A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 811 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.8p 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: £662, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1622 kWh | 649 kWh | 973 kWh | £168 | £97 | £265 | £4,069 | 15.4 yrs | £1,229 |
| 3 kW | 2433 kWh | 973 kWh | 1460 kWh | £251 | £146 | £397 | £6,104 | 15.4 yrs | £1,844 |
| 4 kW | 3243 kWh | 1297 kWh | 1946 kWh | £335 | £195 | £530 | £8,138 | 15.4 yrs | £2,459 |
| 5 kW | 4054 kWh | 1622 kWh | 2433 kWh | £419 | £243 | £662 | £10,173 | 15.4 yrs | £3,073 |
| 6 kW | 4865 kWh | 1946 kWh | 2919 kWh | £503 | £292 | £795 | £12,207 | 15.4 yrs | £3,688 |
| 7 kW | 5676 kWh | 2270 kWh | 3406 kWh | £587 | £341 | £927 | £14,242 | 15.4 yrs | £4,303 |
| 8 kW | 6487 kWh | 2595 kWh | 3892 kWh | £670 | £389 | £1,060 | £16,276 | 15.4 yrs | £4,917 |
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: £791, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1622 kWh | 973 kWh | 649 kWh | £251 | £65 | £316 | £6,169 | 19.5 yrs | £157 |
| 3 kW | 2433 kWh | 1460 kWh | 973 kWh | £377 | £97 | £474 | £8,204 | 17.3 yrs | £1,285 |
| 4 kW | 3243 kWh | 1946 kWh | 1297 kWh | £503 | £130 | £633 | £10,238 | 16.2 yrs | £2,414 |
| 5 kW | 4054 kWh | 2433 kWh | 1622 kWh | £629 | £162 | £791 | £12,273 | 15.5 yrs | £3,542 |
| 6 kW | 4865 kWh | 2919 kWh | 1946 kWh | £754 | £195 | £949 | £14,307 | 15.1 yrs | £4,670 |
| 7 kW | 5676 kWh | 3406 kWh | 2270 kWh | £880 | £227 | £1,107 | £16,342 | 14.8 yrs | £5,799 |
| 8 kW | 6487 kWh | 3892 kWh | 2595 kWh | £1,006 | £259 | £1,265 | £18,376 | 14.5 yrs | £6,927 |
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: £855, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1622 kWh | 1135 kWh | 487 kWh | £293 | £49 | £342 | £7,569 | 22.1 yrs | £-729 |
| 3 kW | 2433 kWh | 1703 kWh | 730 kWh | £440 | £73 | £513 | £9,604 | 18.7 yrs | £656 |
| 4 kW | 3243 kWh | 2270 kWh | 973 kWh | £587 | £97 | £684 | £11,638 | 17.0 yrs | £2,041 |
| 5 kW | 4054 kWh | 2838 kWh | 1216 kWh | £733 | £122 | £855 | £13,673 | 16.0 yrs | £3,426 |
| 6 kW | 4865 kWh | 3406 kWh | 1460 kWh | £880 | £146 | £1,026 | £15,707 | 15.3 yrs | £4,812 |
| 7 kW | 5676 kWh | 3973 kWh | 1703 kWh | £1,027 | £170 | £1,197 | £17,742 | 14.8 yrs | £6,197 |
| 8 kW | 6487 kWh | 4541 kWh | 1946 kWh | £1,173 | £195 | £1,368 | £19,776 | 14.5 yrs | £7,582 |
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: £874, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1622 kWh | 1184 kWh | 438 kWh | £306 | £44 | £350 | £9,319 | 26.6 yrs | £-2,325 |
| 3 kW | 2433 kWh | 1776 kWh | 657 kWh | £459 | £66 | £525 | £11,354 | 21.6 yrs | £-863 |
| 4 kW | 3243 kWh | 2368 kWh | 876 kWh | £612 | £88 | £699 | £13,388 | 19.1 yrs | £599 |
| 5 kW | 4054 kWh | 2960 kWh | 1095 kWh | £765 | £109 | £874 | £15,423 | 17.6 yrs | £2,062 |
| 6 kW | 4865 kWh | 3551 kWh | 1314 kWh | £918 | £131 | £1,049 | £17,457 | 16.6 yrs | £3,524 |
| 7 kW | 5676 kWh | 4143 kWh | 1532 kWh | £1,071 | £153 | £1,224 | £19,492 | 15.9 yrs | £4,986 |
| 8 kW | 6487 kWh | 4735 kWh | 1751 kWh | £1,224 | £175 | £1,399 | £21,526 | 15.4 yrs | £6,449 |
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: £887, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1622 kWh | 1216 kWh | 405 kWh | £314 | £41 | £355 | £11,069 | 31.2 yrs | £-3,973 |
| 3 kW | 2433 kWh | 1824 kWh | 608 kWh | £471 | £61 | £532 | £13,104 | 24.6 yrs | £-2,459 |
| 4 kW | 3243 kWh | 2433 kWh | 811 kWh | £629 | £81 | £710 | £15,138 | 21.3 yrs | £-945 |
| 5 kW | 4054 kWh | 3041 kWh | 1014 kWh | £786 | £101 | £887 | £17,173 | 19.4 yrs | £569 |
| 6 kW | 4865 kWh | 3649 kWh | 1216 kWh | £943 | £122 | £1,064 | £19,207 | 18.0 yrs | £2,082 |
| 7 kW | 5676 kWh | 4257 kWh | 1419 kWh | £1,100 | £142 | £1,242 | £21,242 | 17.1 yrs | £3,596 |
| 8 kW | 6487 kWh | 4865 kWh | 1622 kWh | £1,257 | £162 | £1,419 | £23,276 | 16.4 yrs | £5,110 |
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: £900, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1622 kWh | 1249 kWh | 373 kWh | £323 | £37 | £360 | £13,519 | 37.6 yrs | £-6,320 |
| 3 kW | 2433 kWh | 1873 kWh | 559 kWh | £484 | £56 | £540 | £15,554 | 28.8 yrs | £-4,755 |
| 4 kW | 3243 kWh | 2497 kWh | 746 kWh | £645 | £75 | £720 | £17,588 | 24.4 yrs | £-3,190 |
| 5 kW | 4054 kWh | 3122 kWh | 932 kWh | £807 | £93 | £900 | £19,623 | 21.8 yrs | £-1,624 |
| 6 kW | 4865 kWh | 3746 kWh | 1119 kWh | £968 | £112 | £1,080 | £21,657 | 20.1 yrs | £-59 |
| 7 kW | 5676 kWh | 4370 kWh | 1305 kWh | £1,129 | £131 | £1,260 | £23,692 | 18.8 yrs | £1,506 |
| 8 kW | 6487 kWh | 4995 kWh | 1492 kWh | £1,291 | £149 | £1,440 | £25,726 | 17.9 yrs | £3,071 |
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.