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 945 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: £772, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1891 kWh | 756 kWh | 1134 kWh | £195 | £113 | £309 | £4,069 | 13.2 yrs | £2,108 |
| 3 kW | 2836 kWh | 1134 kWh | 1702 kWh | £293 | £170 | £463 | £6,104 | 13.2 yrs | £3,162 |
| 4 kW | 3781 kWh | 1512 kWh | 2269 kWh | £391 | £227 | £618 | £8,138 | 13.2 yrs | £4,216 |
| 5 kW | 4727 kWh | 1891 kWh | 2836 kWh | £489 | £284 | £772 | £10,173 | 13.2 yrs | £5,270 |
| 6 kW | 5672 kWh | 2269 kWh | 3403 kWh | £586 | £340 | £927 | £12,207 | 13.2 yrs | £6,324 |
| 7 kW | 6617 kWh | 2647 kWh | 3970 kWh | £684 | £397 | £1,081 | £14,242 | 13.2 yrs | £7,378 |
| 8 kW | 7562 kWh | 3025 kWh | 4537 kWh | £782 | £454 | £1,235 | £16,276 | 13.2 yrs | £8,432 |
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: £922, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1891 kWh | 1134 kWh | 756 kWh | £293 | £76 | £369 | £6,169 | 16.7 yrs | £1,206 |
| 3 kW | 2836 kWh | 1702 kWh | 1134 kWh | £440 | £113 | £553 | £8,204 | 14.8 yrs | £2,859 |
| 4 kW | 3781 kWh | 2269 kWh | 1512 kWh | £586 | £151 | £737 | £10,238 | 13.9 yrs | £4,512 |
| 5 kW | 4727 kWh | 2836 kWh | 1891 kWh | £733 | £189 | £922 | £12,273 | 13.3 yrs | £6,165 |
| 6 kW | 5672 kWh | 3403 kWh | 2269 kWh | £879 | £227 | £1,106 | £14,307 | 12.9 yrs | £7,818 |
| 7 kW | 6617 kWh | 3970 kWh | 2647 kWh | £1,026 | £265 | £1,291 | £16,342 | 12.7 yrs | £9,471 |
| 8 kW | 7562 kWh | 4537 kWh | 3025 kWh | £1,172 | £302 | £1,475 | £18,376 | 12.5 yrs | £11,124 |
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: £997, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1891 kWh | 1323 kWh | 567 kWh | £342 | £57 | £399 | £7,569 | 19.0 yrs | £405 |
| 3 kW | 2836 kWh | 1985 kWh | 851 kWh | £513 | £85 | £598 | £9,604 | 16.1 yrs | £2,357 |
| 4 kW | 3781 kWh | 2647 kWh | 1134 kWh | £684 | £113 | £797 | £11,638 | 14.6 yrs | £4,310 |
| 5 kW | 4727 kWh | 3309 kWh | 1418 kWh | £855 | £142 | £997 | £13,673 | 13.7 yrs | £6,262 |
| 6 kW | 5672 kWh | 3970 kWh | 1702 kWh | £1,026 | £170 | £1,196 | £15,707 | 13.1 yrs | £8,215 |
| 7 kW | 6617 kWh | 4632 kWh | 1985 kWh | £1,197 | £199 | £1,395 | £17,742 | 12.7 yrs | £10,167 |
| 8 kW | 7562 kWh | 5294 kWh | 2269 kWh | £1,368 | £227 | £1,595 | £19,776 | 12.4 yrs | £12,119 |
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: £1,019, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1891 kWh | 1380 kWh | 510 kWh | £357 | £51 | £408 | £9,319 | 22.9 yrs | £-1,165 |
| 3 kW | 2836 kWh | 2070 kWh | 766 kWh | £535 | £77 | £612 | £11,354 | 18.6 yrs | £877 |
| 4 kW | 3781 kWh | 2760 kWh | 1021 kWh | £713 | £102 | £815 | £13,388 | 16.4 yrs | £2,919 |
| 5 kW | 4727 kWh | 3450 kWh | 1276 kWh | £892 | £128 | £1,019 | £15,423 | 15.1 yrs | £4,961 |
| 6 kW | 5672 kWh | 4140 kWh | 1531 kWh | £1,070 | £153 | £1,223 | £17,457 | 14.3 yrs | £7,004 |
| 7 kW | 6617 kWh | 4831 kWh | 1787 kWh | £1,248 | £179 | £1,427 | £19,492 | 13.7 yrs | £9,046 |
| 8 kW | 7562 kWh | 5521 kWh | 2042 kWh | £1,427 | £204 | £1,631 | £21,526 | 13.2 yrs | £11,088 |
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: £1,034, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1891 kWh | 1418 kWh | 473 kWh | £366 | £47 | £414 | £11,069 | 26.8 yrs | £-2,796 |
| 3 kW | 2836 kWh | 2127 kWh | 709 kWh | £550 | £71 | £621 | £13,104 | 21.1 yrs | £-694 |
| 4 kW | 3781 kWh | 2836 kWh | 945 kWh | £733 | £95 | £827 | £15,138 | 18.3 yrs | £1,409 |
| 5 kW | 4727 kWh | 3545 kWh | 1182 kWh | £916 | £118 | £1,034 | £17,173 | 16.6 yrs | £3,511 |
| 6 kW | 5672 kWh | 4254 kWh | 1418 kWh | £1,099 | £142 | £1,241 | £19,207 | 15.5 yrs | £5,613 |
| 7 kW | 6617 kWh | 4963 kWh | 1654 kWh | £1,282 | £165 | £1,448 | £21,242 | 14.7 yrs | £7,715 |
| 8 kW | 7562 kWh | 5672 kWh | 1891 kWh | £1,466 | £189 | £1,655 | £23,276 | 14.1 yrs | £9,817 |
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: £1,049, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1891 kWh | 1456 kWh | 435 kWh | £376 | £43 | £420 | £13,519 | 32.2 yrs | £-5,126 |
| 3 kW | 2836 kWh | 2184 kWh | 652 kWh | £564 | £65 | £629 | £15,554 | 24.7 yrs | £-2,964 |
| 4 kW | 3781 kWh | 2912 kWh | 870 kWh | £752 | £87 | £839 | £17,588 | 21.0 yrs | £-802 |
| 5 kW | 4727 kWh | 3639 kWh | 1087 kWh | £940 | £109 | £1,049 | £19,623 | 18.7 yrs | £1,360 |
| 6 kW | 5672 kWh | 4367 kWh | 1305 kWh | £1,129 | £130 | £1,259 | £21,657 | 17.2 yrs | £3,522 |
| 7 kW | 6617 kWh | 5095 kWh | 1522 kWh | £1,317 | £152 | £1,469 | £23,692 | 16.1 yrs | £5,684 |
| 8 kW | 7562 kWh | 5823 kWh | 1739 kWh | £1,505 | £174 | £1,679 | £25,726 | 15.3 yrs | £7,846 |
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.