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 832 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: £700, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1665 kWh | 666 kWh | 999 kWh | £180 | £100 | £280 | £4,069 | 14.5 yrs | £1,533 |
| 3 kW | 2497 kWh | 999 kWh | 1498 kWh | £270 | £150 | £420 | £6,104 | 14.5 yrs | £2,299 |
| 4 kW | 3330 kWh | 1332 kWh | 1998 kWh | £360 | £200 | £560 | £8,138 | 14.5 yrs | £3,066 |
| 5 kW | 4162 kWh | 1665 kWh | 2497 kWh | £451 | £250 | £700 | £10,173 | 14.5 yrs | £3,832 |
| 6 kW | 4995 kWh | 1998 kWh | 2997 kWh | £541 | £300 | £840 | £12,207 | 14.5 yrs | £4,599 |
| 7 kW | 5827 kWh | 2331 kWh | 3496 kWh | £631 | £350 | £980 | £14,242 | 14.5 yrs | £5,365 |
| 8 kW | 6660 kWh | 2664 kWh | 3996 kWh | £721 | £400 | £1,120 | £16,276 | 14.5 yrs | £6,132 |
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: £842, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1665 kWh | 999 kWh | 666 kWh | £270 | £67 | £337 | £6,169 | 18.3 yrs | £569 |
| 3 kW | 2497 kWh | 1498 kWh | 999 kWh | £405 | £100 | £505 | £8,204 | 16.2 yrs | £1,904 |
| 4 kW | 3330 kWh | 1998 kWh | 1332 kWh | £541 | £133 | £674 | £10,238 | 15.2 yrs | £3,238 |
| 5 kW | 4162 kWh | 2497 kWh | 1665 kWh | £676 | £166 | £842 | £12,273 | 14.6 yrs | £4,573 |
| 6 kW | 4995 kWh | 2997 kWh | 1998 kWh | £811 | £200 | £1,011 | £14,307 | 14.2 yrs | £5,907 |
| 7 kW | 5827 kWh | 3496 kWh | 2331 kWh | £946 | £233 | £1,179 | £16,342 | 13.9 yrs | £7,242 |
| 8 kW | 6660 kWh | 3996 kWh | 2664 kWh | £1,081 | £266 | £1,348 | £18,376 | 13.6 yrs | £8,576 |
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: £913, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1665 kWh | 1165 kWh | 499 kWh | £315 | £50 | £365 | £7,569 | 20.7 yrs | £-263 |
| 3 kW | 2497 kWh | 1748 kWh | 749 kWh | £473 | £75 | £548 | £9,604 | 17.5 yrs | £1,356 |
| 4 kW | 3330 kWh | 2331 kWh | 999 kWh | £631 | £100 | £731 | £11,638 | 15.9 yrs | £2,974 |
| 5 kW | 4162 kWh | 2914 kWh | 1249 kWh | £788 | £125 | £913 | £13,673 | 15.0 yrs | £4,593 |
| 6 kW | 4995 kWh | 3496 kWh | 1498 kWh | £946 | £150 | £1,096 | £15,707 | 14.3 yrs | £6,211 |
| 7 kW | 5827 kWh | 4079 kWh | 1748 kWh | £1,104 | £175 | £1,279 | £17,742 | 13.9 yrs | £7,830 |
| 8 kW | 6660 kWh | 4662 kWh | 1998 kWh | £1,261 | £200 | £1,461 | £19,776 | 13.5 yrs | £9,449 |
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: £935, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1665 kWh | 1215 kWh | 450 kWh | £329 | £45 | £374 | £9,319 | 24.9 yrs | £-1,842 |
| 3 kW | 2497 kWh | 1823 kWh | 674 kWh | £493 | £67 | £561 | £11,354 | 20.2 yrs | £-139 |
| 4 kW | 3330 kWh | 2431 kWh | 899 kWh | £658 | £90 | £748 | £13,388 | 17.9 yrs | £1,565 |
| 5 kW | 4162 kWh | 3038 kWh | 1124 kWh | £822 | £112 | £935 | £15,423 | 16.5 yrs | £3,269 |
| 6 kW | 4995 kWh | 3646 kWh | 1349 kWh | £987 | £135 | £1,121 | £17,457 | 15.6 yrs | £4,973 |
| 7 kW | 5827 kWh | 4254 kWh | 1573 kWh | £1,151 | £157 | £1,308 | £19,492 | 14.9 yrs | £6,676 |
| 8 kW | 6660 kWh | 4861 kWh | 1798 kWh | £1,316 | £180 | £1,495 | £21,526 | 14.4 yrs | £8,380 |
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: £949, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1665 kWh | 1249 kWh | 416 kWh | £338 | £42 | £380 | £11,069 | 29.2 yrs | £-3,479 |
| 3 kW | 2497 kWh | 1873 kWh | 624 kWh | £507 | £62 | £569 | £13,104 | 23.0 yrs | £-1,718 |
| 4 kW | 3330 kWh | 2497 kWh | 832 kWh | £676 | £83 | £759 | £15,138 | 19.9 yrs | £42 |
| 5 kW | 4162 kWh | 3122 kWh | 1041 kWh | £845 | £104 | £949 | £17,173 | 18.1 yrs | £1,803 |
| 6 kW | 4995 kWh | 3746 kWh | 1249 kWh | £1,014 | £125 | £1,139 | £19,207 | 16.9 yrs | £3,564 |
| 7 kW | 5827 kWh | 4370 kWh | 1457 kWh | £1,183 | £146 | £1,328 | £21,242 | 16.0 yrs | £5,324 |
| 8 kW | 6660 kWh | 4995 kWh | 1665 kWh | £1,352 | £166 | £1,518 | £23,276 | 15.3 yrs | £7,085 |
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: £963, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1665 kWh | 1282 kWh | 383 kWh | £347 | £38 | £385 | £13,519 | 35.1 yrs | £-5,815 |
| 3 kW | 2497 kWh | 1923 kWh | 574 kWh | £520 | £57 | £578 | £15,554 | 26.9 yrs | £-3,998 |
| 4 kW | 3330 kWh | 2564 kWh | 766 kWh | £694 | £77 | £770 | £17,588 | 22.8 yrs | £-2,180 |
| 5 kW | 4162 kWh | 3205 kWh | 957 kWh | £867 | £96 | £963 | £19,623 | 20.4 yrs | £-363 |
| 6 kW | 4995 kWh | 3846 kWh | 1149 kWh | £1,041 | £115 | £1,156 | £21,657 | 18.7 yrs | £1,454 |
| 7 kW | 5827 kWh | 4487 kWh | 1340 kWh | £1,214 | £134 | £1,348 | £23,692 | 17.6 yrs | £3,272 |
| 8 kW | 6660 kWh | 5128 kWh | 1532 kWh | £1,388 | £153 | £1,541 | £25,726 | 16.7 yrs | £5,089 |
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.