | £13,673 | 13.5 yrs | £6,534 |
| 6 kW | 5788 kWh | 4051 kWh | 1736 kWh | £1,039 | £174 | £1,212 | £15,707 | 13.0 yrs | £8,541 |
| 7 kW | 6752 kWh | 4727 kWh | 2026 kWh | £1,212 | £203 | £1,414 | £17,742 | 12.5 yrs | £10,548 |
| 8 kW | 7717 kWh | 5402 kWh | 2315 kWh | £1,385 | £232 | £1,617 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,555 |
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: £1,033, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 1929 kWh | 1408 kWh | 521 kWh | £361 | £52 | £413 | £9,319 | 22.6 yrs | £-1,055 |
| 3 kW | 2894 kWh | 2113 kWh | 781 kWh | £542 | £78 | £620 | £11,354 | 18.3 yrs | £1,042 |
| 4 kW | 3858 kWh | 2817 kWh | 1042 kWh | £722 | £104 | £826 | £13,388 | 16.2 yrs | £3,140 |
| 5 kW | 4823 kWh | 3521 kWh | 1302 kWh | £903 | £130 | £1,033 | £15,423 | 14.9 yrs | £5,237 |
| 6 kW | 5788 kWh | 4225 kWh | 1563 kWh | £1,083 | £156 | £1,240 | £17,457 | 14.1 yrs | £7,334 |
| 7 kW | 6752 kWh | 4929 kWh | 1823 kWh | £1,264 | £182 | £1,446 | £19,492 | 13.5 yrs | £9,432 |
| 8 kW | 7717 kWh | 5633 kWh | 2084 kWh | £1,444 | £208 | £1,653 | £21,526 | 13.0 yrs | £11,529 |
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: £1,048, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1929 kWh | 1447 kWh | 482 kWh | £371 | £48 | £419 | £11,069 | 26.4 yrs | £-2,685 |
| 3 kW | 2894 kWh | 2170 kWh | 723 kWh | £556 | £72 | £629 | £13,104 | 20.8 yrs | £-527 |
| 4 kW | 3858 kWh | 2894 kWh | 965 kWh | £742 | £96 | £838 | £15,138 | 18.1 yrs | £1,631 |
| 5 kW | 4823 kWh | 3617 kWh | 1206 kWh | £927 | £121 | £1,048 | £17,173 | 16.4 yrs | £3,789 |
| 6 kW | 5788 kWh | 4341 kWh | 1447 kWh | £1,113 | £145 | £1,258 | £19,207 | 15.3 yrs | £5,946 |
| 7 kW | 6752 kWh | 5064 kWh | 1688 kWh | £1,298 | £169 | £1,467 | £21,242 | 14.5 yrs | £8,104 |
| 8 kW | 7717 kWh | 5788 kWh | 1929 kWh | £1,484 | £193 | £1,677 | £23,276 | 13.9 yrs | £10,262 |
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: £1,063, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1929 kWh | 1486 kWh | 444 kWh | £381 | £44 | £425 | £13,519 | 31.8 yrs | £-5,014 |
| 3 kW | 2894 kWh | 2228 kWh | 666 kWh | £571 | £67 | £638 | £15,554 | 24.4 yrs | £-2,796 |
| 4 kW | 3858 kWh | 2971 kWh | 887 kWh | £762 | £89 | £851 | £17,588 | 20.7 yrs | £-578 |
| 5 kW | 4823 kWh | 3714 kWh | 1109 kWh | £952 | £111 | £1,063 | £19,623 | 18.5 yrs | £1,640 |
| 6 kW | 5788 kWh | 4457 kWh | 1331 kWh | £1,143 | £133 | £1,276 | £21,657 | 17.0 yrs | £3,858 |
| 7 kW | 6752 kWh | 5199 kWh | 1553 kWh | £1,333 | £155 | £1,488 | £23,692 | 15.9 yrs | £6,077 |
| 8 kW | 7717 kWh | 5942 kWh | 1775 kWh | £1,524 | £177 | £1,701 | £25,726 | 15.1 yrs | £8,295 |
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.