A typical roof here lands around 4.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 905 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p 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: £730, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 724 kWh | 1086 kWh | £183 | £109 | £292 | £4,069 | 13.9 yrs | £1,773 |
| 3 kW | 2716 kWh | 1086 kWh | 1630 kWh | £275 | £163 | £438 | £6,104 | 13.9 yrs | £2,660 |
| 4 kW | 3621 kWh | 1449 kWh | 2173 kWh | £367 | £217 | £584 | £8,138 | 13.9 yrs | £3,546 |
| 5 kW | 4527 kWh | 1811 kWh | 2716 kWh | £459 | £272 | £730 | £10,173 | 13.9 yrs | £4,433 |
| 6 kW | 5432 kWh | 2173 kWh | 3259 kWh | £550 | £326 | £876 | £12,207 | 13.9 yrs | £5,319 |
| 7 kW | 6338 kWh | 2535 kWh | 3803 kWh | £642 | £380 | £1,022 | £14,242 | 13.9 yrs | £6,206 |
| 8 kW | 7243 kWh | 2897 kWh | 4346 kWh | £734 | £435 | £1,168 | £16,276 | 13.9 yrs | £7,093 |
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: £869, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1811 kWh | 1086 kWh | 724 kWh | £275 | £72 | £348 | £6,169 | 17.7 yrs | £783 |
| 3 kW | 2716 kWh | 1630 kWh | 1086 kWh | £413 | £109 | £521 | £8,204 | 15.7 yrs | £2,225 |
| 4 kW | 3621 kWh | 2173 kWh | 1449 kWh | £550 | £145 | £695 | £10,238 | 14.7 yrs | £3,667 |
| 5 kW | 4527 kWh | 2716 kWh | 1811 kWh | £688 | £181 | £869 | £12,273 | 14.1 yrs | £5,109 |
| 6 kW | 5432 kWh | 3259 kWh | 2173 kWh | £826 | £217 | £1,043 | £14,307 | 13.7 yrs | £6,550 |
| 7 kW | 6338 kWh | 3803 kWh | 2535 kWh | £963 | £254 | £1,217 | £16,342 | 13.4 yrs | £7,992 |
| 8 kW | 7243 kWh | 4346 kWh | 2897 kWh | £1,101 | £290 | £1,391 | £18,376 | 13.2 yrs | £9,434 |
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: £938, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1268 kWh | 543 kWh | £321 | £54 | £375 | £7,569 | 20.2 yrs | £-61 |
| 3 kW | 2716 kWh | 1901 kWh | 815 kWh | £482 | £81 | £563 | £9,604 | 17.1 yrs | £1,658 |
| 4 kW | 3621 kWh | 2535 kWh | 1086 kWh | £642 | £109 | £751 | £11,638 | 15.5 yrs | £3,377 |
| 5 kW | 4527 kWh | 3169 kWh | 1358 kWh | £803 | £136 | £938 | £13,673 | 14.6 yrs | £5,097 |
| 6 kW | 5432 kWh | 3803 kWh | 1630 kWh | £963 | £163 | £1,126 | £15,707 | 13.9 yrs | £6,816 |
| 7 kW | 6338 kWh | 4436 kWh | 1901 kWh | £1,124 | £190 | £1,314 | £17,742 | 13.5 yrs | £8,535 |
| 8 kW | 7243 kWh | 5070 kWh | 2173 kWh | £1,284 | £217 | £1,502 | £19,776 | 13.2 yrs | £10,255 |
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: £959, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1322 kWh | 489 kWh | £335 | £49 | £384 | £9,319 | 24.3 yrs | £-1,645 |
| 3 kW | 2716 kWh | 1983 kWh | 733 kWh | £502 | £73 | £576 | £11,354 | 19.7 yrs | £158 |
| 4 kW | 3621 kWh | 2644 kWh | 978 kWh | £670 | £98 | £767 | £13,388 | 17.4 yrs | £1,960 |
| 5 kW | 4527 kWh | 3305 kWh | 1222 kWh | £837 | £122 | £959 | £15,423 | 16.1 yrs | £3,763 |
| 6 kW | 5432 kWh | 3966 kWh | 1467 kWh | £1,004 | £147 | £1,151 | £17,457 | 15.2 yrs | £5,566 |
| 7 kW | 6338 kWh | 4626 kWh | 1711 kWh | £1,172 | £171 | £1,343 | £19,492 | 14.5 yrs | £7,368 |
| 8 kW | 7243 kWh | 5287 kWh | 1956 kWh | £1,339 | £196 | £1,535 | £21,526 | 14.0 yrs | £9,171 |
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: £973, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1358 kWh | 453 kWh | £344 | £45 | £389 | £11,069 | 28.4 yrs | £-3,284 |
| 3 kW | 2716 kWh | 2037 kWh | 679 kWh | £516 | £68 | £584 | £13,104 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,426 |
| 4 kW | 3621 kWh | 2716 kWh | 905 kWh | £688 | £91 | £779 | £15,138 | 19.4 yrs | £433 |
| 5 kW | 4527 kWh | 3395 kWh | 1132 kWh | £860 | £113 | £973 | £17,173 | 17.6 yrs | £2,291 |
| 6 kW | 5432 kWh | 4074 kWh | 1358 kWh | £1,032 | £136 | £1,168 | £19,207 | 16.4 yrs | £4,149 |
| 7 kW | 6338 kWh | 4753 kWh | 1584 kWh | £1,204 | £158 | £1,362 | £21,242 | 15.6 yrs | £6,007 |
| 8 kW | 7243 kWh | 5432 kWh | 1811 kWh | £1,376 | £181 | £1,557 | £23,276 | 14.9 yrs | £7,865 |
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: £987, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1394 kWh | 416 kWh | £353 | £42 | £395 | £13,519 | 34.2 yrs | £-5,623 |
| 3 kW | 2716 kWh | 2091 kWh | 625 kWh | £530 | £62 | £592 | £15,554 | 26.3 yrs | £-3,709 |
| 4 kW | 3621 kWh | 2789 kWh | 833 kWh | £706 | £83 | £790 | £17,588 | 22.3 yrs | £-1,795 |
| 5 kW | 4527 kWh | 3486 kWh | 1041 kWh | £883 | £104 | £987 | £19,623 | 19.9 yrs | £118 |
| 6 kW | 5432 kWh | 4183 kWh | 1249 kWh | £1,060 | £125 | £1,184 | £21,657 | 18.3 yrs | £2,032 |
| 7 kW | 6338 kWh | 4880 kWh | 1458 kWh | £1,236 | £146 | £1,382 | £23,692 | 17.1 yrs | £3,946 |
| 8 kW | 7243 kWh | 5577 kWh | 1666 kWh | £1,413 | £167 | £1,579 | £25,726 | 16.3 yrs | £5,859 |
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.