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 936 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: £800, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1873 kWh | 749 kWh | 1124 kWh | £208 | £112 | £320 | £4,069 | 12.7 yrs | £2,331 |
| 3 kW | 2809 kWh | 1124 kWh | 1685 kWh | £311 | £169 | £480 | £6,104 | 12.7 yrs | £3,497 |
| 4 kW | 3745 kWh | 1498 kWh | 2247 kWh | £415 | £225 | £640 | £8,138 | 12.7 yrs | £4,662 |
| 5 kW | 4682 kWh | 1873 kWh | 2809 kWh | £519 | £281 | £800 | £10,173 | 12.7 yrs | £5,828 |
| 6 kW | 5618 kWh | 2247 kWh | 3371 kWh | £623 | £337 | £960 | £12,207 | 12.7 yrs | £6,993 |
| 7 kW | 6554 kWh | 2622 kWh | 3933 kWh | £727 | £393 | £1,120 | £14,242 | 12.7 yrs | £8,159 |
| 8 kW | 7491 kWh | 2996 kWh | 4494 kWh | £831 | £449 | £1,280 | £16,276 | 12.7 yrs | £9,324 |
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: £966, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1873 kWh | 1124 kWh | 749 kWh | £311 | £75 | £386 | £6,169 | 16.0 yrs | £1,558 |
| 3 kW | 2809 kWh | 1685 kWh | 1124 kWh | £467 | £112 | £580 | £8,204 | 14.2 yrs | £3,388 |
| 4 kW | 3745 kWh | 2247 kWh | 1498 kWh | £623 | £150 | £773 | £10,238 | 13.2 yrs | £5,217 |
| 5 kW | 4682 kWh | 2809 kWh | 1873 kWh | £779 | £187 | £966 | £12,273 | 12.7 yrs | £7,046 |
| 6 kW | 5618 kWh | 3371 kWh | 2247 kWh | £934 | £225 | £1,159 | £14,307 | 12.3 yrs | £8,875 |
| 7 kW | 6554 kWh | 3933 kWh | 2622 kWh | £1,090 | £262 | £1,352 | £16,342 | 12.1 yrs | £10,705 |
| 8 kW | 7491 kWh | 4494 kWh | 2996 kWh | £1,246 | £300 | £1,546 | £18,376 | 11.9 yrs | £12,534 |
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: £1,049, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1873 kWh | 1311 kWh | 562 kWh | £363 | £56 | £420 | £7,569 | 18.0 yrs | £822 |
| 3 kW | 2809 kWh | 1966 kWh | 843 kWh | £545 | £84 | £629 | £9,604 | 15.3 yrs | £2,983 |
| 4 kW | 3745 kWh | 2622 kWh | 1124 kWh | £727 | £112 | £839 | £11,638 | 13.9 yrs | £5,144 |
| 5 kW | 4682 kWh | 3277 kWh | 1405 kWh | £908 | £140 | £1,049 | £13,673 | 13.0 yrs | £7,305 |
| 6 kW | 5618 kWh | 3933 kWh | 1685 kWh | £1,090 | £169 | £1,259 | £15,707 | 12.5 yrs | £9,467 |
| 7 kW | 6554 kWh | 4588 kWh | 1966 kWh | £1,272 | £197 | £1,468 | £17,742 | 12.1 yrs | £11,628 |
| 8 kW | 7491 kWh | 5244 kWh | 2247 kWh | £1,454 | £225 | £1,678 | £19,776 | 11.8 yrs | £13,789 |
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: £1,074, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1873 kWh | 1367 kWh | 506 kWh | £379 | £51 | £430 | £9,319 | 21.7 yrs | £-729 |
| 3 kW | 2809 kWh | 2051 kWh | 758 kWh | £568 | £76 | £644 | £11,354 | 17.6 yrs | £1,532 |
| 4 kW | 3745 kWh | 2734 kWh | 1011 kWh | £758 | £101 | £859 | £13,388 | 15.6 yrs | £3,793 |
| 5 kW | 4682 kWh | 3418 kWh | 1264 kWh | £947 | £126 | £1,074 | £15,423 | 14.4 yrs | £6,053 |
| 6 kW | 5618 kWh | 4101 kWh | 1517 kWh | £1,137 | £152 | £1,289 | £17,457 | 13.5 yrs | £8,314 |
| 7 kW | 6554 kWh | 4785 kWh | 1770 kWh | £1,326 | £177 | £1,503 | £19,492 | 13.0 yrs | £10,574 |
| 8 kW | 7491 kWh | 5468 kWh | 2023 kWh | £1,516 | £202 | £1,718 | £21,526 | 12.5 yrs | £12,835 |
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: £1,090, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1873 kWh | 1405 kWh | 468 kWh | £389 | £47 | £436 | £11,069 | 25.4 yrs | £-2,346 |
| 3 kW | 2809 kWh | 2107 kWh | 702 kWh | £584 | £70 | £654 | £13,104 | 20.0 yrs | £-19 |
| 4 kW | 3745 kWh | 2809 kWh | 936 kWh | £779 | £94 | £872 | £15,138 | 17.4 yrs | £2,308 |
| 5 kW | 4682 kWh | 3511 kWh | 1170 kWh | £973 | £117 | £1,090 | £17,173 | 15.7 yrs | £4,635 |
| 6 kW | 5618 kWh | 4214 kWh | 1405 kWh | £1,168 | £140 | £1,308 | £19,207 | 14.7 yrs | £6,962 |
| 7 kW | 6554 kWh | 4916 kWh | 1639 kWh | £1,363 | £164 | £1,527 | £21,242 | 13.9 yrs | £9,289 |
| 8 kW | 7491 kWh | 5618 kWh | 1873 kWh | £1,557 | £187 | £1,745 | £23,276 | 13.3 yrs | £11,616 |
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: £1,107, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 1873 kWh | 1442 kWh | 431 kWh | £400 | £43 | £443 | £13,519 | 30.5 yrs | £-4,663 |
| 3 kW | 2809 kWh | 2163 kWh | 646 kWh | £600 | £65 | £664 | £15,554 | 23.4 yrs | £-2,270 |
| 4 kW | 3745 kWh | 2884 kWh | 861 kWh | £799 | £86 | £886 | £17,588 | 19.9 yrs | £124 |
| 5 kW | 4682 kWh | 3605 kWh | 1077 kWh | £999 | £108 | £1,107 | £19,623 | 17.7 yrs | £2,517 |
| 6 kW | 5618 kWh | 4326 kWh | 1292 kWh | £1,199 | £129 | £1,328 | £21,657 | 16.3 yrs | £4,910 |
| 7 kW | 6554 kWh | 5047 kWh | 1508 kWh | £1,399 | £151 | £1,550 | £23,692 | 15.3 yrs | £7,304 |
| 8 kW | 7491 kWh | 5768 kWh | 1723 kWh | £1,599 | £172 | £1,771 | £25,726 | 14.5 yrs | £9,697 |
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.