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 1007 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: £836, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2014 kWh | 806 kWh | 1208 kWh | £214 | £121 | £335 | £4,069 | 12.2 yrs | £2,623 |
| 3 kW | 3021 kWh | 1208 kWh | 1813 kWh | £321 | £181 | £502 | £6,104 | 12.2 yrs | £3,934 |
| 4 kW | 4028 kWh | 1611 kWh | 2417 kWh | £427 | £242 | £669 | £8,138 | 12.2 yrs | £5,246 |
| 5 kW | 5035 kWh | 2014 kWh | 3021 kWh | £534 | £302 | £836 | £10,173 | 12.2 yrs | £6,557 |
| 6 kW | 6042 kWh | 2417 kWh | 3625 kWh | £641 | £363 | £1,004 | £12,207 | 12.2 yrs | £7,868 |
| 7 kW | 7050 kWh | 2820 kWh | 4230 kWh | £748 | £423 | £1,171 | £14,242 | 12.2 yrs | £9,180 |
| 8 kW | 8057 kWh | 3223 kWh | 4834 kWh | £855 | £483 | £1,338 | £16,276 | 12.2 yrs | £10,491 |
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: £1,003, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2014 kWh | 1208 kWh | 806 kWh | £321 | £81 | £401 | £6,169 | 15.4 yrs | £1,855 |
| 3 kW | 3021 kWh | 1813 kWh | 1208 kWh | £481 | £121 | £602 | £8,204 | 13.6 yrs | £3,832 |
| 4 kW | 4028 kWh | 2417 kWh | 1611 kWh | £641 | £161 | £802 | £10,238 | 12.8 yrs | £5,809 |
| 5 kW | 5035 kWh | 3021 kWh | 2014 kWh | £802 | £201 | £1,003 | £12,273 | 12.2 yrs | £7,786 |
| 6 kW | 6042 kWh | 3625 kWh | 2417 kWh | £962 | £242 | £1,204 | £14,307 | 11.9 yrs | £9,764 |
| 7 kW | 7050 kWh | 4230 kWh | 2820 kWh | £1,122 | £282 | £1,404 | £16,342 | 11.6 yrs | £11,741 |
| 8 kW | 8057 kWh | 4834 kWh | 3223 kWh | £1,282 | £322 | £1,605 | £18,376 | 11.5 yrs | £13,718 |
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: £1,086, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 2014 kWh | 1410 kWh | 604 kWh | £374 | £60 | £434 | £7,569 | 17.4 yrs | £1,120 |
| 3 kW | 3021 kWh | 2115 kWh | 906 kWh | £561 | £91 | £652 | £9,604 | 14.7 yrs | £3,431 |
| 4 kW | 4028 kWh | 2820 kWh | 1208 kWh | £748 | £121 | £869 | £11,638 | 13.4 yrs | £5,741 |
| 5 kW | 5035 kWh | 3525 kWh | 1511 kWh | £935 | £151 | £1,086 | £13,673 | 12.6 yrs | £8,051 |
| 6 kW | 6042 kWh | 4230 kWh | 1813 kWh | £1,122 | £181 | £1,303 | £15,707 | 12.1 yrs | £10,361 |
| 7 kW | 7050 kWh | 4935 kWh | 2115 kWh | £1,309 | £211 | £1,521 | £17,742 | 11.7 yrs | £12,672 |
| 8 kW | 8057 kWh | 5640 kWh | 2417 kWh | £1,496 | £242 | £1,738 | £19,776 | 11.4 yrs | £14,982 |
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: £1,111, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 2014 kWh | 1470 kWh | 544 kWh | £390 | £54 | £444 | £9,319 | 21.0 yrs | £-430 |
| 3 kW | 3021 kWh | 2206 kWh | 816 kWh | £585 | £82 | £667 | £11,354 | 17.0 yrs | £1,980 |
| 4 kW | 4028 kWh | 2941 kWh | 1088 kWh | £780 | £109 | £889 | £13,388 | 15.1 yrs | £4,390 |
| 5 kW | 5035 kWh | 3676 kWh | 1360 kWh | £975 | £136 | £1,111 | £15,423 | 13.9 yrs | £6,801 |
| 6 kW | 6042 kWh | 4411 kWh | 1631 kWh | £1,170 | £163 | £1,333 | £17,457 | 13.1 yrs | £9,211 |
| 7 kW | 7050 kWh | 5146 kWh | 1903 kWh | £1,365 | £190 | £1,556 | £19,492 | 12.5 yrs | £11,621 |
| 8 kW | 8057 kWh | 5881 kWh | 2175 kWh | £1,560 | £218 | £1,778 | £21,526 | 12.1 yrs | £14,031 |
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: £1,128, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2014 kWh | 1511 kWh | 504 kWh | £401 | £50 | £451 | £11,069 | 24.5 yrs | £-2,047 |
| 3 kW | 3021 kWh | 2266 kWh | 755 kWh | £601 | £76 | £677 | £13,104 | 19.4 yrs | £430 |
| 4 kW | 4028 kWh | 3021 kWh | 1007 kWh | £802 | £101 | £902 | £15,138 | 16.8 yrs | £2,907 |
| 5 kW | 5035 kWh | 3777 kWh | 1259 kWh | £1,002 | £126 | £1,128 | £17,173 | 15.2 yrs | £5,384 |
| 6 kW | 6042 kWh | 4532 kWh | 1511 kWh | £1,202 | £151 | £1,353 | £19,207 | 14.2 yrs | £7,860 |
| 7 kW | 7050 kWh | 5287 kWh | 1762 kWh | £1,403 | £176 | £1,579 | £21,242 | 13.5 yrs | £10,337 |
| 8 kW | 8057 kWh | 6042 kWh | 2014 kWh | £1,603 | £201 | £1,804 | £23,276 | 12.9 yrs | £12,814 |
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: £1,144, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2014 kWh | 1551 kWh | 463 kWh | £411 | £46 | £458 | £13,519 | 29.5 yrs | £-4,363 |
| 3 kW | 3021 kWh | 2326 kWh | 695 kWh | £617 | £69 | £687 | £15,554 | 22.7 yrs | £-1,820 |
| 4 kW | 4028 kWh | 3102 kWh | 927 kWh | £823 | £93 | £916 | £17,588 | 19.2 yrs | £723 |
| 5 kW | 5035 kWh | 3877 kWh | 1158 kWh | £1,029 | £116 | £1,144 | £19,623 | 17.1 yrs | £3,266 |
| 6 kW | 6042 kWh | 4653 kWh | 1390 kWh | £1,234 | £139 | £1,373 | £21,657 | 15.8 yrs | £5,810 |
| 7 kW | 7050 kWh | 5428 kWh | 1621 kWh | £1,440 | £162 | £1,602 | £23,692 | 14.8 yrs | £8,353 |
| 8 kW | 8057 kWh | 6204 kWh | 1853 kWh | £1,646 | £185 | £1,831 | £25,726 | 14.0 yrs | £10,896 |
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.