A typical roof here lands around 3.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 988 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p 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: £803, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 790 kWh | 1185 kWh | £203 | £119 | £321 | £4,069 | 12.7 yrs | £2,353 |
| 3 kW | 2964 kWh | 1185 kWh | 1778 kWh | £304 | £178 | £482 | £6,104 | 12.7 yrs | £3,529 |
| 4 kW | 3951 kWh | 1581 kWh | 2371 kWh | £405 | £237 | £642 | £8,138 | 12.7 yrs | £4,706 |
| 5 kW | 4939 kWh | 1976 kWh | 2964 kWh | £506 | £296 | £803 | £10,173 | 12.7 yrs | £5,882 |
| 6 kW | 5927 kWh | 2371 kWh | 3556 kWh | £608 | £356 | £963 | £12,207 | 12.7 yrs | £7,059 |
| 7 kW | 6915 kWh | 2766 kWh | 4149 kWh | £709 | £415 | £1,124 | £14,242 | 12.7 yrs | £8,235 |
| 8 kW | 7903 kWh | 3161 kWh | 4742 kWh | £810 | £474 | £1,284 | £16,276 | 12.7 yrs | £9,411 |
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: £957, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 1185 kWh | 790 kWh | £304 | £79 | £383 | £6,169 | 16.1 yrs | £1,488 |
| 3 kW | 2964 kWh | 1778 kWh | 1185 kWh | £456 | £119 | £574 | £8,204 | 14.3 yrs | £3,282 |
| 4 kW | 3951 kWh | 2371 kWh | 1581 kWh | £608 | £158 | £766 | £10,238 | 13.4 yrs | £5,076 |
| 5 kW | 4939 kWh | 2964 kWh | 1976 kWh | £760 | £198 | £957 | £12,273 | 12.8 yrs | £6,870 |
| 6 kW | 5927 kWh | 3556 kWh | 2371 kWh | £911 | £237 | £1,149 | £14,307 | 12.5 yrs | £8,664 |
| 7 kW | 6915 kWh | 4149 kWh | 2766 kWh | £1,063 | £277 | £1,340 | £16,342 | 12.2 yrs | £10,458 |
| 8 kW | 7903 kWh | 4742 kWh | 3161 kWh | £1,215 | £316 | £1,531 | £18,376 | 12.0 yrs | £12,252 |
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: £1,034, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 1383 kWh | 593 kWh | £354 | £59 | £414 | £7,569 | 18.3 yrs | £706 |
| 3 kW | 2964 kWh | 2075 kWh | 889 kWh | £532 | £89 | £621 | £9,604 | 15.5 yrs | £2,809 |
| 4 kW | 3951 kWh | 2766 kWh | 1185 kWh | £709 | £119 | £827 | £11,638 | 14.1 yrs | £4,911 |
| 5 kW | 4939 kWh | 3458 kWh | 1482 kWh | £886 | £148 | £1,034 | £13,673 | 13.2 yrs | £7,014 |
| 6 kW | 5927 kWh | 4149 kWh | 1778 kWh | £1,063 | £178 | £1,241 | £15,707 | 12.7 yrs | £9,117 |
| 7 kW | 6915 kWh | 4841 kWh | 2075 kWh | £1,241 | £207 | £1,448 | £17,742 | 12.3 yrs | £11,220 |
| 8 kW | 7903 kWh | 5532 kWh | 2371 kWh | £1,418 | £237 | £1,655 | £19,776 | 11.9 yrs | £13,323 |
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: £1,057, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 1442 kWh | 533 kWh | £370 | £53 | £423 | £9,319 | 22.0 yrs | £-859 |
| 3 kW | 2964 kWh | 2163 kWh | 800 kWh | £554 | £80 | £634 | £11,354 | 17.9 yrs | £1,336 |
| 4 kW | 3951 kWh | 2885 kWh | 1067 kWh | £739 | £107 | £846 | £13,388 | 15.8 yrs | £3,532 |
| 5 kW | 4939 kWh | 3606 kWh | 1334 kWh | £924 | £133 | £1,057 | £15,423 | 14.6 yrs | £5,727 |
| 6 kW | 5927 kWh | 4327 kWh | 1600 kWh | £1,109 | £160 | £1,269 | £17,457 | 13.8 yrs | £7,923 |
| 7 kW | 6915 kWh | 5048 kWh | 1867 kWh | £1,294 | £187 | £1,480 | £19,492 | 13.2 yrs | £10,118 |
| 8 kW | 7903 kWh | 5769 kWh | 2134 kWh | £1,479 | £213 | £1,692 | £21,526 | 12.7 yrs | £12,314 |
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: £1,073, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 1976 kWh | 1482 kWh | 494 kWh | £380 | £49 | £429 | £11,069 | 25.8 yrs | £-2,486 |
| 3 kW | 2964 kWh | 2223 kWh | 741 kWh | £570 | £74 | £644 | £13,104 | 20.4 yrs | £-228 |
| 4 kW | 3951 kWh | 2964 kWh | 988 kWh | £760 | £99 | £858 | £15,138 | 17.6 yrs | £2,029 |
| 5 kW | 4939 kWh | 3704 kWh | 1235 kWh | £949 | £123 | £1,073 | £17,173 | 16.0 yrs | £4,286 |
| 6 kW | 5927 kWh | 4445 kWh | 1482 kWh | £1,139 | £148 | £1,288 | £19,207 | 14.9 yrs | £6,543 |
| 7 kW | 6915 kWh | 5186 kWh | 1729 kWh | £1,329 | £173 | £1,502 | £21,242 | 14.1 yrs | £8,801 |
| 8 kW | 7903 kWh | 5927 kWh | 1976 kWh | £1,519 | £198 | £1,717 | £23,276 | 13.6 yrs | £11,058 |
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: £1,088, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 1521 kWh | 454 kWh | £390 | £45 | £435 | £13,519 | 31.1 yrs | £-4,812 |
| 3 kW | 2964 kWh | 2282 kWh | 682 kWh | £585 | £68 | £653 | £15,554 | 23.8 yrs | £-2,493 |
| 4 kW | 3951 kWh | 3043 kWh | 909 kWh | £780 | £91 | £871 | £17,588 | 20.2 yrs | £-174 |
| 5 kW | 4939 kWh | 3803 kWh | 1136 kWh | £975 | £114 | £1,088 | £19,623 | 18.0 yrs | £2,145 |
| 6 kW | 5927 kWh | 4564 kWh | 1363 kWh | £1,170 | £136 | £1,306 | £21,657 | 16.6 yrs | £4,464 |
| 7 kW | 6915 kWh | 5325 kWh | 1590 kWh | £1,365 | £159 | £1,524 | £23,692 | 15.5 yrs | £6,783 |
| 8 kW | 7903 kWh | 6085 kWh | 1818 kWh | £1,560 | £182 | £1,741 | £25,726 | 14.8 yrs | £9,102 |
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.