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 896 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: £731, 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 | 1791 kWh | 716 kWh | 1075 kWh | £185 | £107 | £293 | £4,069 | 13.9 yrs | £1,783 |
| 3 kW | 2687 kWh | 1075 kWh | 1612 kWh | £278 | £161 | £439 | £6,104 | 13.9 yrs | £2,674 |
| 4 kW | 3582 kWh | 1433 kWh | 2149 kWh | £370 | £215 | £585 | £8,138 | 13.9 yrs | £3,566 |
| 5 kW | 4478 kWh | 1791 kWh | 2687 kWh | £463 | £269 | £731 | £10,173 | 13.9 yrs | £4,457 |
| 6 kW | 5373 kWh | 2149 kWh | 3224 kWh | £555 | £322 | £878 | £12,207 | 13.9 yrs | £5,349 |
| 7 kW | 6269 kWh | 2508 kWh | 3761 kWh | £648 | £376 | £1,024 | £14,242 | 13.9 yrs | £6,240 |
| 8 kW | 7164 kWh | 2866 kWh | 4299 kWh | £741 | £430 | £1,170 | £16,276 | 13.9 yrs | £7,132 |
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: £873, 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 | 1791 kWh | 1075 kWh | 716 kWh | £278 | £72 | £349 | £6,169 | 17.7 yrs | £818 |
| 3 kW | 2687 kWh | 1612 kWh | 1075 kWh | £417 | £107 | £524 | £8,204 | 15.7 yrs | £2,277 |
| 4 kW | 3582 kWh | 2149 kWh | 1433 kWh | £555 | £143 | £699 | £10,238 | 14.7 yrs | £3,736 |
| 5 kW | 4478 kWh | 2687 kWh | 1791 kWh | £694 | £179 | £873 | £12,273 | 14.1 yrs | £5,194 |
| 6 kW | 5373 kWh | 3224 kWh | 2149 kWh | £833 | £215 | £1,048 | £14,307 | 13.7 yrs | £6,653 |
| 7 kW | 6269 kWh | 3761 kWh | 2508 kWh | £972 | £251 | £1,223 | £16,342 | 13.4 yrs | £8,112 |
| 8 kW | 7164 kWh | 4299 kWh | 2866 kWh | £1,111 | £287 | £1,397 | £18,376 | 13.2 yrs | £9,571 |
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: £944, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1791 kWh | 1254 kWh | 537 kWh | £324 | £54 | £378 | £7,569 | 20.0 yrs | £-15 |
| 3 kW | 2687 kWh | 1881 kWh | 806 kWh | £486 | £81 | £567 | £9,604 | 17.0 yrs | £1,728 |
| 4 kW | 3582 kWh | 2508 kWh | 1075 kWh | £648 | £107 | £755 | £11,638 | 15.4 yrs | £3,470 |
| 5 kW | 4478 kWh | 3134 kWh | 1343 kWh | £810 | £134 | £944 | £13,673 | 14.5 yrs | £5,213 |
| 6 kW | 5373 kWh | 3761 kWh | 1612 kWh | £972 | £161 | £1,133 | £15,707 | 13.9 yrs | £6,956 |
| 7 kW | 6269 kWh | 4388 kWh | 1881 kWh | £1,134 | £188 | £1,322 | £17,742 | 13.4 yrs | £8,698 |
| 8 kW | 7164 kWh | 5015 kWh | 2149 kWh | £1,296 | £215 | £1,511 | £19,776 | 13.1 yrs | £10,441 |
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: £966, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1791 kWh | 1308 kWh | 484 kWh | £338 | £48 | £386 | £9,319 | 24.1 yrs | £-1,595 |
| 3 kW | 2687 kWh | 1961 kWh | 725 kWh | £507 | £73 | £579 | £11,354 | 19.6 yrs | £233 |
| 4 kW | 3582 kWh | 2615 kWh | 967 kWh | £676 | £97 | £772 | £13,388 | 17.3 yrs | £2,061 |
| 5 kW | 4478 kWh | 3269 kWh | 1209 kWh | £845 | £121 | £966 | £15,423 | 16.0 yrs | £3,889 |
| 6 kW | 5373 kWh | 3923 kWh | 1451 kWh | £1,014 | £145 | £1,159 | £17,457 | 15.1 yrs | £5,716 |
| 7 kW | 6269 kWh | 4576 kWh | 1693 kWh | £1,183 | £169 | £1,352 | £19,492 | 14.4 yrs | £7,544 |
| 8 kW | 7164 kWh | 5230 kWh | 1934 kWh | £1,351 | £193 | £1,545 | £21,526 | 13.9 yrs | £9,372 |
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: £980, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1791 kWh | 1343 kWh | 448 kWh | £347 | £45 | £392 | £11,069 | 28.2 yrs | £-3,231 |
| 3 kW | 2687 kWh | 2015 kWh | 672 kWh | £521 | £67 | £588 | £13,104 | 22.3 yrs | £-1,347 |
| 4 kW | 3582 kWh | 2687 kWh | 896 kWh | £694 | £90 | £784 | £15,138 | 19.3 yrs | £538 |
| 5 kW | 4478 kWh | 3358 kWh | 1119 kWh | £868 | £112 | £980 | £17,173 | 17.5 yrs | £2,422 |
| 6 kW | 5373 kWh | 4030 kWh | 1343 kWh | £1,041 | £134 | £1,176 | £19,207 | 16.3 yrs | £4,307 |
| 7 kW | 6269 kWh | 4702 kWh | 1567 kWh | £1,215 | £157 | £1,372 | £21,242 | 15.5 yrs | £6,191 |
| 8 kW | 7164 kWh | 5373 kWh | 1791 kWh | £1,388 | £179 | £1,568 | £23,276 | 14.8 yrs | £8,076 |
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: £994, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1791 kWh | 1379 kWh | 412 kWh | £356 | £41 | £398 | £13,519 | 34.0 yrs | £-5,568 |
| 3 kW | 2687 kWh | 2069 kWh | 618 kWh | £535 | £62 | £596 | £15,554 | 26.1 yrs | £-3,626 |
| 4 kW | 3582 kWh | 2758 kWh | 824 kWh | £713 | £82 | £795 | £17,588 | 22.1 yrs | £-1,685 |
| 5 kW | 4478 kWh | 3448 kWh | 1030 kWh | £891 | £103 | £994 | £19,623 | 19.7 yrs | £256 |
| 6 kW | 5373 kWh | 4137 kWh | 1236 kWh | £1,069 | £124 | £1,193 | £21,657 | 18.2 yrs | £2,197 |
| 7 kW | 6269 kWh | 4827 kWh | 1442 kWh | £1,247 | £144 | £1,391 | £23,692 | 17.0 yrs | £4,138 |
| 8 kW | 7164 kWh | 5517 kWh | 1648 kWh | £1,426 | £165 | £1,590 | £25,726 | 16.2 yrs | £6,080 |
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.