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 923 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: £789, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1846 kWh | 738 kWh | 1108 kWh | £205 | £111 | £315 | £4,069 | 12.9 yrs | £2,241 |
| 3 kW | 2769 kWh | 1108 kWh | 1662 kWh | £307 | £166 | £473 | £6,104 | 12.9 yrs | £3,361 |
| 4 kW | 3692 kWh | 1477 kWh | 2215 kWh | £409 | £222 | £631 | £8,138 | 12.9 yrs | £4,481 |
| 5 kW | 4616 kWh | 1846 kWh | 2769 kWh | £512 | £277 | £789 | £10,173 | 12.9 yrs | £5,602 |
| 6 kW | 5539 kWh | 2215 kWh | 3323 kWh | £614 | £332 | £946 | £12,207 | 12.9 yrs | £6,722 |
| 7 kW | 6462 kWh | 2585 kWh | 3877 kWh | £716 | £388 | £1,104 | £14,242 | 12.9 yrs | £7,842 |
| 8 kW | 7385 kWh | 2954 kWh | 4431 kWh | £819 | £443 | £1,262 | £16,276 | 12.9 yrs | £8,962 |
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 | 1846 kWh | 1108 kWh | 738 kWh | £307 | £74 | £381 | £6,169 | 16.2 yrs | £1,449 |
| 3 kW | 2769 kWh | 1662 kWh | 1108 kWh | £461 | £111 | £571 | £8,204 | 14.4 yrs | £3,224 |
| 4 kW | 3692 kWh | 2215 kWh | 1477 kWh | £614 | £148 | £762 | £10,238 | 13.4 yrs | £4,998 |
| 5 kW | 4616 kWh | 2769 kWh | 1846 kWh | £768 | £185 | £952 | £12,273 | 12.9 yrs | £6,773 |
| 6 kW | 5539 kWh | 3323 kWh | 2215 kWh | £921 | £222 | £1,143 | £14,307 | 12.5 yrs | £8,548 |
| 7 kW | 6462 kWh | 3877 kWh | 2585 kWh | £1,075 | £258 | £1,333 | £16,342 | 12.3 yrs | £10,322 |
| 8 kW | 7385 kWh | 4431 kWh | 2954 kWh | £1,228 | £295 | £1,524 | £18,376 | 12.1 yrs | £12,097 |
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: £1,034, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1846 kWh | 1292 kWh | 554 kWh | £358 | £55 | £414 | £7,569 | 18.3 yrs | £704 |
| 3 kW | 2769 kWh | 1939 kWh | 831 kWh | £537 | £83 | £620 | £9,604 | 15.5 yrs | £2,805 |
| 4 kW | 3692 kWh | 2585 kWh | 1108 kWh | £716 | £111 | £827 | £11,638 | 14.1 yrs | £4,907 |
| 5 kW | 4616 kWh | 3231 kWh | 1385 kWh | £896 | £138 | £1,034 | £13,673 | 13.2 yrs | £7,009 |
| 6 kW | 5539 kWh | 3877 kWh | 1662 kWh | £1,075 | £166 | £1,241 | £15,707 | 12.7 yrs | £9,111 |
| 7 kW | 6462 kWh | 4523 kWh | 1939 kWh | £1,254 | £194 | £1,448 | £17,742 | 12.3 yrs | £11,212 |
| 8 kW | 7385 kWh | 5169 kWh | 2215 kWh | £1,433 | £222 | £1,655 | £19,776 | 12.0 yrs | £13,314 |
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: £1,059, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 1846 kWh | 1348 kWh | 498 kWh | £374 | £50 | £423 | £9,319 | 22.0 yrs | £-850 |
| 3 kW | 2769 kWh | 2022 kWh | 748 kWh | £560 | £75 | £635 | £11,354 | 17.9 yrs | £1,350 |
| 4 kW | 3692 kWh | 2695 kWh | 997 kWh | £747 | £100 | £847 | £13,388 | 15.8 yrs | £3,550 |
| 5 kW | 4616 kWh | 3369 kWh | 1246 kWh | £934 | £125 | £1,059 | £15,423 | 14.6 yrs | £5,750 |
| 6 kW | 5539 kWh | 4043 kWh | 1495 kWh | £1,121 | £150 | £1,270 | £17,457 | 13.7 yrs | £7,949 |
| 7 kW | 6462 kWh | 4717 kWh | 1745 kWh | £1,308 | £174 | £1,482 | £19,492 | 13.2 yrs | £10,149 |
| 8 kW | 7385 kWh | 5391 kWh | 1994 kWh | £1,494 | £199 | £1,694 | £21,526 | 12.7 yrs | £12,349 |
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: £1,075, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1846 kWh | 1385 kWh | 462 kWh | £384 | £46 | £430 | £11,069 | 25.7 yrs | £-2,469 |
| 3 kW | 2769 kWh | 2077 kWh | 692 kWh | £576 | £69 | £645 | £13,104 | 20.3 yrs | £-204 |
| 4 kW | 3692 kWh | 2769 kWh | 923 kWh | £768 | £92 | £860 | £15,138 | 17.6 yrs | £2,061 |
| 5 kW | 4616 kWh | 3462 kWh | 1154 kWh | £960 | £115 | £1,075 | £17,173 | 16.0 yrs | £4,327 |
| 6 kW | 5539 kWh | 4154 kWh | 1385 kWh | £1,151 | £138 | £1,290 | £19,207 | 14.9 yrs | £6,592 |
| 7 kW | 6462 kWh | 4846 kWh | 1615 kWh | £1,343 | £162 | £1,505 | £21,242 | 14.1 yrs | £8,857 |
| 8 kW | 7385 kWh | 5539 kWh | 1846 kWh | £1,535 | £185 | £1,720 | £23,276 | 13.5 yrs | £11,123 |
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: £1,091, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1846 kWh | 1422 kWh | 425 kWh | £394 | £42 | £437 | £13,519 | 31.0 yrs | £-4,788 |
| 3 kW | 2769 kWh | 2132 kWh | 637 kWh | £591 | £64 | £655 | £15,554 | 23.8 yrs | £-2,458 |
| 4 kW | 3692 kWh | 2843 kWh | 849 kWh | £788 | £85 | £873 | £17,588 | 20.1 yrs | £-127 |
| 5 kW | 4616 kWh | 3554 kWh | 1062 kWh | £985 | £106 | £1,091 | £19,623 | 18.0 yrs | £2,204 |
| 6 kW | 5539 kWh | 4265 kWh | 1274 kWh | £1,182 | £127 | £1,310 | £21,657 | 16.5 yrs | £4,535 |
| 7 kW | 6462 kWh | 4976 kWh | 1486 kWh | £1,379 | £149 | £1,528 | £23,692 | 15.5 yrs | £6,865 |
| 8 kW | 7385 kWh | 5686 kWh | 1699 kWh | £1,576 | £170 | £1,746 | £25,726 | 14.7 yrs | £9,196 |
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.