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 1062 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: £882, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2124 kWh | 850 kWh | 1274 kWh | £225 | £127 | £353 | £4,069 | 11.5 yrs | £2,987 |
| 3 kW | 3186 kWh | 1274 kWh | 1911 kWh | £338 | £191 | £529 | £6,104 | 11.5 yrs | £4,481 |
| 4 kW | 4248 kWh | 1699 kWh | 2549 kWh | £451 | £255 | £706 | £8,138 | 11.5 yrs | £5,974 |
| 5 kW | 5309 kWh | 2124 kWh | 3186 kWh | £563 | £319 | £882 | £10,173 | 11.5 yrs | £7,468 |
| 6 kW | 6371 kWh | 2549 kWh | 3823 kWh | £676 | £382 | £1,058 | £12,207 | 11.5 yrs | £8,961 |
| 7 kW | 7433 kWh | 2973 kWh | 4460 kWh | £789 | £446 | £1,235 | £14,242 | 11.5 yrs | £10,455 |
| 8 kW | 8495 kWh | 3398 kWh | 5097 kWh | £902 | £510 | £1,411 | £16,276 | 11.5 yrs | £11,948 |
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: £1,058, 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 | 2124 kWh | 1274 kWh | 850 kWh | £338 | £85 | £423 | £6,169 | 14.6 yrs | £2,291 |
| 3 kW | 3186 kWh | 1911 kWh | 1274 kWh | £507 | £127 | £635 | £8,204 | 12.9 yrs | £4,487 |
| 4 kW | 4248 kWh | 2549 kWh | 1699 kWh | £676 | £170 | £846 | £10,238 | 12.1 yrs | £6,683 |
| 5 kW | 5309 kWh | 3186 kWh | 2124 kWh | £845 | £212 | £1,058 | £12,273 | 11.6 yrs | £8,878 |
| 6 kW | 6371 kWh | 3823 kWh | 2549 kWh | £1,014 | £255 | £1,269 | £14,307 | 11.3 yrs | £11,074 |
| 7 kW | 7433 kWh | 4460 kWh | 2973 kWh | £1,183 | £297 | £1,481 | £16,342 | 11.0 yrs | £13,269 |
| 8 kW | 8495 kWh | 5097 kWh | 3398 kWh | £1,352 | £340 | £1,692 | £18,376 | 10.9 yrs | £15,465 |
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: £1,145, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2124 kWh | 1487 kWh | 637 kWh | £394 | £64 | £458 | £7,569 | 16.5 yrs | £1,593 |
| 3 kW | 3186 kWh | 2230 kWh | 956 kWh | £592 | £96 | £687 | £9,604 | 14.0 yrs | £4,140 |
| 4 kW | 4248 kWh | 2973 kWh | 1274 kWh | £789 | £127 | £916 | £11,638 | 12.7 yrs | £6,687 |
| 5 kW | 5309 kWh | 3717 kWh | 1593 kWh | £986 | £159 | £1,145 | £13,673 | 11.9 yrs | £9,233 |
| 6 kW | 6371 kWh | 4460 kWh | 1911 kWh | £1,183 | £191 | £1,374 | £15,707 | 11.4 yrs | £11,780 |
| 7 kW | 7433 kWh | 5203 kWh | 2230 kWh | £1,380 | £223 | £1,603 | £17,742 | 11.1 yrs | £14,327 |
| 8 kW | 8495 kWh | 5947 kWh | 2549 kWh | £1,578 | £255 | £1,832 | £19,776 | 10.8 yrs | £16,874 |
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: £1,172, 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 | 2124 kWh | 1550 kWh | 573 kWh | £411 | £57 | £469 | £9,319 | 19.9 yrs | £54 |
| 3 kW | 3186 kWh | 2326 kWh | 860 kWh | £617 | £86 | £703 | £11,354 | 16.2 yrs | £2,706 |
| 4 kW | 4248 kWh | 3101 kWh | 1147 kWh | £823 | £115 | £937 | £13,388 | 14.3 yrs | £5,358 |
| 5 kW | 5309 kWh | 3876 kWh | 1434 kWh | £1,028 | £143 | £1,172 | £15,423 | 13.2 yrs | £8,010 |
| 6 kW | 6371 kWh | 4651 kWh | 1720 kWh | £1,234 | £172 | £1,406 | £17,457 | 12.4 yrs | £10,662 |
| 7 kW | 7433 kWh | 5426 kWh | 2007 kWh | £1,440 | £201 | £1,640 | £19,492 | 11.9 yrs | £13,314 |
| 8 kW | 8495 kWh | 6201 kWh | 2294 kWh | £1,645 | £229 | £1,875 | £21,526 | 11.5 yrs | £15,966 |
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: £1,189, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2124 kWh | 1593 kWh | 531 kWh | £423 | £53 | £476 | £11,069 | 23.3 yrs | £-1,556 |
| 3 kW | 3186 kWh | 2389 kWh | 796 kWh | £634 | £80 | £714 | £13,104 | 18.4 yrs | £1,167 |
| 4 kW | 4248 kWh | 3186 kWh | 1062 kWh | £845 | £106 | £951 | £15,138 | 15.9 yrs | £3,889 |
| 5 kW | 5309 kWh | 3982 kWh | 1327 kWh | £1,056 | £133 | £1,189 | £17,173 | 14.4 yrs | £6,611 |
| 6 kW | 6371 kWh | 4779 kWh | 1593 kWh | £1,268 | £159 | £1,427 | £19,207 | 13.5 yrs | £9,333 |
| 7 kW | 7433 kWh | 5575 kWh | 1858 kWh | £1,479 | £186 | £1,665 | £21,242 | 12.8 yrs | £12,056 |
| 8 kW | 8495 kWh | 6371 kWh | 2124 kWh | £1,690 | £212 | £1,903 | £23,276 | 12.2 yrs | £14,778 |
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: £1,207, 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 | 2124 kWh | 1635 kWh | 488 kWh | £434 | £49 | £483 | £13,519 | 28.0 yrs | £-3,865 |
| 3 kW | 3186 kWh | 2453 kWh | 733 kWh | £651 | £73 | £724 | £15,554 | 21.5 yrs | £-1,073 |
| 4 kW | 4248 kWh | 3271 kWh | 977 kWh | £868 | £98 | £965 | £17,588 | 18.2 yrs | £1,720 |
| 5 kW | 5309 kWh | 4088 kWh | 1221 kWh | £1,085 | £122 | £1,207 | £19,623 | 16.3 yrs | £4,512 |
| 6 kW | 6371 kWh | 4906 kWh | 1465 kWh | £1,302 | £147 | £1,448 | £21,657 | 15.0 yrs | £7,305 |
| 7 kW | 7433 kWh | 5724 kWh | 1710 kWh | £1,518 | £171 | £1,689 | £23,692 | 14.0 yrs | £10,097 |
| 8 kW | 8495 kWh | 6541 kWh | 1954 kWh | £1,735 | £195 | £1,931 | £25,726 | 13.3 yrs | £12,890 |
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.