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 25.3p 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 | 1846 kWh | 738 kWh | 1107 kWh | £187 | £111 | £298 | £4,069 | 13.7 yrs | £1,885 |
| 3 kW | 2768 kWh | 1107 kWh | 1661 kWh | £280 | £166 | £447 | £6,104 | 13.7 yrs | £2,828 |
| 4 kW | 3691 kWh | 1476 kWh | 2215 kWh | £374 | £221 | £595 | £8,138 | 13.7 yrs | £3,771 |
| 5 kW | 4614 kWh | 1846 kWh | 2768 kWh | £467 | £277 | £744 | £10,173 | 13.7 yrs | £4,714 |
| 6 kW | 5537 kWh | 2215 kWh | 3322 kWh | £561 | £332 | £893 | £12,207 | 13.7 yrs | £5,656 |
| 7 kW | 6459 kWh | 2584 kWh | 3876 kWh | £654 | £388 | £1,042 | £14,242 | 13.7 yrs | £6,599 |
| 8 kW | 7382 kWh | 2953 kWh | 4429 kWh | £748 | £443 | £1,191 | £16,276 | 13.7 yrs | £7,542 |
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: £886, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1846 kWh | 1107 kWh | 738 kWh | £280 | £74 | £354 | £6,169 | 17.4 yrs | £917 |
| 3 kW | 2768 kWh | 1661 kWh | 1107 kWh | £421 | £111 | £531 | £8,204 | 15.4 yrs | £2,426 |
| 4 kW | 3691 kWh | 2215 kWh | 1476 kWh | £561 | £148 | £709 | £10,238 | 14.4 yrs | £3,934 |
| 5 kW | 4614 kWh | 2768 kWh | 1846 kWh | £701 | £185 | £886 | £12,273 | 13.9 yrs | £5,443 |
| 6 kW | 5537 kWh | 3322 kWh | 2215 kWh | £841 | £221 | £1,063 | £14,307 | 13.5 yrs | £6,952 |
| 7 kW | 6459 kWh | 3876 kWh | 2584 kWh | £982 | £258 | £1,240 | £16,342 | 13.2 yrs | £8,460 |
| 8 kW | 7382 kWh | 4429 kWh | 2953 kWh | £1,122 | £295 | £1,417 | £18,376 | 13.0 yrs | £9,969 |
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: £957, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1846 kWh | 1292 kWh | 554 kWh | £327 | £55 | £383 | £7,569 | 19.8 yrs | £83 |
| 3 kW | 2768 kWh | 1938 kWh | 831 kWh | £491 | £83 | £574 | £9,604 | 16.7 yrs | £1,875 |
| 4 kW | 3691 kWh | 2584 kWh | 1107 kWh | £654 | £111 | £765 | £11,638 | 15.2 yrs | £3,666 |
| 5 kW | 4614 kWh | 3230 kWh | 1384 kWh | £818 | £138 | £957 | £13,673 | 14.3 yrs | £5,458 |
| 6 kW | 5537 kWh | 3876 kWh | 1661 kWh | £982 | £166 | £1,148 | £15,707 | 13.7 yrs | £7,249 |
| 7 kW | 6459 kWh | 4522 kWh | 1938 kWh | £1,145 | £194 | £1,339 | £17,742 | 13.2 yrs | £9,041 |
| 8 kW | 7382 kWh | 5168 kWh | 2215 kWh | £1,309 | £221 | £1,530 | £19,776 | 12.9 yrs | £10,832 |
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: £978, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1846 kWh | 1347 kWh | 498 kWh | £341 | £50 | £391 | £9,319 | 23.8 yrs | £-1,497 |
| 3 kW | 2768 kWh | 2021 kWh | 747 kWh | £512 | £75 | £587 | £11,354 | 19.4 yrs | £379 |
| 4 kW | 3691 kWh | 2695 kWh | 997 kWh | £683 | £100 | £782 | £13,388 | 17.1 yrs | £2,256 |
| 5 kW | 4614 kWh | 3368 kWh | 1246 kWh | £853 | £125 | £978 | £15,423 | 15.8 yrs | £4,132 |
| 6 kW | 5537 kWh | 4042 kWh | 1495 kWh | £1,024 | £149 | £1,173 | £17,457 | 14.9 yrs | £6,008 |
| 7 kW | 6459 kWh | 4715 kWh | 1744 kWh | £1,194 | £174 | £1,369 | £19,492 | 14.2 yrs | £7,885 |
| 8 kW | 7382 kWh | 5389 kWh | 1993 kWh | £1,365 | £199 | £1,564 | £21,526 | 13.8 yrs | £9,761 |
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: £992, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1846 kWh | 1384 kWh | 461 kWh | £351 | £46 | £397 | £11,069 | 27.9 yrs | £-3,134 |
| 3 kW | 2768 kWh | 2076 kWh | 692 kWh | £526 | £69 | £595 | £13,104 | 22.0 yrs | £-1,201 |
| 4 kW | 3691 kWh | 2768 kWh | 923 kWh | £701 | £92 | £793 | £15,138 | 19.1 yrs | £732 |
| 5 kW | 4614 kWh | 3460 kWh | 1153 kWh | £877 | £115 | £992 | £17,173 | 17.3 yrs | £2,665 |
| 6 kW | 5537 kWh | 4153 kWh | 1384 kWh | £1,052 | £138 | £1,190 | £19,207 | 16.1 yrs | £4,598 |
| 7 kW | 6459 kWh | 4845 kWh | 1615 kWh | £1,227 | £161 | £1,389 | £21,242 | 15.3 yrs | £6,531 |
| 8 kW | 7382 kWh | 5537 kWh | 1846 kWh | £1,402 | £185 | £1,587 | £23,276 | 14.7 yrs | £8,464 |
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: £1,006, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1846 kWh | 1421 kWh | 424 kWh | £360 | £42 | £402 | £13,519 | 33.6 yrs | £-5,471 |
| 3 kW | 2768 kWh | 2132 kWh | 637 kWh | £540 | £64 | £604 | £15,554 | 25.8 yrs | £-3,481 |
| 4 kW | 3691 kWh | 2842 kWh | 849 kWh | £720 | £85 | £805 | £17,588 | 21.9 yrs | £-1,492 |
| 5 kW | 4614 kWh | 3553 kWh | 1061 kWh | £900 | £106 | £1,006 | £19,623 | 19.5 yrs | £498 |
| 6 kW | 5537 kWh | 4263 kWh | 1273 kWh | £1,080 | £127 | £1,207 | £21,657 | 17.9 yrs | £2,487 |
| 7 kW | 6459 kWh | 4974 kWh | 1486 kWh | £1,260 | £149 | £1,408 | £23,692 | 16.8 yrs | £4,477 |
| 8 kW | 7382 kWh | 5684 kWh | 1698 kWh | £1,440 | £170 | £1,610 | £25,726 | 16.0 yrs | £6,467 |
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.