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 1059 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: £879, 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 | 2117 kWh | 847 kWh | 1270 kWh | £225 | £127 | £352 | £4,069 | 11.6 yrs | £2,965 |
| 3 kW | 3176 kWh | 1270 kWh | 1905 kWh | £337 | £191 | £528 | £6,104 | 11.6 yrs | £4,447 |
| 4 kW | 4234 kWh | 1694 kWh | 2541 kWh | £449 | £254 | £703 | £8,138 | 11.6 yrs | £5,930 |
| 5 kW | 5293 kWh | 2117 kWh | 3176 kWh | £562 | £318 | £879 | £10,173 | 11.6 yrs | £7,412 |
| 6 kW | 6351 kWh | 2541 kWh | 3811 kWh | £674 | £381 | £1,055 | £12,207 | 11.6 yrs | £8,895 |
| 7 kW | 7410 kWh | 2964 kWh | 4446 kWh | £786 | £445 | £1,231 | £14,242 | 11.6 yrs | £10,377 |
| 8 kW | 8468 kWh | 3387 kWh | 5081 kWh | £899 | £508 | £1,407 | £16,276 | 11.6 yrs | £11,860 |
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: £1,054, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 2117 kWh | 1270 kWh | 847 kWh | £337 | £85 | £422 | £6,169 | 14.6 yrs | £2,265 |
| 3 kW | 3176 kWh | 1905 kWh | 1270 kWh | £506 | £127 | £633 | £8,204 | 13.0 yrs | £4,447 |
| 4 kW | 4234 kWh | 2541 kWh | 1694 kWh | £674 | £169 | £843 | £10,238 | 12.1 yrs | £6,629 |
| 5 kW | 5293 kWh | 3176 kWh | 2117 kWh | £843 | £212 | £1,054 | £12,273 | 11.6 yrs | £8,812 |
| 6 kW | 6351 kWh | 3811 kWh | 2541 kWh | £1,011 | £254 | £1,265 | £14,307 | 11.3 yrs | £10,994 |
| 7 kW | 7410 kWh | 4446 kWh | 2964 kWh | £1,180 | £296 | £1,476 | £16,342 | 11.1 yrs | £13,177 |
| 8 kW | 8468 kWh | 5081 kWh | 3387 kWh | £1,348 | £339 | £1,687 | £18,376 | 10.9 yrs | £15,359 |
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: £1,142, 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 | 2117 kWh | 1482 kWh | 635 kWh | £393 | £64 | £457 | £7,569 | 16.6 yrs | £1,565 |
| 3 kW | 3176 kWh | 2223 kWh | 953 kWh | £590 | £95 | £685 | £9,604 | 14.0 yrs | £4,097 |
| 4 kW | 4234 kWh | 2964 kWh | 1270 kWh | £786 | £127 | £913 | £11,638 | 12.7 yrs | £6,629 |
| 5 kW | 5293 kWh | 3705 kWh | 1588 kWh | £983 | £159 | £1,142 | £13,673 | 12.0 yrs | £9,162 |
| 6 kW | 6351 kWh | 4446 kWh | 1905 kWh | £1,180 | £191 | £1,370 | £15,707 | 11.5 yrs | £11,694 |
| 7 kW | 7410 kWh | 5187 kWh | 2223 kWh | £1,376 | £222 | £1,598 | £17,742 | 11.1 yrs | £14,226 |
| 8 kW | 8468 kWh | 5928 kWh | 2541 kWh | £1,573 | £254 | £1,827 | £19,776 | 10.8 yrs | £16,759 |
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: £1,168, 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 | 2117 kWh | 1545 kWh | 572 kWh | £410 | £57 | £467 | £9,319 | 19.9 yrs | £25 |
| 3 kW | 3176 kWh | 2318 kWh | 857 kWh | £615 | £86 | £701 | £11,354 | 16.2 yrs | £2,662 |
| 4 kW | 4234 kWh | 3091 kWh | 1143 kWh | £820 | £114 | £934 | £13,388 | 14.3 yrs | £5,299 |
| 5 kW | 5293 kWh | 3864 kWh | 1429 kWh | £1,025 | £143 | £1,168 | £15,423 | 13.2 yrs | £7,937 |
| 6 kW | 6351 kWh | 4636 kWh | 1715 kWh | £1,230 | £171 | £1,402 | £17,457 | 12.5 yrs | £10,574 |
| 7 kW | 7410 kWh | 5409 kWh | 2001 kWh | £1,435 | £200 | £1,635 | £19,492 | 11.9 yrs | £13,211 |
| 8 kW | 8468 kWh | 6182 kWh | 2286 kWh | £1,640 | £229 | £1,869 | £21,526 | 11.5 yrs | £15,849 |
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: £1,185, 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 | 2117 kWh | 1588 kWh | 529 kWh | £421 | £53 | £474 | £11,069 | 23.3 yrs | £-1,585 |
| 3 kW | 3176 kWh | 2382 kWh | 794 kWh | £632 | £79 | £711 | £13,104 | 18.4 yrs | £1,122 |
| 4 kW | 4234 kWh | 3176 kWh | 1059 kWh | £843 | £106 | £948 | £15,138 | 16.0 yrs | £3,829 |
| 5 kW | 5293 kWh | 3970 kWh | 1323 kWh | £1,053 | £132 | £1,185 | £17,173 | 14.5 yrs | £6,537 |
| 6 kW | 6351 kWh | 4764 kWh | 1588 kWh | £1,264 | £159 | £1,423 | £19,207 | 13.5 yrs | £9,244 |
| 7 kW | 7410 kWh | 5557 kWh | 1852 kWh | £1,474 | £185 | £1,660 | £21,242 | 12.8 yrs | £11,951 |
| 8 kW | 8468 kWh | 6351 kWh | 2117 kWh | £1,685 | £212 | £1,897 | £23,276 | 12.3 yrs | £14,658 |
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: £1,203, 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 | 2117 kWh | 1630 kWh | 487 kWh | £432 | £49 | £481 | £13,519 | 28.1 yrs | £-3,895 |
| 3 kW | 3176 kWh | 2445 kWh | 730 kWh | £649 | £73 | £722 | £15,554 | 21.5 yrs | £-1,118 |
| 4 kW | 4234 kWh | 3260 kWh | 974 kWh | £865 | £97 | £962 | £17,588 | 18.3 yrs | £1,659 |
| 5 kW | 5293 kWh | 4075 kWh | 1217 kWh | £1,081 | £122 | £1,203 | £19,623 | 16.3 yrs | £4,437 |
| 6 kW | 6351 kWh | 4891 kWh | 1461 kWh | £1,297 | £146 | £1,444 | £21,657 | 15.0 yrs | £7,214 |
| 7 kW | 7410 kWh | 5706 kWh | 1704 kWh | £1,514 | £170 | £1,684 | £23,692 | 14.1 yrs | £9,991 |
| 8 kW | 8468 kWh | 6521 kWh | 1948 kWh | £1,730 | £195 | £1,925 | £25,726 | 13.4 yrs | £12,768 |
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.