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 888 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 | 1776 kWh | 710 kWh | 1065 kWh | £184 | £107 | £290 | £4,069 | 14.0 yrs | £1,732 |
| 3 kW | 2663 kWh | 1065 kWh | 1598 kWh | £275 | £160 | £435 | £6,104 | 14.0 yrs | £2,599 |
| 4 kW | 3551 kWh | 1421 kWh | 2131 kWh | £367 | £213 | £580 | £8,138 | 14.0 yrs | £3,465 |
| 5 kW | 4439 kWh | 1776 kWh | 2663 kWh | £459 | £266 | £725 | £10,173 | 14.0 yrs | £4,331 |
| 6 kW | 5327 kWh | 2131 kWh | 3196 kWh | £551 | £320 | £870 | £12,207 | 14.0 yrs | £5,197 |
| 7 kW | 6215 kWh | 2486 kWh | 3729 kWh | £642 | £373 | £1,015 | £14,242 | 14.0 yrs | £6,063 |
| 8 kW | 7103 kWh | 2841 kWh | 4262 kWh | £734 | £426 | £1,160 | £16,276 | 14.0 yrs | £6,929 |
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: £866, 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 | 1776 kWh | 1065 kWh | 710 kWh | £275 | £71 | £346 | £6,169 | 17.8 yrs | £757 |
| 3 kW | 2663 kWh | 1598 kWh | 1065 kWh | £413 | £107 | £519 | £8,204 | 15.8 yrs | £2,186 |
| 4 kW | 3551 kWh | 2131 kWh | 1421 kWh | £551 | £142 | £693 | £10,238 | 14.8 yrs | £3,615 |
| 5 kW | 4439 kWh | 2663 kWh | 1776 kWh | £688 | £178 | £866 | £12,273 | 14.2 yrs | £5,043 |
| 6 kW | 5327 kWh | 3196 kWh | 2131 kWh | £826 | £213 | £1,039 | £14,307 | 13.8 yrs | £6,472 |
| 7 kW | 6215 kWh | 3729 kWh | 2486 kWh | £964 | £249 | £1,212 | £16,342 | 13.5 yrs | £7,901 |
| 8 kW | 7103 kWh | 4262 kWh | 2841 kWh | £1,101 | £284 | £1,385 | £18,376 | 13.3 yrs | £9,330 |
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 | 1776 kWh | 1243 kWh | 533 kWh | £321 | £53 | £374 | £7,569 | 20.2 yrs | £-80 |
| 3 kW | 2663 kWh | 1864 kWh | 799 kWh | £482 | £80 | £562 | £9,604 | 17.1 yrs | £1,630 |
| 4 kW | 3551 kWh | 2486 kWh | 1065 kWh | £642 | £107 | £749 | £11,638 | 15.5 yrs | £3,340 |
| 5 kW | 4439 kWh | 3107 kWh | 1332 kWh | £803 | £133 | £936 | £13,673 | 14.6 yrs | £5,050 |
| 6 kW | 5327 kWh | 3729 kWh | 1598 kWh | £964 | £160 | £1,123 | £15,707 | 14.0 yrs | £6,760 |
| 7 kW | 6215 kWh | 4350 kWh | 1864 kWh | £1,124 | £186 | £1,311 | £17,742 | 13.5 yrs | £8,470 |
| 8 kW | 7103 kWh | 4972 kWh | 2131 kWh | £1,285 | £213 | £1,498 | £19,776 | 13.2 yrs | £10,180 |
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 | 1776 kWh | 1296 kWh | 479 kWh | £335 | £48 | £383 | £9,319 | 24.3 yrs | £-1,661 |
| 3 kW | 2663 kWh | 1944 kWh | 719 kWh | £502 | £72 | £574 | £11,354 | 19.8 yrs | £133 |
| 4 kW | 3551 kWh | 2592 kWh | 959 kWh | £670 | £96 | £766 | £13,388 | 17.5 yrs | £1,927 |
| 5 kW | 4439 kWh | 3241 kWh | 1199 kWh | £837 | £120 | £957 | £15,423 | 16.1 yrs | £3,722 |
| 6 kW | 5327 kWh | 3889 kWh | 1438 kWh | £1,005 | £144 | £1,149 | £17,457 | 15.2 yrs | £5,516 |
| 7 kW | 6215 kWh | 4537 kWh | 1678 kWh | £1,172 | £168 | £1,340 | £19,492 | 14.5 yrs | £7,310 |
| 8 kW | 7103 kWh | 5185 kWh | 1918 kWh | £1,340 | £192 | £1,532 | £21,526 | 14.1 yrs | £9,105 |
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 | 1776 kWh | 1332 kWh | 444 kWh | £344 | £44 | £389 | £11,069 | 28.5 yrs | £-3,299 |
| 3 kW | 2663 kWh | 1998 kWh | 666 kWh | £516 | £67 | £583 | £13,104 | 22.5 yrs | £-1,448 |
| 4 kW | 3551 kWh | 2663 kWh | 888 kWh | £688 | £89 | £777 | £15,138 | 19.5 yrs | £402 |
| 5 kW | 4439 kWh | 3329 kWh | 1110 kWh | £860 | £111 | £971 | £17,173 | 17.7 yrs | £2,253 |
| 6 kW | 5327 kWh | 3995 kWh | 1332 kWh | £1,032 | £133 | £1,166 | £19,207 | 16.5 yrs | £4,104 |
| 7 kW | 6215 kWh | 4661 kWh | 1554 kWh | £1,204 | £155 | £1,360 | £21,242 | 15.6 yrs | £5,954 |
| 8 kW | 7103 kWh | 5327 kWh | 1776 kWh | £1,376 | £178 | £1,554 | £23,276 | 15.0 yrs | £7,805 |
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 | 1776 kWh | 1367 kWh | 408 kWh | £353 | £41 | £394 | £13,519 | 34.3 yrs | £-5,636 |
| 3 kW | 2663 kWh | 2051 kWh | 613 kWh | £530 | £61 | £591 | £15,554 | 26.3 yrs | £-3,729 |
| 4 kW | 3551 kWh | 2734 kWh | 817 kWh | £707 | £82 | £788 | £17,588 | 22.3 yrs | £-1,823 |
| 5 kW | 4439 kWh | 3418 kWh | 1021 kWh | £883 | £102 | £985 | £19,623 | 19.9 yrs | £84 |
| 6 kW | 5327 kWh | 4102 kWh | 1225 kWh | £1,060 | £123 | £1,182 | £21,657 | 18.3 yrs | £1,991 |
| 7 kW | 6215 kWh | 4785 kWh | 1429 kWh | £1,237 | £143 | £1,379 | £23,692 | 17.2 yrs | £3,898 |
| 8 kW | 7103 kWh | 5469 kWh | 1634 kWh | £1,413 | £163 | £1,577 | £25,726 | 16.3 yrs | £5,805 |
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.