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 974 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: £790, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 779 kWh | 1168 kWh | £199 | £117 | £316 | £4,069 | 12.9 yrs | £2,247 |
| 3 kW | 2921 kWh | 1168 kWh | 1752 kWh | £298 | £175 | £474 | £6,104 | 12.9 yrs | £3,371 |
| 4 kW | 3894 kWh | 1558 kWh | 2336 kWh | £398 | £234 | £632 | £8,138 | 12.9 yrs | £4,494 |
| 5 kW | 4868 kWh | 1947 kWh | 2921 kWh | £497 | £292 | £790 | £10,173 | 12.9 yrs | £5,618 |
| 6 kW | 5841 kWh | 2336 kWh | 3505 kWh | £597 | £350 | £947 | £12,207 | 12.9 yrs | £6,741 |
| 7 kW | 6815 kWh | 2726 kWh | 4089 kWh | £696 | £409 | £1,105 | £14,242 | 12.9 yrs | £7,865 |
| 8 kW | 7788 kWh | 3115 kWh | 4673 kWh | £796 | £467 | £1,263 | £16,276 | 12.9 yrs | £8,988 |
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: £941, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1168 kWh | 779 kWh | £298 | £78 | £376 | £6,169 | 16.4 yrs | £1,358 |
| 3 kW | 2921 kWh | 1752 kWh | 1168 kWh | £448 | £117 | £565 | £8,204 | 14.5 yrs | £3,087 |
| 4 kW | 3894 kWh | 2336 kWh | 1558 kWh | £597 | £156 | £753 | £10,238 | 13.6 yrs | £4,816 |
| 5 kW | 4868 kWh | 2921 kWh | 1947 kWh | £746 | £195 | £941 | £12,273 | 13.0 yrs | £6,545 |
| 6 kW | 5841 kWh | 3505 kWh | 2336 kWh | £895 | £234 | £1,129 | £14,307 | 12.7 yrs | £8,274 |
| 7 kW | 6815 kWh | 4089 kWh | 2726 kWh | £1,045 | £273 | £1,317 | £16,342 | 12.4 yrs | £10,004 |
| 8 kW | 7788 kWh | 4673 kWh | 3115 kWh | £1,194 | £312 | £1,505 | £18,376 | 12.2 yrs | £11,733 |
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: £1,017, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1947 kWh | 1363 kWh | 584 kWh | £348 | £58 | £407 | £7,569 | 18.6 yrs | £564 |
| 3 kW | 2921 kWh | 2044 kWh | 876 kWh | £522 | £88 | £610 | £9,604 | 15.7 yrs | £2,596 |
| 4 kW | 3894 kWh | 2726 kWh | 1168 kWh | £696 | £117 | £813 | £11,638 | 14.3 yrs | £4,627 |
| 5 kW | 4868 kWh | 3407 kWh | 1460 kWh | £871 | £146 | £1,017 | £13,673 | 13.4 yrs | £6,659 |
| 6 kW | 5841 kWh | 4089 kWh | 1752 kWh | £1,045 | £175 | £1,220 | £15,707 | 12.9 yrs | £8,691 |
| 7 kW | 6815 kWh | 4770 kWh | 2044 kWh | £1,219 | £204 | £1,423 | £17,742 | 12.5 yrs | £10,723 |
| 8 kW | 7788 kWh | 5452 kWh | 2336 kWh | £1,393 | £234 | £1,627 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,755 |
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: £1,039, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1421 kWh | 526 kWh | £363 | £53 | £416 | £9,319 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,005 |
| 3 kW | 2921 kWh | 2132 kWh | 789 kWh | £545 | £79 | £624 | £11,354 | 18.2 yrs | £1,118 |
| 4 kW | 3894 kWh | 2843 kWh | 1051 kWh | £726 | £105 | £831 | £13,388 | 16.1 yrs | £3,241 |
| 5 kW | 4868 kWh | 3553 kWh | 1314 kWh | £908 | £131 | £1,039 | £15,423 | 14.8 yrs | £5,363 |
| 6 kW | 5841 kWh | 4264 kWh | 1577 kWh | £1,089 | £158 | £1,247 | £17,457 | 14.0 yrs | £7,486 |
| 7 kW | 6815 kWh | 4975 kWh | 1840 kWh | £1,271 | £184 | £1,455 | £19,492 | 13.4 yrs | £9,609 |
| 8 kW | 7788 kWh | 5685 kWh | 2103 kWh | £1,453 | £210 | £1,663 | £21,526 | 12.9 yrs | £11,731 |
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: £1,054, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1460 kWh | 487 kWh | £373 | £49 | £422 | £11,069 | 26.2 yrs | £-2,634 |
| 3 kW | 2921 kWh | 2190 kWh | 730 kWh | £560 | £73 | £633 | £13,104 | 20.7 yrs | £-450 |
| 4 kW | 3894 kWh | 2921 kWh | 974 kWh | £746 | £97 | £844 | £15,138 | 17.9 yrs | £1,733 |
| 5 kW | 4868 kWh | 3651 kWh | 1217 kWh | £933 | £122 | £1,054 | £17,173 | 16.3 yrs | £3,916 |
| 6 kW | 5841 kWh | 4381 kWh | 1460 kWh | £1,119 | £146 | £1,265 | £19,207 | 15.2 yrs | £6,099 |
| 7 kW | 6815 kWh | 5111 kWh | 1704 kWh | £1,306 | £170 | £1,476 | £21,242 | 14.4 yrs | £8,283 |
| 8 kW | 7788 kWh | 5841 kWh | 1947 kWh | £1,492 | £195 | £1,687 | £23,276 | 13.8 yrs | £10,466 |
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: £1,070, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1947 kWh | 1499 kWh | 448 kWh | £383 | £45 | £428 | £13,519 | 31.6 yrs | £-4,962 |
| 3 kW | 2921 kWh | 2249 kWh | 672 kWh | £575 | £67 | £642 | £15,554 | 24.2 yrs | £-2,719 |
| 4 kW | 3894 kWh | 2998 kWh | 896 kWh | £766 | £90 | £856 | £17,588 | 20.6 yrs | £-475 |
| 5 kW | 4868 kWh | 3748 kWh | 1120 kWh | £958 | £112 | £1,070 | £19,623 | 18.3 yrs | £1,769 |
| 6 kW | 5841 kWh | 4498 kWh | 1343 kWh | £1,149 | £134 | £1,283 | £21,657 | 16.9 yrs | £4,013 |
| 7 kW | 6815 kWh | 5247 kWh | 1567 kWh | £1,341 | £157 | £1,497 | £23,692 | 15.8 yrs | £6,256 |
| 8 kW | 7788 kWh | 5997 kWh | 1791 kWh | £1,532 | £179 | £1,711 | £25,726 | 15.0 yrs | £8,500 |
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.