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 948 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.4p 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: £766, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1895 kWh | 758 kWh | 1137 kWh | £193 | £114 | £307 | £4,069 | 13.3 yrs | £2,061 |
| 3 kW | 2843 kWh | 1137 kWh | 1706 kWh | £289 | £171 | £460 | £6,104 | 13.3 yrs | £3,092 |
| 4 kW | 3791 kWh | 1516 kWh | 2274 kWh | £386 | £227 | £613 | £8,138 | 13.3 yrs | £4,123 |
| 5 kW | 4738 kWh | 1895 kWh | 2843 kWh | £482 | £284 | £766 | £10,173 | 13.3 yrs | £5,153 |
| 6 kW | 5686 kWh | 2274 kWh | 3412 kWh | £578 | £341 | £920 | £12,207 | 13.3 yrs | £6,184 |
| 7 kW | 6634 kWh | 2653 kWh | 3980 kWh | £675 | £398 | £1,073 | £14,242 | 13.3 yrs | £7,214 |
| 8 kW | 7581 kWh | 3033 kWh | 4549 kWh | £771 | £455 | £1,226 | £16,276 | 13.3 yrs | £8,245 |
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: £913, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1895 kWh | 1137 kWh | 758 kWh | £289 | £76 | £365 | £6,169 | 16.9 yrs | £1,131 |
| 3 kW | 2843 kWh | 1706 kWh | 1137 kWh | £434 | £114 | £548 | £8,204 | 15.0 yrs | £2,747 |
| 4 kW | 3791 kWh | 2274 kWh | 1516 kWh | £578 | £152 | £730 | £10,238 | 14.0 yrs | £4,362 |
| 5 kW | 4738 kWh | 2843 kWh | 1895 kWh | £723 | £190 | £913 | £12,273 | 13.4 yrs | £5,978 |
| 6 kW | 5686 kWh | 3412 kWh | 2274 kWh | £868 | £227 | £1,095 | £14,307 | 13.1 yrs | £7,593 |
| 7 kW | 6634 kWh | 3980 kWh | 2653 kWh | £1,012 | £265 | £1,278 | £16,342 | 12.8 yrs | £9,209 |
| 8 kW | 7581 kWh | 4549 kWh | 3033 kWh | £1,157 | £303 | £1,460 | £18,376 | 12.6 yrs | £10,824 |
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: £986, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1895 kWh | 1327 kWh | 569 kWh | £337 | £57 | £394 | £7,569 | 19.2 yrs | £316 |
| 3 kW | 2843 kWh | 1990 kWh | 853 kWh | £506 | £85 | £591 | £9,604 | 16.2 yrs | £2,224 |
| 4 kW | 3791 kWh | 2653 kWh | 1137 kWh | £675 | £114 | £788 | £11,638 | 14.8 yrs | £4,132 |
| 5 kW | 4738 kWh | 3317 kWh | 1422 kWh | £843 | £142 | £986 | £13,673 | 13.9 yrs | £6,040 |
| 6 kW | 5686 kWh | 3980 kWh | 1706 kWh | £1,012 | £171 | £1,183 | £15,707 | 13.3 yrs | £7,948 |
| 7 kW | 6634 kWh | 4644 kWh | 1990 kWh | £1,181 | £199 | £1,380 | £17,742 | 12.9 yrs | £9,856 |
| 8 kW | 7581 kWh | 5307 kWh | 2274 kWh | £1,350 | £227 | £1,577 | £19,776 | 12.5 yrs | £11,764 |
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: £1,008, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1895 kWh | 1384 kWh | 512 kWh | £352 | £51 | £403 | £9,319 | 23.1 yrs | £-1,259 |
| 3 kW | 2843 kWh | 2075 kWh | 768 kWh | £528 | £77 | £605 | £11,354 | 18.8 yrs | £737 |
| 4 kW | 3791 kWh | 2767 kWh | 1023 kWh | £704 | £102 | £806 | £13,388 | 16.6 yrs | £2,733 |
| 5 kW | 4738 kWh | 3459 kWh | 1279 kWh | £880 | £128 | £1,008 | £15,423 | 15.3 yrs | £4,729 |
| 6 kW | 5686 kWh | 4151 kWh | 1535 kWh | £1,056 | £154 | £1,209 | £17,457 | 14.4 yrs | £6,724 |
| 7 kW | 6634 kWh | 4843 kWh | 1791 kWh | £1,231 | £179 | £1,411 | £19,492 | 13.8 yrs | £8,720 |
| 8 kW | 7581 kWh | 5534 kWh | 2047 kWh | £1,407 | £205 | £1,612 | £21,526 | 13.4 yrs | £10,716 |
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: £1,022, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1895 kWh | 1422 kWh | 474 kWh | £361 | £47 | £409 | £11,069 | 27.1 yrs | £-2,892 |
| 3 kW | 2843 kWh | 2132 kWh | 711 kWh | £542 | £71 | £613 | £13,104 | 21.4 yrs | £-837 |
| 4 kW | 3791 kWh | 2843 kWh | 948 kWh | £723 | £95 | £818 | £15,138 | 18.5 yrs | £1,217 |
| 5 kW | 4738 kWh | 3554 kWh | 1185 kWh | £904 | £118 | £1,022 | £17,173 | 16.8 yrs | £3,271 |
| 6 kW | 5686 kWh | 4265 kWh | 1422 kWh | £1,084 | £142 | £1,227 | £19,207 | 15.7 yrs | £5,325 |
| 7 kW | 6634 kWh | 4975 kWh | 1658 kWh | £1,265 | £166 | £1,431 | £21,242 | 14.8 yrs | £7,379 |
| 8 kW | 7581 kWh | 5686 kWh | 1895 kWh | £1,446 | £190 | £1,635 | £23,276 | 14.2 yrs | £9,434 |
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: £1,037, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1895 kWh | 1459 kWh | 436 kWh | £371 | £44 | £415 | £13,519 | 32.6 yrs | £-5,225 |
| 3 kW | 2843 kWh | 2189 kWh | 654 kWh | £557 | £65 | £622 | £15,554 | 25.0 yrs | £-3,112 |
| 4 kW | 3791 kWh | 2919 kWh | 872 kWh | £742 | £87 | £829 | £17,588 | 21.2 yrs | £-999 |
| 5 kW | 4738 kWh | 3649 kWh | 1090 kWh | £928 | £109 | £1,037 | £19,623 | 18.9 yrs | £1,114 |
| 6 kW | 5686 kWh | 4378 kWh | 1308 kWh | £1,113 | £131 | £1,244 | £21,657 | 17.4 yrs | £3,226 |
| 7 kW | 6634 kWh | 5108 kWh | 1526 kWh | £1,299 | £153 | £1,452 | £23,692 | 16.3 yrs | £5,339 |
| 8 kW | 7581 kWh | 5838 kWh | 1744 kWh | £1,485 | £174 | £1,659 | £25,726 | 15.5 yrs | £7,452 |
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.