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 967 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: £784, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1933 kWh | 773 kWh | 1160 kWh | £198 | £116 | £314 | £4,069 | 13.0 yrs | £2,202 |
| 3 kW | 2900 kWh | 1160 kWh | 1740 kWh | £296 | £174 | £470 | £6,104 | 13.0 yrs | £3,303 |
| 4 kW | 3866 kWh | 1546 kWh | 2320 kWh | £395 | £232 | £627 | £8,138 | 13.0 yrs | £4,404 |
| 5 kW | 4833 kWh | 1933 kWh | 2900 kWh | £494 | £290 | £784 | £10,173 | 13.0 yrs | £5,505 |
| 6 kW | 5799 kWh | 2320 kWh | 3480 kWh | £593 | £348 | £941 | £12,207 | 13.0 yrs | £6,605 |
| 7 kW | 6766 kWh | 2706 kWh | 4059 kWh | £691 | £406 | £1,097 | £14,242 | 13.0 yrs | £7,706 |
| 8 kW | 7732 kWh | 3093 kWh | 4639 kWh | £790 | £464 | £1,254 | £16,276 | 13.0 yrs | £8,807 |
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: £934, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1933 kWh | 1160 kWh | 773 kWh | £296 | £77 | £374 | £6,169 | 16.5 yrs | £1,304 |
| 3 kW | 2900 kWh | 1740 kWh | 1160 kWh | £445 | £116 | £560 | £8,204 | 14.6 yrs | £3,006 |
| 4 kW | 3866 kWh | 2320 kWh | 1546 kWh | £593 | £155 | £747 | £10,238 | 13.7 yrs | £4,708 |
| 5 kW | 4833 kWh | 2900 kWh | 1933 kWh | £741 | £193 | £934 | £12,273 | 13.1 yrs | £6,410 |
| 6 kW | 5799 kWh | 3480 kWh | 2320 kWh | £889 | £232 | £1,121 | £14,307 | 12.8 yrs | £8,113 |
| 7 kW | 6766 kWh | 4059 kWh | 2706 kWh | £1,037 | £271 | £1,308 | £16,342 | 12.5 yrs | £9,815 |
| 8 kW | 7732 kWh | 4639 kWh | 3093 kWh | £1,185 | £309 | £1,495 | £18,376 | 12.3 yrs | £11,517 |
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: £1,009, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1933 kWh | 1353 kWh | 580 kWh | £346 | £58 | £404 | £7,569 | 18.7 yrs | £505 |
| 3 kW | 2900 kWh | 2030 kWh | 870 kWh | £519 | £87 | £606 | £9,604 | 15.9 yrs | £2,508 |
| 4 kW | 3866 kWh | 2706 kWh | 1160 kWh | £691 | £116 | £807 | £11,638 | 14.4 yrs | £4,511 |
| 5 kW | 4833 kWh | 3383 kWh | 1450 kWh | £864 | £145 | £1,009 | £13,673 | 13.5 yrs | £6,513 |
| 6 kW | 5799 kWh | 4059 kWh | 1740 kWh | £1,037 | £174 | £1,211 | £15,707 | 13.0 yrs | £8,516 |
| 7 kW | 6766 kWh | 4736 kWh | 2030 kWh | £1,210 | £203 | £1,413 | £17,742 | 12.6 yrs | £10,519 |
| 8 kW | 7732 kWh | 5413 kWh | 2320 kWh | £1,383 | £232 | £1,615 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,521 |
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: £1,032, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1933 kWh | 1411 kWh | 522 kWh | £361 | £52 | £413 | £9,319 | 22.6 yrs | £-1,064 |
| 3 kW | 2900 kWh | 2117 kWh | 783 kWh | £541 | £78 | £619 | £11,354 | 18.3 yrs | £1,029 |
| 4 kW | 3866 kWh | 2822 kWh | 1044 kWh | £721 | £104 | £825 | £13,388 | 16.2 yrs | £3,121 |
| 5 kW | 4833 kWh | 3528 kWh | 1305 kWh | £901 | £130 | £1,032 | £15,423 | 14.9 yrs | £5,214 |
| 6 kW | 5799 kWh | 4233 kWh | 1566 kWh | £1,082 | £157 | £1,238 | £17,457 | 14.1 yrs | £7,307 |
| 7 kW | 6766 kWh | 4939 kWh | 1827 kWh | £1,262 | £183 | £1,445 | £19,492 | 13.5 yrs | £9,400 |
| 8 kW | 7732 kWh | 5645 kWh | 2088 kWh | £1,442 | £209 | £1,651 | £21,526 | 13.0 yrs | £11,493 |
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: £1,047, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1933 kWh | 1450 kWh | 483 kWh | £370 | £48 | £419 | £11,069 | 26.4 yrs | £-2,694 |
| 3 kW | 2900 kWh | 2175 kWh | 725 kWh | £556 | £72 | £628 | £13,104 | 20.9 yrs | £-541 |
| 4 kW | 3866 kWh | 2900 kWh | 967 kWh | £741 | £97 | £837 | £15,138 | 18.1 yrs | £1,612 |
| 5 kW | 4833 kWh | 3624 kWh | 1208 kWh | £926 | £121 | £1,047 | £17,173 | 16.4 yrs | £3,765 |
| 6 kW | 5799 kWh | 4349 kWh | 1450 kWh | £1,111 | £145 | £1,256 | £19,207 | 15.3 yrs | £5,918 |
| 7 kW | 6766 kWh | 5074 kWh | 1691 kWh | £1,296 | £169 | £1,466 | £21,242 | 14.5 yrs | £8,071 |
| 8 kW | 7732 kWh | 5799 kWh | 1933 kWh | £1,482 | £193 | £1,675 | £23,276 | 13.9 yrs | £10,224 |
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: £1,062, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1933 kWh | 1488 kWh | 445 kWh | £380 | £44 | £425 | £13,519 | 31.8 yrs | £-5,024 |
| 3 kW | 2900 kWh | 2233 kWh | 667 kWh | £570 | £67 | £637 | £15,554 | 24.4 yrs | £-2,811 |
| 4 kW | 3866 kWh | 2977 kWh | 889 kWh | £761 | £89 | £850 | £17,588 | 20.7 yrs | £-598 |
| 5 kW | 4833 kWh | 3721 kWh | 1112 kWh | £951 | £111 | £1,062 | £19,623 | 18.5 yrs | £1,615 |
| 6 kW | 5799 kWh | 4465 kWh | 1334 kWh | £1,141 | £133 | £1,274 | £21,657 | 17.0 yrs | £3,829 |
| 7 kW | 6766 kWh | 5210 kWh | 1556 kWh | £1,331 | £156 | £1,487 | £23,692 | 15.9 yrs | £6,042 |
| 8 kW | 7732 kWh | 5954 kWh | 1778 kWh | £1,521 | £178 | £1,699 | £25,726 | 15.1 yrs | £8,255 |
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.