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 871 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: £744, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1741 kWh | 697 kWh | 1045 kWh | £193 | £104 | £298 | £4,069 | 13.7 yrs | £1,882 |
| 3 kW | 2612 kWh | 1045 kWh | 1567 kWh | £290 | £157 | £446 | £6,104 | 13.7 yrs | £2,824 |
| 4 kW | 3483 kWh | 1393 kWh | 2090 kWh | £386 | £209 | £595 | £8,138 | 13.7 yrs | £3,765 |
| 5 kW | 4354 kWh | 1741 kWh | 2612 kWh | £483 | £261 | £744 | £10,173 | 13.7 yrs | £4,706 |
| 6 kW | 5224 kWh | 2090 kWh | 3135 kWh | £579 | £313 | £893 | £12,207 | 13.7 yrs | £5,647 |
| 7 kW | 6095 kWh | 2438 kWh | 3657 kWh | £676 | £366 | £1,042 | £14,242 | 13.7 yrs | £6,589 |
| 8 kW | 6966 kWh | 2786 kWh | 4179 kWh | £772 | £418 | £1,190 | £16,276 | 13.7 yrs | £7,530 |
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: £898, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1741 kWh | 1045 kWh | 697 kWh | £290 | £70 | £359 | £6,169 | 17.2 yrs | £1,017 |
| 3 kW | 2612 kWh | 1567 kWh | 1045 kWh | £434 | £104 | £539 | £8,204 | 15.2 yrs | £2,575 |
| 4 kW | 3483 kWh | 2090 kWh | 1393 kWh | £579 | £139 | £719 | £10,238 | 14.2 yrs | £4,134 |
| 5 kW | 4354 kWh | 2612 kWh | 1741 kWh | £724 | £174 | £898 | £12,273 | 13.7 yrs | £5,692 |
| 6 kW | 5224 kWh | 3135 kWh | 2090 kWh | £869 | £209 | £1,078 | £14,307 | 13.3 yrs | £7,250 |
| 7 kW | 6095 kWh | 3657 kWh | 2438 kWh | £1,014 | £244 | £1,258 | £16,342 | 13.0 yrs | £8,809 |
| 8 kW | 6966 kWh | 4179 kWh | 2786 kWh | £1,159 | £279 | £1,437 | £18,376 | 12.8 yrs | £10,367 |
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: £975, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1741 kWh | 1219 kWh | 522 kWh | £338 | £52 | £390 | £7,569 | 19.4 yrs | £234 |
| 3 kW | 2612 kWh | 1828 kWh | 784 kWh | £507 | £78 | £585 | £9,604 | 16.4 yrs | £2,101 |
| 4 kW | 3483 kWh | 2438 kWh | 1045 kWh | £676 | £104 | £780 | £11,638 | 14.9 yrs | £3,968 |
| 5 kW | 4354 kWh | 3047 kWh | 1306 kWh | £845 | £131 | £975 | £13,673 | 14.0 yrs | £5,835 |
| 6 kW | 5224 kWh | 3657 kWh | 1567 kWh | £1,014 | £157 | £1,170 | £15,707 | 13.4 yrs | £7,702 |
| 7 kW | 6095 kWh | 4266 kWh | 1828 kWh | £1,183 | £183 | £1,366 | £17,742 | 13.0 yrs | £9,569 |
| 8 kW | 6966 kWh | 4876 kWh | 2090 kWh | £1,352 | £209 | £1,561 | £19,776 | 12.7 yrs | £11,436 |
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: £999, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1741 kWh | 1271 kWh | 470 kWh | £352 | £47 | £399 | £9,319 | 23.3 yrs | £-1,331 |
| 3 kW | 2612 kWh | 1907 kWh | 705 kWh | £529 | £71 | £599 | £11,354 | 19.0 yrs | £629 |
| 4 kW | 3483 kWh | 2542 kWh | 940 kWh | £705 | £94 | £799 | £13,388 | 16.8 yrs | £2,588 |
| 5 kW | 4354 kWh | 3178 kWh | 1175 kWh | £881 | £118 | £999 | £15,423 | 15.4 yrs | £4,548 |
| 6 kW | 5224 kWh | 3814 kWh | 1411 kWh | £1,057 | £141 | £1,198 | £17,457 | 14.6 yrs | £6,507 |
| 7 kW | 6095 kWh | 4449 kWh | 1646 kWh | £1,233 | £165 | £1,398 | £19,492 | 13.9 yrs | £8,467 |
| 8 kW | 6966 kWh | 5085 kWh | 1881 kWh | £1,410 | £188 | £1,598 | £21,526 | 13.5 yrs | £10,426 |
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: £1,014, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1741 kWh | 1306 kWh | 435 kWh | £362 | £44 | £406 | £11,069 | 27.3 yrs | £-2,957 |
| 3 kW | 2612 kWh | 1959 kWh | 653 kWh | £543 | £65 | £608 | £13,104 | 21.5 yrs | £-936 |
| 4 kW | 3483 kWh | 2612 kWh | 871 kWh | £724 | £87 | £811 | £15,138 | 18.7 yrs | £1,085 |
| 5 kW | 4354 kWh | 3265 kWh | 1088 kWh | £905 | £109 | £1,014 | £17,173 | 16.9 yrs | £3,106 |
| 6 kW | 5224 kWh | 3918 kWh | 1306 kWh | £1,086 | £131 | £1,217 | £19,207 | 15.8 yrs | £5,128 |
| 7 kW | 6095 kWh | 4571 kWh | 1524 kWh | £1,267 | £152 | £1,420 | £21,242 | 15.0 yrs | £7,149 |
| 8 kW | 6966 kWh | 5224 kWh | 1741 kWh | £1,448 | £174 | £1,622 | £23,276 | 14.3 yrs | £9,170 |
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: £1,029, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1741 kWh | 1341 kWh | 401 kWh | £372 | £40 | £412 | £13,519 | 32.8 yrs | £-5,284 |
| 3 kW | 2612 kWh | 2011 kWh | 601 kWh | £558 | £60 | £618 | £15,554 | 25.2 yrs | £-3,201 |
| 4 kW | 3483 kWh | 2682 kWh | 801 kWh | £743 | £80 | £823 | £17,588 | 21.4 yrs | £-1,118 |
| 5 kW | 4354 kWh | 3352 kWh | 1001 kWh | £929 | £100 | £1,029 | £19,623 | 19.1 yrs | £965 |
| 6 kW | 5224 kWh | 4023 kWh | 1202 kWh | £1,115 | £120 | £1,235 | £21,657 | 17.5 yrs | £3,048 |
| 7 kW | 6095 kWh | 4693 kWh | 1402 kWh | £1,301 | £140 | £1,441 | £23,692 | 16.4 yrs | £5,131 |
| 8 kW | 6966 kWh | 5364 kWh | 1602 kWh | £1,487 | £160 | £1,647 | £25,726 | 15.6 yrs | £7,214 |
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.