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 886 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: £757, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 709 kWh | 1063 kWh | £197 | £106 | £303 | £4,069 | 13.4 yrs | £1,988 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1063 kWh | 1595 kWh | £295 | £160 | £454 | £6,104 | 13.4 yrs | £2,982 |
| 4 kW | 3545 kWh | 1418 kWh | 2127 kWh | £393 | £213 | £606 | £8,138 | 13.4 yrs | £3,976 |
| 5 kW | 4431 kWh | 1772 kWh | 2658 kWh | £491 | £266 | £757 | £10,173 | 13.4 yrs | £4,970 |
| 6 kW | 5317 kWh | 2127 kWh | 3190 kWh | £590 | £319 | £909 | £12,207 | 13.4 yrs | £5,964 |
| 7 kW | 6203 kWh | 2481 kWh | 3722 kWh | £688 | £372 | £1,060 | £14,242 | 13.4 yrs | £6,958 |
| 8 kW | 7089 kWh | 2836 kWh | 4253 kWh | £786 | £425 | £1,211 | £16,276 | 13.4 yrs | £7,952 |
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: £914, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1063 kWh | 709 kWh | £295 | £71 | £366 | £6,169 | 16.9 yrs | £1,144 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1595 kWh | 1063 kWh | £442 | £106 | £548 | £8,204 | 15.0 yrs | £2,766 |
| 4 kW | 3545 kWh | 2127 kWh | 1418 kWh | £590 | £142 | £731 | £10,238 | 14.0 yrs | £4,388 |
| 5 kW | 4431 kWh | 2658 kWh | 1772 kWh | £737 | £177 | £914 | £12,273 | 13.4 yrs | £6,010 |
| 6 kW | 5317 kWh | 3190 kWh | 2127 kWh | £884 | £213 | £1,097 | £14,307 | 13.0 yrs | £7,632 |
| 7 kW | 6203 kWh | 3722 kWh | 2481 kWh | £1,032 | £248 | £1,280 | £16,342 | 12.8 yrs | £9,254 |
| 8 kW | 7089 kWh | 4253 kWh | 2836 kWh | £1,179 | £284 | £1,463 | £18,376 | 12.6 yrs | £10,876 |
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: £993, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1241 kWh | 532 kWh | £344 | £53 | £397 | £7,569 | 19.1 yrs | £372 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1861 kWh | 798 kWh | £516 | £80 | £596 | £9,604 | 16.1 yrs | £2,308 |
| 4 kW | 3545 kWh | 2481 kWh | 1063 kWh | £688 | £106 | £794 | £11,638 | 14.7 yrs | £4,244 |
| 5 kW | 4431 kWh | 3101 kWh | 1329 kWh | £860 | £133 | £993 | £13,673 | 13.8 yrs | £6,181 |
| 6 kW | 5317 kWh | 3722 kWh | 1595 kWh | £1,032 | £160 | £1,191 | £15,707 | 13.2 yrs | £8,117 |
| 7 kW | 6203 kWh | 4342 kWh | 1861 kWh | £1,204 | £186 | £1,390 | £17,742 | 12.8 yrs | £10,053 |
| 8 kW | 7089 kWh | 4962 kWh | 2127 kWh | £1,376 | £213 | £1,588 | £19,776 | 12.5 yrs | £11,989 |
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: £1,016, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1294 kWh | 479 kWh | £359 | £48 | £406 | £9,319 | 22.9 yrs | £-1,189 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1941 kWh | 718 kWh | £538 | £72 | £610 | £11,354 | 18.6 yrs | £841 |
| 4 kW | 3545 kWh | 2588 kWh | 957 kWh | £717 | £96 | £813 | £13,388 | 16.5 yrs | £2,871 |
| 5 kW | 4431 kWh | 3234 kWh | 1196 kWh | £897 | £120 | £1,016 | £15,423 | 15.2 yrs | £4,902 |
| 6 kW | 5317 kWh | 3881 kWh | 1436 kWh | £1,076 | £144 | £1,219 | £17,457 | 14.3 yrs | £6,932 |
| 7 kW | 6203 kWh | 4528 kWh | 1675 kWh | £1,255 | £167 | £1,423 | £19,492 | 13.7 yrs | £8,962 |
| 8 kW | 7089 kWh | 5175 kWh | 1914 kWh | £1,435 | £191 | £1,626 | £21,526 | 13.2 yrs | £10,993 |
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: £1,032, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1329 kWh | 443 kWh | £368 | £44 | £413 | £11,069 | 26.8 yrs | £-2,814 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 1994 kWh | 665 kWh | £553 | £66 | £619 | £13,104 | 21.2 yrs | £-721 |
| 4 kW | 3545 kWh | 2658 kWh | 886 kWh | £737 | £89 | £826 | £15,138 | 18.3 yrs | £1,373 |
| 5 kW | 4431 kWh | 3323 kWh | 1108 kWh | £921 | £111 | £1,032 | £17,173 | 16.6 yrs | £3,466 |
| 6 kW | 5317 kWh | 3988 kWh | 1329 kWh | £1,105 | £133 | £1,238 | £19,207 | 15.5 yrs | £5,559 |
| 7 kW | 6203 kWh | 4652 kWh | 1551 kWh | £1,290 | £155 | £1,445 | £21,242 | 14.7 yrs | £7,652 |
| 8 kW | 7089 kWh | 5317 kWh | 1772 kWh | £1,474 | £177 | £1,651 | £23,276 | 14.1 yrs | £9,745 |
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: £1,048, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1772 kWh | 1365 kWh | 408 kWh | £378 | £41 | £419 | £13,519 | 32.3 yrs | £-5,138 |
| 3 kW | 2658 kWh | 2047 kWh | 611 kWh | £567 | £61 | £629 | £15,554 | 24.7 yrs | £-2,982 |
| 4 kW | 3545 kWh | 2729 kWh | 815 kWh | £757 | £82 | £838 | £17,588 | 21.0 yrs | £-826 |
| 5 kW | 4431 kWh | 3412 kWh | 1019 kWh | £946 | £102 | £1,048 | £19,623 | 18.7 yrs | £1,330 |
| 6 kW | 5317 kWh | 4094 kWh | 1223 kWh | £1,135 | £122 | £1,257 | £21,657 | 17.2 yrs | £3,486 |
| 7 kW | 6203 kWh | 4776 kWh | 1427 kWh | £1,324 | £143 | £1,467 | £23,692 | 16.2 yrs | £5,642 |
| 8 kW | 7089 kWh | 5459 kWh | 1630 kWh | £1,513 | £163 | £1,676 | £25,726 | 15.3 yrs | £7,798 |
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.