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 887 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: £725, 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 | 1775 kWh | 710 kWh | 1065 kWh | £183 | £106 | £290 | £4,069 | 14.0 yrs | £1,729 |
| 3 kW | 2662 kWh | 1065 kWh | 1597 kWh | £275 | £160 | £435 | £6,104 | 14.0 yrs | £2,594 |
| 4 kW | 3549 kWh | 1420 kWh | 2130 kWh | £367 | £213 | £580 | £8,138 | 14.0 yrs | £3,458 |
| 5 kW | 4437 kWh | 1775 kWh | 2662 kWh | £459 | £266 | £725 | £10,173 | 14.0 yrs | £4,323 |
| 6 kW | 5324 kWh | 2130 kWh | 3194 kWh | £550 | £319 | £870 | £12,207 | 14.0 yrs | £5,187 |
| 7 kW | 6211 kWh | 2484 kWh | 3727 kWh | £642 | £373 | £1,015 | £14,242 | 14.0 yrs | £6,052 |
| 8 kW | 7099 kWh | 2839 kWh | 4259 kWh | £734 | £426 | £1,160 | £16,276 | 14.0 yrs | £6,916 |
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: £865, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1775 kWh | 1065 kWh | 710 kWh | £275 | £71 | £346 | £6,169 | 17.8 yrs | £753 |
| 3 kW | 2662 kWh | 1597 kWh | 1065 kWh | £413 | £106 | £519 | £8,204 | 15.8 yrs | £2,180 |
| 4 kW | 3549 kWh | 2130 kWh | 1420 kWh | £550 | £142 | £692 | £10,238 | 14.8 yrs | £3,607 |
| 5 kW | 4437 kWh | 2662 kWh | 1775 kWh | £688 | £177 | £865 | £12,273 | 14.2 yrs | £5,034 |
| 6 kW | 5324 kWh | 3194 kWh | 2130 kWh | £825 | £213 | £1,038 | £14,307 | 13.8 yrs | £6,460 |
| 7 kW | 6211 kWh | 3727 kWh | 2484 kWh | £963 | £248 | £1,211 | £16,342 | 13.5 yrs | £7,887 |
| 8 kW | 7099 kWh | 4259 kWh | 2839 kWh | £1,101 | £284 | £1,385 | £18,376 | 13.3 yrs | £9,314 |
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: £936, 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 | 1775 kWh | 1242 kWh | 532 kWh | £321 | £53 | £374 | £7,569 | 20.2 yrs | £-84 |
| 3 kW | 2662 kWh | 1863 kWh | 799 kWh | £481 | £80 | £561 | £9,604 | 17.1 yrs | £1,624 |
| 4 kW | 3549 kWh | 2484 kWh | 1065 kWh | £642 | £106 | £748 | £11,638 | 15.5 yrs | £3,331 |
| 5 kW | 4437 kWh | 3106 kWh | 1331 kWh | £802 | £133 | £936 | £13,673 | 14.6 yrs | £5,039 |
| 6 kW | 5324 kWh | 3727 kWh | 1597 kWh | £963 | £160 | £1,123 | £15,707 | 14.0 yrs | £6,747 |
| 7 kW | 6211 kWh | 4348 kWh | 1863 kWh | £1,123 | £186 | £1,310 | £17,742 | 13.5 yrs | £8,455 |
| 8 kW | 7099 kWh | 4969 kWh | 2130 kWh | £1,284 | £213 | £1,497 | £19,776 | 13.2 yrs | £10,163 |
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: £957, 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 | 1775 kWh | 1295 kWh | 479 kWh | £335 | £48 | £383 | £9,319 | 24.4 yrs | £-1,666 |
| 3 kW | 2662 kWh | 1943 kWh | 719 kWh | £502 | £72 | £574 | £11,354 | 19.8 yrs | £127 |
| 4 kW | 3549 kWh | 2591 kWh | 958 kWh | £670 | £96 | £765 | £13,388 | 17.5 yrs | £1,919 |
| 5 kW | 4437 kWh | 3239 kWh | 1198 kWh | £837 | £120 | £957 | £15,423 | 16.1 yrs | £3,711 |
| 6 kW | 5324 kWh | 3886 kWh | 1437 kWh | £1,004 | £144 | £1,148 | £17,457 | 15.2 yrs | £5,503 |
| 7 kW | 6211 kWh | 4534 kWh | 1677 kWh | £1,172 | £168 | £1,339 | £19,492 | 14.6 yrs | £7,295 |
| 8 kW | 7099 kWh | 5182 kWh | 1917 kWh | £1,339 | £192 | £1,531 | £21,526 | 14.1 yrs | £9,087 |
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: £971, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1775 kWh | 1331 kWh | 444 kWh | £344 | £44 | £388 | £11,069 | 28.5 yrs | £-3,303 |
| 3 kW | 2662 kWh | 1996 kWh | 665 kWh | £516 | £67 | £582 | £13,104 | 22.5 yrs | £-1,455 |
| 4 kW | 3549 kWh | 2662 kWh | 887 kWh | £688 | £89 | £777 | £15,138 | 19.5 yrs | £394 |
| 5 kW | 4437 kWh | 3327 kWh | 1109 kWh | £860 | £111 | £971 | £17,173 | 17.7 yrs | £2,242 |
| 6 kW | 5324 kWh | 3993 kWh | 1331 kWh | £1,032 | £133 | £1,165 | £19,207 | 16.5 yrs | £4,090 |
| 7 kW | 6211 kWh | 4658 kWh | 1553 kWh | £1,204 | £155 | £1,359 | £21,242 | 15.6 yrs | £5,939 |
| 8 kW | 7099 kWh | 5324 kWh | 1775 kWh | £1,376 | £177 | £1,553 | £23,276 | 15.0 yrs | £7,787 |
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: £985, 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 | 1775 kWh | 1366 kWh | 408 kWh | £353 | £41 | £394 | £13,519 | 34.3 yrs | £-5,641 |
| 3 kW | 2662 kWh | 2050 kWh | 612 kWh | £530 | £61 | £591 | £15,554 | 26.3 yrs | £-3,736 |
| 4 kW | 3549 kWh | 2733 kWh | 816 kWh | £706 | £82 | £788 | £17,588 | 22.3 yrs | £-1,832 |
| 5 kW | 4437 kWh | 3416 kWh | 1020 kWh | £883 | £102 | £985 | £19,623 | 19.9 yrs | £73 |
| 6 kW | 5324 kWh | 4099 kWh | 1225 kWh | £1,059 | £122 | £1,182 | £21,657 | 18.3 yrs | £1,978 |
| 7 kW | 6211 kWh | 4783 kWh | 1429 kWh | £1,236 | £143 | £1,379 | £23,692 | 17.2 yrs | £3,882 |
| 8 kW | 7099 kWh | 5466 kWh | 1633 kWh | £1,412 | £163 | £1,576 | £25,726 | 16.3 yrs | £5,787 |
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.