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 939 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: £803, 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 | 1879 kWh | 752 kWh | 1127 kWh | £208 | £113 | £321 | £4,069 | 12.7 yrs | £2,352 |
| 3 kW | 2818 kWh | 1127 kWh | 1691 kWh | £313 | £169 | £482 | £6,104 | 12.7 yrs | £3,529 |
| 4 kW | 3758 kWh | 1503 kWh | 2255 kWh | £417 | £225 | £642 | £8,138 | 12.7 yrs | £4,705 |
| 5 kW | 4697 kWh | 1879 kWh | 2818 kWh | £521 | £282 | £803 | £10,173 | 12.7 yrs | £5,881 |
| 6 kW | 5637 kWh | 2255 kWh | 3382 kWh | £625 | £338 | £963 | £12,207 | 12.7 yrs | £7,057 |
| 7 kW | 6576 kWh | 2631 kWh | 3946 kWh | £729 | £395 | £1,124 | £14,242 | 12.7 yrs | £8,234 |
| 8 kW | 7516 kWh | 3006 kWh | 4509 kWh | £833 | £451 | £1,284 | £16,276 | 12.7 yrs | £9,410 |
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: £969, 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 | 1879 kWh | 1127 kWh | 752 kWh | £313 | £75 | £388 | £6,169 | 15.9 yrs | £1,584 |
| 3 kW | 2818 kWh | 1691 kWh | 1127 kWh | £469 | £113 | £581 | £8,204 | 14.1 yrs | £3,426 |
| 4 kW | 3758 kWh | 2255 kWh | 1503 kWh | £625 | £150 | £775 | £10,238 | 13.2 yrs | £5,268 |
| 5 kW | 4697 kWh | 2818 kWh | 1879 kWh | £781 | £188 | £969 | £12,273 | 12.7 yrs | £7,111 |
| 6 kW | 5637 kWh | 3382 kWh | 2255 kWh | £938 | £225 | £1,163 | £14,307 | 12.3 yrs | £8,953 |
| 7 kW | 6576 kWh | 3946 kWh | 2631 kWh | £1,094 | £263 | £1,357 | £16,342 | 12.0 yrs | £10,795 |
| 8 kW | 7516 kWh | 4509 kWh | 3006 kWh | £1,250 | £301 | £1,551 | £18,376 | 11.9 yrs | £12,637 |
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: £1,052, 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 | 1879 kWh | 1315 kWh | 564 kWh | £365 | £56 | £421 | £7,569 | 18.0 yrs | £850 |
| 3 kW | 2818 kWh | 1973 kWh | 846 kWh | £547 | £85 | £631 | £9,604 | 15.2 yrs | £3,025 |
| 4 kW | 3758 kWh | 2631 kWh | 1127 kWh | £729 | £113 | £842 | £11,638 | 13.8 yrs | £5,200 |
| 5 kW | 4697 kWh | 3288 kWh | 1409 kWh | £911 | £141 | £1,052 | £13,673 | 13.0 yrs | £7,375 |
| 6 kW | 5637 kWh | 3946 kWh | 1691 kWh | £1,094 | £169 | £1,263 | £15,707 | 12.4 yrs | £9,550 |
| 7 kW | 6576 kWh | 4603 kWh | 1973 kWh | £1,276 | £197 | £1,473 | £17,742 | 12.0 yrs | £11,725 |
| 8 kW | 7516 kWh | 5261 kWh | 2255 kWh | £1,458 | £225 | £1,684 | £19,776 | 11.7 yrs | £13,901 |
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: £1,077, 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 | 1879 kWh | 1372 kWh | 507 kWh | £380 | £51 | £431 | £9,319 | 21.6 yrs | £-700 |
| 3 kW | 2818 kWh | 2057 kWh | 761 kWh | £570 | £76 | £646 | £11,354 | 17.6 yrs | £1,575 |
| 4 kW | 3758 kWh | 2743 kWh | 1015 kWh | £760 | £101 | £862 | £13,388 | 15.5 yrs | £3,850 |
| 5 kW | 4697 kWh | 3429 kWh | 1268 kWh | £951 | £127 | £1,077 | £15,423 | 14.3 yrs | £6,125 |
| 6 kW | 5637 kWh | 4115 kWh | 1522 kWh | £1,141 | £152 | £1,293 | £17,457 | 13.5 yrs | £8,400 |
| 7 kW | 6576 kWh | 4801 kWh | 1776 kWh | £1,331 | £178 | £1,508 | £19,492 | 12.9 yrs | £10,675 |
| 8 kW | 7516 kWh | 5487 kWh | 2029 kWh | £1,521 | £203 | £1,724 | £21,526 | 12.5 yrs | £12,950 |
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: £1,094, 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 | 1879 kWh | 1409 kWh | 470 kWh | £391 | £47 | £438 | £11,069 | 25.3 yrs | £-2,317 |
| 3 kW | 2818 kWh | 2114 kWh | 705 kWh | £586 | £70 | £656 | £13,104 | 20.0 yrs | £25 |
| 4 kW | 3758 kWh | 2818 kWh | 939 kWh | £781 | £94 | £875 | £15,138 | 17.3 yrs | £2,366 |
| 5 kW | 4697 kWh | 3523 kWh | 1174 kWh | £977 | £117 | £1,094 | £17,173 | 15.7 yrs | £4,708 |
| 6 kW | 5637 kWh | 4228 kWh | 1409 kWh | £1,172 | £141 | £1,313 | £19,207 | 14.6 yrs | £7,049 |
| 7 kW | 6576 kWh | 4932 kWh | 1644 kWh | £1,367 | £164 | £1,532 | £21,242 | 13.9 yrs | £9,391 |
| 8 kW | 7516 kWh | 5637 kWh | 1879 kWh | £1,563 | £188 | £1,750 | £23,276 | 13.3 yrs | £11,732 |
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: £1,111, 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 | 1879 kWh | 1447 kWh | 432 kWh | £401 | £43 | £444 | £13,519 | 30.4 yrs | £-4,634 |
| 3 kW | 2818 kWh | 2170 kWh | 648 kWh | £602 | £65 | £666 | £15,554 | 23.3 yrs | £-2,226 |
| 4 kW | 3758 kWh | 2894 kWh | 864 kWh | £802 | £86 | £889 | £17,588 | 19.8 yrs | £183 |
| 5 kW | 4697 kWh | 3617 kWh | 1080 kWh | £1,003 | £108 | £1,111 | £19,623 | 17.7 yrs | £2,591 |
| 6 kW | 5637 kWh | 4340 kWh | 1296 kWh | £1,203 | £130 | £1,333 | £21,657 | 16.2 yrs | £4,999 |
| 7 kW | 6576 kWh | 5064 kWh | 1513 kWh | £1,404 | £151 | £1,555 | £23,692 | 15.2 yrs | £7,407 |
| 8 kW | 7516 kWh | 5787 kWh | 1729 kWh | £1,604 | £173 | £1,777 | £25,726 | 14.5 yrs | £9,815 |
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.