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 1057 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p 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: £878, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2115 kWh | 846 kWh | 1269 kWh | £224 | £127 | £351 | £4,069 | 11.6 yrs | £2,957 |
| 3 kW | 3172 kWh | 1269 kWh | 1903 kWh | £337 | £190 | £527 | £6,104 | 11.6 yrs | £4,435 |
| 4 kW | 4229 kWh | 1692 kWh | 2538 kWh | £449 | £254 | £703 | £8,138 | 11.6 yrs | £5,914 |
| 5 kW | 5287 kWh | 2115 kWh | 3172 kWh | £561 | £317 | £878 | £10,173 | 11.6 yrs | £7,392 |
| 6 kW | 6344 kWh | 2538 kWh | 3806 kWh | £673 | £381 | £1,054 | £12,207 | 11.6 yrs | £8,870 |
| 7 kW | 7401 kWh | 2961 kWh | 4441 kWh | £785 | £444 | £1,230 | £14,242 | 11.6 yrs | £10,349 |
| 8 kW | 8459 kWh | 3383 kWh | 5075 kWh | £898 | £508 | £1,405 | £16,276 | 11.6 yrs | £11,827 |
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: £1,053, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2115 kWh | 1269 kWh | 846 kWh | £337 | £85 | £421 | £6,169 | 14.6 yrs | £2,255 |
| 3 kW | 3172 kWh | 1903 kWh | 1269 kWh | £505 | £127 | £632 | £8,204 | 13.0 yrs | £4,433 |
| 4 kW | 4229 kWh | 2538 kWh | 1692 kWh | £673 | £169 | £842 | £10,238 | 12.2 yrs | £6,610 |
| 5 kW | 5287 kWh | 3172 kWh | 2115 kWh | £842 | £211 | £1,053 | £12,273 | 11.7 yrs | £8,788 |
| 6 kW | 6344 kWh | 3806 kWh | 2538 kWh | £1,010 | £254 | £1,264 | £14,307 | 11.3 yrs | £10,965 |
| 7 kW | 7401 kWh | 4441 kWh | 2961 kWh | £1,178 | £296 | £1,474 | £16,342 | 11.1 yrs | £13,143 |
| 8 kW | 8459 kWh | 5075 kWh | 3383 kWh | £1,346 | £338 | £1,685 | £18,376 | 10.9 yrs | £15,320 |
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: £1,140, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2115 kWh | 1480 kWh | 634 kWh | £393 | £63 | £456 | £7,569 | 16.6 yrs | £1,554 |
| 3 kW | 3172 kWh | 2220 kWh | 952 kWh | £589 | £95 | £684 | £9,604 | 14.0 yrs | £4,081 |
| 4 kW | 4229 kWh | 2961 kWh | 1269 kWh | £785 | £127 | £912 | £11,638 | 12.8 yrs | £6,608 |
| 5 kW | 5287 kWh | 3701 kWh | 1586 kWh | £982 | £159 | £1,140 | £13,673 | 12.0 yrs | £9,135 |
| 6 kW | 6344 kWh | 4441 kWh | 1903 kWh | £1,178 | £190 | £1,368 | £15,707 | 11.5 yrs | £11,662 |
| 7 kW | 7401 kWh | 5181 kWh | 2220 kWh | £1,375 | £222 | £1,597 | £17,742 | 11.1 yrs | £14,189 |
| 8 kW | 8459 kWh | 5921 kWh | 2538 kWh | £1,571 | £254 | £1,825 | £19,776 | 10.8 yrs | £16,717 |
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: £1,167, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 2115 kWh | 1544 kWh | 571 kWh | £410 | £57 | £467 | £9,319 | 20.0 yrs | £14 |
| 3 kW | 3172 kWh | 2316 kWh | 856 kWh | £614 | £86 | £700 | £11,354 | 16.2 yrs | £2,646 |
| 4 kW | 4229 kWh | 3087 kWh | 1142 kWh | £819 | £114 | £933 | £13,388 | 14.3 yrs | £5,278 |
| 5 kW | 5287 kWh | 3859 kWh | 1427 kWh | £1,024 | £143 | £1,167 | £15,423 | 13.2 yrs | £7,910 |
| 6 kW | 6344 kWh | 4631 kWh | 1713 kWh | £1,229 | £171 | £1,400 | £17,457 | 12.5 yrs | £10,542 |
| 7 kW | 7401 kWh | 5403 kWh | 1998 kWh | £1,433 | £200 | £1,633 | £19,492 | 11.9 yrs | £13,174 |
| 8 kW | 8459 kWh | 6175 kWh | 2284 kWh | £1,638 | £228 | £1,867 | £21,526 | 11.5 yrs | £15,805 |
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: £1,184, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 2115 kWh | 1586 kWh | 529 kWh | £421 | £53 | £474 | £11,069 | 23.4 yrs | £-1,596 |
| 3 kW | 3172 kWh | 2379 kWh | 793 kWh | £631 | £79 | £710 | £13,104 | 18.4 yrs | £1,106 |
| 4 kW | 4229 kWh | 3172 kWh | 1057 kWh | £842 | £106 | £947 | £15,138 | 16.0 yrs | £3,807 |
| 5 kW | 5287 kWh | 3965 kWh | 1322 kWh | £1,052 | £132 | £1,184 | £17,173 | 14.5 yrs | £6,509 |
| 6 kW | 6344 kWh | 4758 kWh | 1586 kWh | £1,262 | £159 | £1,421 | £19,207 | 13.5 yrs | £9,211 |
| 7 kW | 7401 kWh | 5551 kWh | 1850 kWh | £1,473 | £185 | £1,658 | £21,242 | 12.8 yrs | £11,913 |
| 8 kW | 8459 kWh | 6344 kWh | 2115 kWh | £1,683 | £211 | £1,895 | £23,276 | 12.3 yrs | £14,615 |
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: £1,202, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 2115 kWh | 1628 kWh | 486 kWh | £432 | £49 | £481 | £13,519 | 28.1 yrs | £-3,906 |
| 3 kW | 3172 kWh | 2442 kWh | 730 kWh | £648 | £73 | £721 | £15,554 | 21.6 yrs | £-1,135 |
| 4 kW | 4229 kWh | 3257 kWh | 973 kWh | £864 | £97 | £961 | £17,588 | 18.3 yrs | £1,637 |
| 5 kW | 5287 kWh | 4071 kWh | 1216 kWh | £1,080 | £122 | £1,202 | £19,623 | 16.3 yrs | £4,409 |
| 6 kW | 6344 kWh | 4885 kWh | 1459 kWh | £1,296 | £146 | £1,442 | £21,657 | 15.0 yrs | £7,181 |
| 7 kW | 7401 kWh | 5699 kWh | 1702 kWh | £1,512 | £170 | £1,682 | £23,692 | 14.1 yrs | £9,952 |
| 8 kW | 8459 kWh | 6513 kWh | 1946 kWh | £1,728 | £195 | £1,923 | £25,726 | 13.4 yrs | £12,724 |
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.