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 906 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: £774, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 725 kWh | 1087 kWh | £201 | £109 | £310 | £4,069 | 13.1 yrs | £2,121 |
| 3 kW | 2717 kWh | 1087 kWh | 1630 kWh | £301 | £163 | £464 | £6,104 | 13.1 yrs | £3,182 |
| 4 kW | 3623 kWh | 1449 kWh | 2174 kWh | £402 | £217 | £619 | £8,138 | 13.1 yrs | £4,243 |
| 5 kW | 4528 kWh | 1811 kWh | 2717 kWh | £502 | £272 | £774 | £10,173 | 13.1 yrs | £5,304 |
| 6 kW | 5434 kWh | 2174 kWh | 3260 kWh | £603 | £326 | £929 | £12,207 | 13.1 yrs | £6,364 |
| 7 kW | 6340 kWh | 2536 kWh | 3804 kWh | £703 | £380 | £1,083 | £14,242 | 13.1 yrs | £7,425 |
| 8 kW | 7245 kWh | 2898 kWh | 4347 kWh | £803 | £435 | £1,238 | £16,276 | 13.1 yrs | £8,486 |
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: £934, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1087 kWh | 725 kWh | £301 | £72 | £374 | £6,169 | 16.5 yrs | £1,305 |
| 3 kW | 2717 kWh | 1630 kWh | 1087 kWh | £452 | £109 | £561 | £8,204 | 14.6 yrs | £3,008 |
| 4 kW | 3623 kWh | 2174 kWh | 1449 kWh | £603 | £145 | £747 | £10,238 | 13.7 yrs | £4,711 |
| 5 kW | 4528 kWh | 2717 kWh | 1811 kWh | £753 | £181 | £934 | £12,273 | 13.1 yrs | £6,413 |
| 6 kW | 5434 kWh | 3260 kWh | 2174 kWh | £904 | £217 | £1,121 | £14,307 | 12.8 yrs | £8,116 |
| 7 kW | 6340 kWh | 3804 kWh | 2536 kWh | £1,054 | £254 | £1,308 | £16,342 | 12.5 yrs | £9,819 |
| 8 kW | 7245 kWh | 4347 kWh | 2898 kWh | £1,205 | £290 | £1,495 | £18,376 | 12.3 yrs | £11,522 |
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: £1,015, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1268 kWh | 543 kWh | £351 | £54 | £406 | £7,569 | 18.7 yrs | £547 |
| 3 kW | 2717 kWh | 1902 kWh | 815 kWh | £527 | £82 | £609 | £9,604 | 15.8 yrs | £2,571 |
| 4 kW | 3623 kWh | 2536 kWh | 1087 kWh | £703 | £109 | £812 | £11,638 | 14.3 yrs | £4,595 |
| 5 kW | 4528 kWh | 3170 kWh | 1359 kWh | £879 | £136 | £1,015 | £13,673 | 13.5 yrs | £6,618 |
| 6 kW | 5434 kWh | 3804 kWh | 1630 kWh | £1,054 | £163 | £1,217 | £15,707 | 12.9 yrs | £8,642 |
| 7 kW | 6340 kWh | 4438 kWh | 1902 kWh | £1,230 | £190 | £1,420 | £17,742 | 12.5 yrs | £10,666 |
| 8 kW | 7245 kWh | 5072 kWh | 2174 kWh | £1,406 | £217 | £1,623 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,689 |
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: £1,039, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1322 kWh | 489 kWh | £367 | £49 | £415 | £9,319 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,010 |
| 3 kW | 2717 kWh | 1983 kWh | 734 kWh | £550 | £73 | £623 | £11,354 | 18.2 yrs | £1,110 |
| 4 kW | 3623 kWh | 2645 kWh | 978 kWh | £733 | £98 | £831 | £13,388 | 16.1 yrs | £3,230 |
| 5 kW | 4528 kWh | 3306 kWh | 1223 kWh | £916 | £122 | £1,039 | £15,423 | 14.8 yrs | £5,350 |
| 6 kW | 5434 kWh | 3967 kWh | 1467 kWh | £1,100 | £147 | £1,246 | £17,457 | 14.0 yrs | £7,470 |
| 7 kW | 6340 kWh | 4628 kWh | 1712 kWh | £1,283 | £171 | £1,454 | £19,492 | 13.4 yrs | £9,590 |
| 8 kW | 7245 kWh | 5289 kWh | 1956 kWh | £1,466 | £196 | £1,662 | £21,526 | 13.0 yrs | £11,710 |
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: £1,055, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1359 kWh | 453 kWh | £377 | £45 | £422 | £11,069 | 26.2 yrs | £-2,632 |
| 3 kW | 2717 kWh | 2038 kWh | 679 kWh | £565 | £68 | £633 | £13,104 | 20.7 yrs | £-448 |
| 4 kW | 3623 kWh | 2717 kWh | 906 kWh | £753 | £91 | £844 | £15,138 | 17.9 yrs | £1,737 |
| 5 kW | 4528 kWh | 3396 kWh | 1132 kWh | £941 | £113 | £1,055 | £17,173 | 16.3 yrs | £3,921 |
| 6 kW | 5434 kWh | 4076 kWh | 1359 kWh | £1,130 | £136 | £1,266 | £19,207 | 15.2 yrs | £6,105 |
| 7 kW | 6340 kWh | 4755 kWh | 1585 kWh | £1,318 | £158 | £1,477 | £21,242 | 14.4 yrs | £8,289 |
| 8 kW | 7245 kWh | 5434 kWh | 1811 kWh | £1,506 | £181 | £1,687 | £23,276 | 13.8 yrs | £10,473 |
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: £1,071, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1811 kWh | 1395 kWh | 417 kWh | £387 | £42 | £428 | £13,519 | 31.6 yrs | £-4,953 |
| 3 kW | 2717 kWh | 2092 kWh | 625 kWh | £580 | £62 | £642 | £15,554 | 24.2 yrs | £-2,705 |
| 4 kW | 3623 kWh | 2789 kWh | 833 kWh | £773 | £83 | £857 | £17,588 | 20.5 yrs | £-457 |
| 5 kW | 4528 kWh | 3487 kWh | 1042 kWh | £967 | £104 | £1,071 | £19,623 | 18.3 yrs | £1,792 |
| 6 kW | 5434 kWh | 4184 kWh | 1250 kWh | £1,160 | £125 | £1,285 | £21,657 | 16.9 yrs | £4,040 |
| 7 kW | 6340 kWh | 4882 kWh | 1458 kWh | £1,353 | £146 | £1,499 | £23,692 | 15.8 yrs | £6,288 |
| 8 kW | 7245 kWh | 5579 kWh | 1666 kWh | £1,546 | £167 | £1,713 | £25,726 | 15.0 yrs | £8,537 |
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.