A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 791 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p 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: £666, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1582 kWh | 633 kWh | 949 kWh | £171 | £95 | £266 | £4,069 | 15.3 yrs | £1,256 |
| 3 kW | 2374 kWh | 949 kWh | 1424 kWh | £257 | £142 | £399 | £6,104 | 15.3 yrs | £1,884 |
| 4 kW | 3165 kWh | 1266 kWh | 1899 kWh | £343 | £190 | £532 | £8,138 | 15.3 yrs | £2,511 |
| 5 kW | 3956 kWh | 1582 kWh | 2374 kWh | £428 | £237 | £666 | £10,173 | 15.3 yrs | £3,139 |
| 6 kW | 4747 kWh | 1899 kWh | 2848 kWh | £514 | £285 | £799 | £12,207 | 15.3 yrs | £3,767 |
| 7 kW | 5539 kWh | 2215 kWh | 3323 kWh | £600 | £332 | £932 | £14,242 | 15.3 yrs | £4,395 |
| 8 kW | 6330 kWh | 2532 kWh | 3798 kWh | £685 | £380 | £1,065 | £16,276 | 15.3 yrs | £5,023 |
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: £801, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1582 kWh | 949 kWh | 633 kWh | £257 | £63 | £320 | £6,169 | 19.3 yrs | £236 |
| 3 kW | 2374 kWh | 1424 kWh | 949 kWh | £385 | £95 | £480 | £8,204 | 17.1 yrs | £1,403 |
| 4 kW | 3165 kWh | 1899 kWh | 1266 kWh | £514 | £127 | £640 | £10,238 | 16.0 yrs | £2,571 |
| 5 kW | 3956 kWh | 2374 kWh | 1582 kWh | £642 | £158 | £801 | £12,273 | 15.3 yrs | £3,739 |
| 6 kW | 4747 kWh | 2848 kWh | 1899 kWh | £771 | £190 | £961 | £14,307 | 14.9 yrs | £4,907 |
| 7 kW | 5539 kWh | 3323 kWh | 2215 kWh | £899 | £222 | £1,121 | £16,342 | 14.6 yrs | £6,075 |
| 8 kW | 6330 kWh | 3798 kWh | 2532 kWh | £1,028 | £253 | £1,281 | £18,376 | 14.3 yrs | £7,242 |
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: £868, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1582 kWh | 1108 kWh | 475 kWh | £300 | £47 | £347 | £7,569 | 21.8 yrs | £-624 |
| 3 kW | 2374 kWh | 1662 kWh | 712 kWh | £450 | £71 | £521 | £9,604 | 18.4 yrs | £813 |
| 4 kW | 3165 kWh | 2215 kWh | 949 kWh | £600 | £95 | £694 | £11,638 | 16.8 yrs | £2,251 |
| 5 kW | 3956 kWh | 2769 kWh | 1187 kWh | £749 | £119 | £868 | £13,673 | 15.8 yrs | £3,689 |
| 6 kW | 4747 kWh | 3323 kWh | 1424 kWh | £899 | £142 | £1,042 | £15,707 | 15.1 yrs | £5,127 |
| 7 kW | 5539 kWh | 3877 kWh | 1662 kWh | £1,049 | £166 | £1,215 | £17,742 | 14.6 yrs | £6,564 |
| 8 kW | 6330 kWh | 4431 kWh | 1899 kWh | £1,199 | £190 | £1,389 | £19,776 | 14.2 yrs | £8,002 |
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: £888, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 1582 kWh | 1155 kWh | 427 kWh | £313 | £43 | £355 | £9,319 | 26.2 yrs | £-2,212 |
| 3 kW | 2374 kWh | 1733 kWh | 641 kWh | £469 | £64 | £533 | £11,354 | 21.3 yrs | £-694 |
| 4 kW | 3165 kWh | 2310 kWh | 855 kWh | £625 | £85 | £711 | £13,388 | 18.8 yrs | £825 |
| 5 kW | 3956 kWh | 2888 kWh | 1068 kWh | £781 | £107 | £888 | £15,423 | 17.4 yrs | £2,344 |
| 6 kW | 4747 kWh | 3466 kWh | 1282 kWh | £938 | £128 | £1,066 | £17,457 | 16.4 yrs | £3,863 |
| 7 kW | 5539 kWh | 4043 kWh | 1495 kWh | £1,094 | £150 | £1,244 | £19,492 | 15.7 yrs | £5,381 |
| 8 kW | 6330 kWh | 4621 kWh | 1709 kWh | £1,250 | £171 | £1,421 | £21,526 | 15.1 yrs | £6,900 |
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: £902, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1582 kWh | 1187 kWh | 396 kWh | £321 | £40 | £361 | £11,069 | 30.7 yrs | £-3,854 |
| 3 kW | 2374 kWh | 1780 kWh | 593 kWh | £482 | £59 | £541 | £13,104 | 24.2 yrs | £-2,282 |
| 4 kW | 3165 kWh | 2374 kWh | 791 kWh | £642 | £79 | £721 | £15,138 | 21.0 yrs | £-709 |
| 5 kW | 3956 kWh | 2967 kWh | 989 kWh | £803 | £99 | £902 | £17,173 | 19.0 yrs | £864 |
| 6 kW | 4747 kWh | 3561 kWh | 1187 kWh | £963 | £119 | £1,082 | £19,207 | 17.7 yrs | £2,437 |
| 7 kW | 5539 kWh | 4154 kWh | 1385 kWh | £1,124 | £138 | £1,263 | £21,242 | 16.8 yrs | £4,009 |
| 8 kW | 6330 kWh | 4747 kWh | 1582 kWh | £1,285 | £158 | £1,443 | £23,276 | 16.1 yrs | £5,582 |
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: £915, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1582 kWh | 1219 kWh | 364 kWh | £330 | £36 | £366 | £13,519 | 36.9 yrs | £-6,197 |
| 3 kW | 2374 kWh | 1828 kWh | 546 kWh | £495 | £55 | £549 | £15,554 | 28.3 yrs | £-4,570 |
| 4 kW | 3165 kWh | 2437 kWh | 728 kWh | £659 | £73 | £732 | £17,588 | 24.0 yrs | £-2,943 |
| 5 kW | 3956 kWh | 3046 kWh | 910 kWh | £824 | £91 | £915 | £19,623 | 21.4 yrs | £-1,316 |
| 6 kW | 4747 kWh | 3656 kWh | 1092 kWh | £989 | £109 | £1,098 | £21,657 | 19.7 yrs | £310 |
| 7 kW | 5539 kWh | 4265 kWh | 1274 kWh | £1,154 | £127 | £1,281 | £23,692 | 18.5 yrs | £1,937 |
| 8 kW | 6330 kWh | 4874 kWh | 1456 kWh | £1,319 | £146 | £1,465 | £25,726 | 17.6 yrs | £3,564 |
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.