A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 944 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.7p 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: £806, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1887 kWh | 755 kWh | 1132 kWh | £209 | £113 | £323 | £4,069 | 12.6 yrs | £2,381 |
| 3 kW | 2831 kWh | 1132 kWh | 1699 kWh | £314 | £170 | £484 | £6,104 | 12.6 yrs | £3,572 |
| 4 kW | 3775 kWh | 1510 kWh | 2265 kWh | £419 | £226 | £645 | £8,138 | 12.6 yrs | £4,762 |
| 5 kW | 4718 kWh | 1887 kWh | 2831 kWh | £523 | £283 | £806 | £10,173 | 12.6 yrs | £5,953 |
| 6 kW | 5662 kWh | 2265 kWh | 3397 kWh | £628 | £340 | £968 | £12,207 | 12.6 yrs | £7,143 |
| 7 kW | 6606 kWh | 2642 kWh | 3963 kWh | £732 | £396 | £1,129 | £14,242 | 12.6 yrs | £8,334 |
| 8 kW | 7549 kWh | 3020 kWh | 4530 kWh | £837 | £453 | £1,290 | £16,276 | 12.6 yrs | £9,524 |
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: £973, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1887 kWh | 1132 kWh | 755 kWh | £314 | £75 | £389 | £6,169 | 15.8 yrs | £1,619 |
| 3 kW | 2831 kWh | 1699 kWh | 1132 kWh | £471 | £113 | £584 | £8,204 | 14.0 yrs | £3,478 |
| 4 kW | 3775 kWh | 2265 kWh | 1510 kWh | £628 | £151 | £779 | £10,238 | 13.1 yrs | £5,337 |
| 5 kW | 4718 kWh | 2831 kWh | 1887 kWh | £785 | £189 | £973 | £12,273 | 12.6 yrs | £7,197 |
| 6 kW | 5662 kWh | 3397 kWh | 2265 kWh | £942 | £226 | £1,168 | £14,307 | 12.2 yrs | £9,056 |
| 7 kW | 6606 kWh | 3963 kWh | 2642 kWh | £1,099 | £264 | £1,363 | £16,342 | 12.0 yrs | £10,916 |
| 8 kW | 7549 kWh | 4530 kWh | 3020 kWh | £1,256 | £302 | £1,558 | £18,376 | 11.8 yrs | £12,775 |
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: £1,057, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1887 kWh | 1321 kWh | 566 kWh | £366 | £57 | £423 | £7,569 | 17.9 yrs | £888 |
| 3 kW | 2831 kWh | 1982 kWh | 849 kWh | £549 | £85 | £634 | £9,604 | 15.1 yrs | £3,081 |
| 4 kW | 3775 kWh | 2642 kWh | 1132 kWh | £732 | £113 | £846 | £11,638 | 13.8 yrs | £5,275 |
| 5 kW | 4718 kWh | 3303 kWh | 1415 kWh | £916 | £142 | £1,057 | £13,673 | 12.9 yrs | £7,469 |
| 6 kW | 5662 kWh | 3963 kWh | 1699 kWh | £1,099 | £170 | £1,268 | £15,707 | 12.4 yrs | £9,663 |
| 7 kW | 6606 kWh | 4624 kWh | 1982 kWh | £1,282 | £198 | £1,480 | £17,742 | 12.0 yrs | £11,857 |
| 8 kW | 7549 kWh | 5284 kWh | 2265 kWh | £1,465 | £226 | £1,691 | £19,776 | 11.7 yrs | £14,050 |
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: £1,082, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1887 kWh | 1378 kWh | 510 kWh | £382 | £51 | £433 | £9,319 | 21.5 yrs | £-662 |
| 3 kW | 2831 kWh | 2067 kWh | 764 kWh | £573 | £76 | £649 | £11,354 | 17.5 yrs | £1,632 |
| 4 kW | 3775 kWh | 2755 kWh | 1019 kWh | £764 | £102 | £866 | £13,388 | 15.5 yrs | £3,927 |
| 5 kW | 4718 kWh | 3444 kWh | 1274 kWh | £955 | £127 | £1,082 | £15,423 | 14.3 yrs | £6,221 |
| 6 kW | 5662 kWh | 4133 kWh | 1529 kWh | £1,146 | £153 | £1,299 | £17,457 | 13.4 yrs | £8,515 |
| 7 kW | 6606 kWh | 4822 kWh | 1783 kWh | £1,337 | £178 | £1,515 | £19,492 | 12.9 yrs | £10,809 |
| 8 kW | 7549 kWh | 5511 kWh | 2038 kWh | £1,528 | £204 | £1,731 | £21,526 | 12.4 yrs | £13,103 |
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: £1,099, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1887 kWh | 1415 kWh | 472 kWh | £392 | £47 | £440 | £11,069 | 25.2 yrs | £-2,278 |
| 3 kW | 2831 kWh | 2123 kWh | 708 kWh | £589 | £71 | £659 | £13,104 | 19.9 yrs | £83 |
| 4 kW | 3775 kWh | 2831 kWh | 944 kWh | £785 | £94 | £879 | £15,138 | 17.2 yrs | £2,444 |
| 5 kW | 4718 kWh | 3539 kWh | 1180 kWh | £981 | £118 | £1,099 | £17,173 | 15.6 yrs | £4,805 |
| 6 kW | 5662 kWh | 4246 kWh | 1415 kWh | £1,177 | £142 | £1,319 | £19,207 | 14.6 yrs | £7,166 |
| 7 kW | 6606 kWh | 4954 kWh | 1651 kWh | £1,373 | £165 | £1,538 | £21,242 | 13.8 yrs | £9,527 |
| 8 kW | 7549 kWh | 5662 kWh | 1887 kWh | £1,569 | £189 | £1,758 | £23,276 | 13.2 yrs | £11,888 |
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: £1,116, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 1887 kWh | 1453 kWh | 434 kWh | £403 | £43 | £446 | £13,519 | 30.3 yrs | £-4,594 |
| 3 kW | 2831 kWh | 2180 kWh | 651 kWh | £604 | £65 | £669 | £15,554 | 23.2 yrs | £-2,166 |
| 4 kW | 3775 kWh | 2906 kWh | 868 kWh | £806 | £87 | £892 | £17,588 | 19.7 yrs | £262 |
| 5 kW | 4718 kWh | 3633 kWh | 1085 kWh | £1,007 | £109 | £1,116 | £19,623 | 17.6 yrs | £2,689 |
| 6 kW | 5662 kWh | 4360 kWh | 1302 kWh | £1,208 | £130 | £1,339 | £21,657 | 16.2 yrs | £5,117 |
| 7 kW | 6606 kWh | 5086 kWh | 1519 kWh | £1,410 | £152 | £1,562 | £23,692 | 15.2 yrs | £7,545 |
| 8 kW | 7549 kWh | 5813 kWh | 1736 kWh | £1,611 | £174 | £1,785 | £25,726 | 14.4 yrs | £9,973 |
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.