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 985 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p 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: £799, 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 | 1971 kWh | 788 kWh | 1183 kWh | £201 | £118 | £320 | £4,069 | 12.7 yrs | £2,325 |
| 3 kW | 2956 kWh | 1183 kWh | 1774 kWh | £302 | £177 | £480 | £6,104 | 12.7 yrs | £3,487 |
| 4 kW | 3942 kWh | 1577 kWh | 2365 kWh | £403 | £237 | £639 | £8,138 | 12.7 yrs | £4,649 |
| 5 kW | 4927 kWh | 1971 kWh | 2956 kWh | £504 | £296 | £799 | £10,173 | 12.7 yrs | £5,812 |
| 6 kW | 5913 kWh | 2365 kWh | 3548 kWh | £604 | £355 | £959 | £12,207 | 12.7 yrs | £6,974 |
| 7 kW | 6898 kWh | 2759 kWh | 4139 kWh | £705 | £414 | £1,119 | £14,242 | 12.7 yrs | £8,136 |
| 8 kW | 7884 kWh | 3153 kWh | 4730 kWh | £806 | £473 | £1,279 | £16,276 | 12.7 yrs | £9,299 |
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: £952, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1971 kWh | 1183 kWh | 788 kWh | £302 | £79 | £381 | £6,169 | 16.2 yrs | £1,451 |
| 3 kW | 2956 kWh | 1774 kWh | 1183 kWh | £453 | £118 | £571 | £8,204 | 14.4 yrs | £3,226 |
| 4 kW | 3942 kWh | 2365 kWh | 1577 kWh | £604 | £158 | £762 | £10,238 | 13.4 yrs | £5,001 |
| 5 kW | 4927 kWh | 2956 kWh | 1971 kWh | £755 | £197 | £952 | £12,273 | 12.9 yrs | £6,776 |
| 6 kW | 5913 kWh | 3548 kWh | 2365 kWh | £906 | £237 | £1,143 | £14,307 | 12.5 yrs | £8,552 |
| 7 kW | 6898 kWh | 4139 kWh | 2759 kWh | £1,057 | £276 | £1,333 | £16,342 | 12.3 yrs | £10,327 |
| 8 kW | 7884 kWh | 4730 kWh | 3153 kWh | £1,209 | £315 | £1,524 | £18,376 | 12.1 yrs | £12,102 |
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: £1,029, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1971 kWh | 1380 kWh | 591 kWh | £352 | £59 | £412 | £7,569 | 18.4 yrs | £664 |
| 3 kW | 2956 kWh | 2069 kWh | 887 kWh | £529 | £89 | £617 | £9,604 | 15.6 yrs | £2,745 |
| 4 kW | 3942 kWh | 2759 kWh | 1183 kWh | £705 | £118 | £823 | £11,638 | 14.1 yrs | £4,827 |
| 5 kW | 4927 kWh | 3449 kWh | 1478 kWh | £881 | £148 | £1,029 | £13,673 | 13.3 yrs | £6,909 |
| 6 kW | 5913 kWh | 4139 kWh | 1774 kWh | £1,057 | £177 | £1,235 | £15,707 | 12.7 yrs | £8,991 |
| 7 kW | 6898 kWh | 4829 kWh | 2069 kWh | £1,234 | £207 | £1,441 | £17,742 | 12.3 yrs | £11,072 |
| 8 kW | 7884 kWh | 5519 kWh | 2365 kWh | £1,410 | £237 | £1,647 | £19,776 | 12.0 yrs | £13,154 |
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: £1,052, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1971 kWh | 1439 kWh | 532 kWh | £368 | £53 | £421 | £9,319 | 22.1 yrs | £-903 |
| 3 kW | 2956 kWh | 2158 kWh | 798 kWh | £551 | £80 | £631 | £11,354 | 18.0 yrs | £1,271 |
| 4 kW | 3942 kWh | 2878 kWh | 1064 kWh | £735 | £106 | £842 | £13,388 | 15.9 yrs | £3,445 |
| 5 kW | 4927 kWh | 3597 kWh | 1330 kWh | £919 | £133 | £1,052 | £15,423 | 14.7 yrs | £5,618 |
| 6 kW | 5913 kWh | 4316 kWh | 1596 kWh | £1,103 | £160 | £1,262 | £17,457 | 13.8 yrs | £7,792 |
| 7 kW | 6898 kWh | 5036 kWh | 1863 kWh | £1,287 | £186 | £1,473 | £19,492 | 13.2 yrs | £9,966 |
| 8 kW | 7884 kWh | 5755 kWh | 2129 kWh | £1,470 | £213 | £1,683 | £21,526 | 12.8 yrs | £12,140 |
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: £1,067, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 1971 kWh | 1478 kWh | 493 kWh | £378 | £49 | £427 | £11,069 | 25.9 yrs | £-2,530 |
| 3 kW | 2956 kWh | 2217 kWh | 739 kWh | £567 | £74 | £640 | £13,104 | 20.5 yrs | £-295 |
| 4 kW | 3942 kWh | 2956 kWh | 985 kWh | £755 | £99 | £854 | £15,138 | 17.7 yrs | £1,940 |
| 5 kW | 4927 kWh | 3695 kWh | 1232 kWh | £944 | £123 | £1,067 | £17,173 | 16.1 yrs | £4,175 |
| 6 kW | 5913 kWh | 4435 kWh | 1478 kWh | £1,133 | £148 | £1,281 | £19,207 | 15.0 yrs | £6,410 |
| 7 kW | 6898 kWh | 5174 kWh | 1725 kWh | £1,322 | £172 | £1,494 | £21,242 | 14.2 yrs | £8,645 |
| 8 kW | 7884 kWh | 5913 kWh | 1971 kWh | £1,511 | £197 | £1,708 | £23,276 | 13.6 yrs | £10,880 |
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: £1,083, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1971 kWh | 1518 kWh | 453 kWh | £388 | £45 | £433 | £13,519 | 31.2 yrs | £-4,857 |
| 3 kW | 2956 kWh | 2276 kWh | 680 kWh | £582 | £68 | £650 | £15,554 | 23.9 yrs | £-2,561 |
| 4 kW | 3942 kWh | 3035 kWh | 907 kWh | £775 | £91 | £866 | £17,588 | 20.3 yrs | £-265 |
| 5 kW | 4927 kWh | 3794 kWh | 1133 kWh | £969 | £113 | £1,083 | £19,623 | 18.1 yrs | £2,031 |
| 6 kW | 5913 kWh | 4553 kWh | 1360 kWh | £1,163 | £136 | £1,299 | £21,657 | 16.7 yrs | £4,328 |
| 7 kW | 6898 kWh | 5312 kWh | 1587 kWh | £1,357 | £159 | £1,516 | £23,692 | 15.6 yrs | £6,624 |
| 8 kW | 7884 kWh | 6070 kWh | 1813 kWh | £1,551 | £181 | £1,732 | £25,726 | 14.9 yrs | £8,920 |
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.