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 862 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p 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: £726, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1724 kWh | 690 kWh | 1034 kWh | £187 | £103 | £290 | £4,069 | 14.0 yrs | £1,739 |
| 3 kW | 2586 kWh | 1034 kWh | 1552 kWh | £280 | £155 | £436 | £6,104 | 14.0 yrs | £2,608 |
| 4 kW | 3448 kWh | 1379 kWh | 2069 kWh | £374 | £207 | £581 | £8,138 | 14.0 yrs | £3,477 |
| 5 kW | 4310 kWh | 1724 kWh | 2586 kWh | £467 | £259 | £726 | £10,173 | 14.0 yrs | £4,347 |
| 6 kW | 5172 kWh | 2069 kWh | 3103 kWh | £561 | £310 | £871 | £12,207 | 14.0 yrs | £5,216 |
| 7 kW | 6034 kWh | 2414 kWh | 3620 kWh | £654 | £362 | £1,016 | £14,242 | 14.0 yrs | £6,085 |
| 8 kW | 6896 kWh | 2758 kWh | 4138 kWh | £748 | £414 | £1,162 | £16,276 | 14.0 yrs | £6,955 |
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: £873, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1724 kWh | 1034 kWh | 690 kWh | £280 | £69 | £349 | £6,169 | 17.7 yrs | £819 |
| 3 kW | 2586 kWh | 1552 kWh | 1034 kWh | £421 | £103 | £524 | £8,204 | 15.7 yrs | £2,278 |
| 4 kW | 3448 kWh | 2069 kWh | 1379 kWh | £561 | £138 | £699 | £10,238 | 14.7 yrs | £3,737 |
| 5 kW | 4310 kWh | 2586 kWh | 1724 kWh | £701 | £172 | £873 | £12,273 | 14.1 yrs | £5,196 |
| 6 kW | 5172 kWh | 3103 kWh | 2069 kWh | £841 | £207 | £1,048 | £14,307 | 13.7 yrs | £6,656 |
| 7 kW | 6034 kWh | 3620 kWh | 2414 kWh | £981 | £241 | £1,223 | £16,342 | 13.4 yrs | £8,115 |
| 8 kW | 6896 kWh | 4138 kWh | 2758 kWh | £1,122 | £276 | £1,398 | £18,376 | 13.1 yrs | £9,574 |
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: £947, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1724 kWh | 1207 kWh | 517 kWh | £327 | £52 | £379 | £7,569 | 20.0 yrs | £8 |
| 3 kW | 2586 kWh | 1810 kWh | 776 kWh | £491 | £78 | £568 | £9,604 | 16.9 yrs | £1,763 |
| 4 kW | 3448 kWh | 2414 kWh | 1034 kWh | £654 | £103 | £758 | £11,638 | 15.4 yrs | £3,517 |
| 5 kW | 4310 kWh | 3017 kWh | 1293 kWh | £818 | £129 | £947 | £13,673 | 14.4 yrs | £5,271 |
| 6 kW | 5172 kWh | 3620 kWh | 1552 kWh | £981 | £155 | £1,137 | £15,707 | 13.8 yrs | £7,025 |
| 7 kW | 6034 kWh | 4224 kWh | 1810 kWh | £1,145 | £181 | £1,326 | £17,742 | 13.4 yrs | £8,780 |
| 8 kW | 6896 kWh | 4827 kWh | 2069 kWh | £1,309 | £207 | £1,515 | £19,776 | 13.0 yrs | £10,534 |
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: £969, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1724 kWh | 1258 kWh | 465 kWh | £341 | £47 | £388 | £9,319 | 24.0 yrs | £-1,565 |
| 3 kW | 2586 kWh | 1888 kWh | 698 kWh | £512 | £70 | £582 | £11,354 | 19.5 yrs | £278 |
| 4 kW | 3448 kWh | 2517 kWh | 931 kWh | £682 | £93 | £775 | £13,388 | 17.3 yrs | £2,121 |
| 5 kW | 4310 kWh | 3146 kWh | 1164 kWh | £853 | £116 | £969 | £15,423 | 15.9 yrs | £3,964 |
| 6 kW | 5172 kWh | 3775 kWh | 1396 kWh | £1,024 | £140 | £1,163 | £17,457 | 15.0 yrs | £5,806 |
| 7 kW | 6034 kWh | 4405 kWh | 1629 kWh | £1,194 | £163 | £1,357 | £19,492 | 14.4 yrs | £7,649 |
| 8 kW | 6896 kWh | 5034 kWh | 1862 kWh | £1,365 | £186 | £1,551 | £21,526 | 13.9 yrs | £9,492 |
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: £984, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1724 kWh | 1293 kWh | 431 kWh | £351 | £43 | £394 | £11,069 | 28.1 yrs | £-3,197 |
| 3 kW | 2586 kWh | 1939 kWh | 646 kWh | £526 | £65 | £590 | £13,104 | 22.2 yrs | £-1,295 |
| 4 kW | 3448 kWh | 2586 kWh | 862 kWh | £701 | £86 | £787 | £15,138 | 19.2 yrs | £607 |
| 5 kW | 4310 kWh | 3232 kWh | 1077 kWh | £876 | £108 | £984 | £17,173 | 17.5 yrs | £2,509 |
| 6 kW | 5172 kWh | 3879 kWh | 1293 kWh | £1,052 | £129 | £1,181 | £19,207 | 16.3 yrs | £4,410 |
| 7 kW | 6034 kWh | 4525 kWh | 1508 kWh | £1,227 | £151 | £1,378 | £21,242 | 15.4 yrs | £6,312 |
| 8 kW | 6896 kWh | 5172 kWh | 1724 kWh | £1,402 | £172 | £1,574 | £23,276 | 14.8 yrs | £8,214 |
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: £999, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1724 kWh | 1327 kWh | 397 kWh | £360 | £40 | £400 | £13,519 | 33.8 yrs | £-5,529 |
| 3 kW | 2586 kWh | 1991 kWh | 595 kWh | £540 | £59 | £599 | £15,554 | 26.0 yrs | £-3,568 |
| 4 kW | 3448 kWh | 2655 kWh | 793 kWh | £720 | £79 | £799 | £17,588 | 22.0 yrs | £-1,607 |
| 5 kW | 4310 kWh | 3319 kWh | 991 kWh | £900 | £99 | £999 | £19,623 | 19.6 yrs | £354 |
| 6 kW | 5172 kWh | 3982 kWh | 1190 kWh | £1,080 | £119 | £1,199 | £21,657 | 18.1 yrs | £2,314 |
| 7 kW | 6034 kWh | 4646 kWh | 1388 kWh | £1,260 | £139 | £1,398 | £23,692 | 16.9 yrs | £4,275 |
| 8 kW | 6896 kWh | 5310 kWh | 1586 kWh | £1,439 | £159 | £1,598 | £25,726 | 16.1 yrs | £6,236 |
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.