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 997 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: £808, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1993 kWh | 797 kWh | 1196 kWh | £204 | £120 | £323 | £4,069 | 12.6 yrs | £2,397 |
| 3 kW | 2990 kWh | 1196 kWh | 1794 kWh | £306 | £179 | £485 | £6,104 | 12.6 yrs | £3,596 |
| 4 kW | 3987 kWh | 1595 kWh | 2392 kWh | £407 | £239 | £647 | £8,138 | 12.6 yrs | £4,795 |
| 5 kW | 4983 kWh | 1993 kWh | 2990 kWh | £509 | £299 | £808 | £10,173 | 12.6 yrs | £5,994 |
| 6 kW | 5980 kWh | 2392 kWh | 3588 kWh | £611 | £359 | £970 | £12,207 | 12.6 yrs | £7,192 |
| 7 kW | 6977 kWh | 2791 kWh | 4186 kWh | £713 | £419 | £1,132 | £14,242 | 12.6 yrs | £8,391 |
| 8 kW | 7973 kWh | 3189 kWh | 4784 kWh | £815 | £478 | £1,293 | £16,276 | 12.6 yrs | £9,590 |
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: £963, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1993 kWh | 1196 kWh | 797 kWh | £306 | £80 | £385 | £6,169 | 16.0 yrs | £1,537 |
| 3 kW | 2990 kWh | 1794 kWh | 1196 kWh | £458 | £120 | £578 | £8,204 | 14.2 yrs | £3,356 |
| 4 kW | 3987 kWh | 2392 kWh | 1595 kWh | £611 | £159 | £771 | £10,238 | 13.3 yrs | £5,175 |
| 5 kW | 4983 kWh | 2990 kWh | 1993 kWh | £764 | £199 | £963 | £12,273 | 12.7 yrs | £6,993 |
| 6 kW | 5980 kWh | 3588 kWh | 2392 kWh | £917 | £239 | £1,156 | £14,307 | 12.4 yrs | £8,812 |
| 7 kW | 6977 kWh | 4186 kWh | 2791 kWh | £1,070 | £279 | £1,349 | £16,342 | 12.1 yrs | £10,631 |
| 8 kW | 7973 kWh | 4784 kWh | 3189 kWh | £1,222 | £319 | £1,541 | £18,376 | 11.9 yrs | £12,449 |
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: £1,041, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1993 kWh | 1395 kWh | 598 kWh | £357 | £60 | £416 | £7,569 | 18.2 yrs | £757 |
| 3 kW | 2990 kWh | 2093 kWh | 897 kWh | £535 | £90 | £624 | £9,604 | 15.4 yrs | £2,886 |
| 4 kW | 3987 kWh | 2791 kWh | 1196 kWh | £713 | £120 | £833 | £11,638 | 14.0 yrs | £5,014 |
| 5 kW | 4983 kWh | 3488 kWh | 1495 kWh | £891 | £150 | £1,041 | £13,673 | 13.1 yrs | £7,143 |
| 6 kW | 5980 kWh | 4186 kWh | 1794 kWh | £1,070 | £179 | £1,249 | £15,707 | 12.6 yrs | £9,272 |
| 7 kW | 6977 kWh | 4884 kWh | 2093 kWh | £1,248 | £209 | £1,457 | £17,742 | 12.2 yrs | £11,400 |
| 8 kW | 7973 kWh | 5581 kWh | 2392 kWh | £1,426 | £239 | £1,665 | £19,776 | 11.9 yrs | £13,529 |
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: £1,064, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1993 kWh | 1455 kWh | 538 kWh | £372 | £54 | £426 | £9,319 | 21.9 yrs | £-807 |
| 3 kW | 2990 kWh | 2183 kWh | 807 kWh | £558 | £81 | £638 | £11,354 | 17.8 yrs | £1,415 |
| 4 kW | 3987 kWh | 2910 kWh | 1076 kWh | £744 | £108 | £851 | £13,388 | 15.7 yrs | £3,636 |
| 5 kW | 4983 kWh | 3638 kWh | 1346 kWh | £929 | £135 | £1,064 | £15,423 | 14.5 yrs | £5,858 |
| 6 kW | 5980 kWh | 4365 kWh | 1615 kWh | £1,115 | £161 | £1,277 | £17,457 | 13.7 yrs | £8,080 |
| 7 kW | 6977 kWh | 5093 kWh | 1884 kWh | £1,301 | £188 | £1,490 | £19,492 | 13.1 yrs | £10,301 |
| 8 kW | 7973 kWh | 5821 kWh | 2153 kWh | £1,487 | £215 | £1,702 | £21,526 | 12.6 yrs | £12,523 |
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: £1,080, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1993 kWh | 1495 kWh | 498 kWh | £382 | £50 | £432 | £11,069 | 25.6 yrs | £-2,433 |
| 3 kW | 2990 kWh | 2243 kWh | 748 kWh | £573 | £75 | £648 | £13,104 | 20.2 yrs | £-149 |
| 4 kW | 3987 kWh | 2990 kWh | 997 kWh | £764 | £100 | £864 | £15,138 | 17.5 yrs | £2,134 |
| 5 kW | 4983 kWh | 3738 kWh | 1246 kWh | £955 | £125 | £1,080 | £17,173 | 15.9 yrs | £4,418 |
| 6 kW | 5980 kWh | 4485 kWh | 1495 kWh | £1,146 | £150 | £1,295 | £19,207 | 14.8 yrs | £6,702 |
| 7 kW | 6977 kWh | 5233 kWh | 1744 kWh | £1,337 | £174 | £1,511 | £21,242 | 14.1 yrs | £8,985 |
| 8 kW | 7973 kWh | 5980 kWh | 1993 kWh | £1,528 | £199 | £1,727 | £23,276 | 13.5 yrs | £11,269 |
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: £1,095, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1993 kWh | 1535 kWh | 458 kWh | £392 | £46 | £438 | £13,519 | 30.9 yrs | £-4,759 |
| 3 kW | 2990 kWh | 2302 kWh | 688 kWh | £588 | £69 | £657 | £15,554 | 23.7 yrs | £-2,413 |
| 4 kW | 3987 kWh | 3070 kWh | 917 kWh | £784 | £92 | £876 | £17,588 | 20.1 yrs | £-68 |
| 5 kW | 4983 kWh | 3837 kWh | 1146 kWh | £980 | £115 | £1,095 | £19,623 | 17.9 yrs | £2,278 |
| 6 kW | 5980 kWh | 4605 kWh | 1375 kWh | £1,176 | £138 | £1,314 | £21,657 | 16.5 yrs | £4,624 |
| 7 kW | 6977 kWh | 5372 kWh | 1605 kWh | £1,373 | £160 | £1,533 | £23,692 | 15.5 yrs | £6,969 |
| 8 kW | 7973 kWh | 6140 kWh | 1834 kWh | £1,569 | £183 | £1,752 | £25,726 | 14.7 yrs | £9,315 |
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.