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 890 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.8p 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: £727, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1780 kWh | 712 kWh | 1068 kWh | £184 | £107 | £291 | £4,069 | 14.0 yrs | £1,746 |
| 3 kW | 2670 kWh | 1068 kWh | 1602 kWh | £276 | £160 | £436 | £6,104 | 14.0 yrs | £2,620 |
| 4 kW | 3560 kWh | 1424 kWh | 2136 kWh | £368 | £214 | £582 | £8,138 | 14.0 yrs | £3,493 |
| 5 kW | 4450 kWh | 1780 kWh | 2670 kWh | £460 | £267 | £727 | £10,173 | 14.0 yrs | £4,366 |
| 6 kW | 5340 kWh | 2136 kWh | 3204 kWh | £552 | £320 | £872 | £12,207 | 14.0 yrs | £5,239 |
| 7 kW | 6230 kWh | 2492 kWh | 3738 kWh | £644 | £374 | £1,018 | £14,242 | 14.0 yrs | £6,112 |
| 8 kW | 7120 kWh | 2848 kWh | 4272 kWh | £736 | £427 | £1,163 | £16,276 | 14.0 yrs | £6,985 |
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: £868, 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 | 1780 kWh | 1068 kWh | 712 kWh | £276 | £71 | £347 | £6,169 | 17.8 yrs | £774 |
| 3 kW | 2670 kWh | 1602 kWh | 1068 kWh | £414 | £107 | £521 | £8,204 | 15.8 yrs | £2,211 |
| 4 kW | 3560 kWh | 2136 kWh | 1424 kWh | £552 | £142 | £694 | £10,238 | 14.7 yrs | £3,648 |
| 5 kW | 4450 kWh | 2670 kWh | 1780 kWh | £690 | £178 | £868 | £12,273 | 14.1 yrs | £5,085 |
| 6 kW | 5340 kWh | 3204 kWh | 2136 kWh | £828 | £214 | £1,041 | £14,307 | 13.7 yrs | £6,522 |
| 7 kW | 6230 kWh | 3738 kWh | 2492 kWh | £966 | £249 | £1,215 | £16,342 | 13.4 yrs | £7,959 |
| 8 kW | 7120 kWh | 4272 kWh | 2848 kWh | £1,104 | £285 | £1,389 | £18,376 | 13.2 yrs | £9,396 |
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 | 1780 kWh | 1246 kWh | 534 kWh | £322 | £53 | £375 | £7,569 | 20.2 yrs | £-62 |
| 3 kW | 2670 kWh | 1869 kWh | 801 kWh | £483 | £80 | £563 | £9,604 | 17.1 yrs | £1,657 |
| 4 kW | 3560 kWh | 2492 kWh | 1068 kWh | £644 | £107 | £751 | £11,638 | 15.5 yrs | £3,376 |
| 5 kW | 4450 kWh | 3115 kWh | 1335 kWh | £805 | £133 | £938 | £13,673 | 14.6 yrs | £5,095 |
| 6 kW | 5340 kWh | 3738 kWh | 1602 kWh | £966 | £160 | £1,126 | £15,707 | 13.9 yrs | £6,814 |
| 7 kW | 6230 kWh | 4361 kWh | 1869 kWh | £1,127 | £187 | £1,314 | £17,742 | 13.5 yrs | £8,533 |
| 8 kW | 7120 kWh | 4984 kWh | 2136 kWh | £1,288 | £214 | £1,501 | £19,776 | 13.2 yrs | £10,252 |
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: £960, 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 | 1780 kWh | 1299 kWh | 481 kWh | £336 | £48 | £384 | £9,319 | 24.3 yrs | £-1,643 |
| 3 kW | 2670 kWh | 1949 kWh | 721 kWh | £504 | £72 | £576 | £11,354 | 19.7 yrs | £161 |
| 4 kW | 3560 kWh | 2599 kWh | 961 kWh | £671 | £96 | £768 | £13,388 | 17.4 yrs | £1,964 |
| 5 kW | 4450 kWh | 3248 kWh | 1201 kWh | £839 | £120 | £960 | £15,423 | 16.1 yrs | £3,768 |
| 6 kW | 5340 kWh | 3898 kWh | 1442 kWh | £1,007 | £144 | £1,151 | £17,457 | 15.2 yrs | £5,571 |
| 7 kW | 6230 kWh | 4548 kWh | 1682 kWh | £1,175 | £168 | £1,343 | £19,492 | 14.5 yrs | £7,375 |
| 8 kW | 7120 kWh | 5197 kWh | 1922 kWh | £1,343 | £192 | £1,535 | £21,526 | 14.0 yrs | £9,179 |
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: £974, 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 | 1780 kWh | 1335 kWh | 445 kWh | £345 | £44 | £389 | £11,069 | 28.4 yrs | £-3,280 |
| 3 kW | 2670 kWh | 2002 kWh | 667 kWh | £517 | £67 | £584 | £13,104 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,420 |
| 4 kW | 3560 kWh | 2670 kWh | 890 kWh | £690 | £89 | £779 | £15,138 | 19.4 yrs | £440 |
| 5 kW | 4450 kWh | 3337 kWh | 1112 kWh | £862 | £111 | £974 | £17,173 | 17.6 yrs | £2,300 |
| 6 kW | 5340 kWh | 4005 kWh | 1335 kWh | £1,035 | £133 | £1,168 | £19,207 | 16.4 yrs | £4,160 |
| 7 kW | 6230 kWh | 4672 kWh | 1557 kWh | £1,207 | £156 | £1,363 | £21,242 | 15.6 yrs | £6,020 |
| 8 kW | 7120 kWh | 5340 kWh | 1780 kWh | £1,380 | £178 | £1,558 | £23,276 | 14.9 yrs | £7,880 |
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: £988, 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 | 1780 kWh | 1371 kWh | 409 kWh | £354 | £41 | £395 | £13,519 | 34.2 yrs | £-5,617 |
| 3 kW | 2670 kWh | 2056 kWh | 614 kWh | £531 | £61 | £593 | £15,554 | 26.2 yrs | £-3,701 |
| 4 kW | 3560 kWh | 2741 kWh | 819 kWh | £708 | £82 | £790 | £17,588 | 22.3 yrs | £-1,785 |
| 5 kW | 4450 kWh | 3426 kWh | 1023 kWh | £885 | £102 | £988 | £19,623 | 19.9 yrs | £132 |
| 6 kW | 5340 kWh | 4112 kWh | 1228 kWh | £1,062 | £123 | £1,185 | £21,657 | 18.3 yrs | £2,048 |
| 7 kW | 6230 kWh | 4797 kWh | 1433 kWh | £1,240 | £143 | £1,383 | £23,692 | 17.1 yrs | £3,964 |
| 8 kW | 7120 kWh | 5482 kWh | 1638 kWh | £1,417 | £164 | £1,580 | £25,726 | 16.3 yrs | £5,881 |
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.