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 822 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p 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: £663, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1645 kWh | 658 kWh | 987 kWh | £167 | £99 | £265 | £4,069 | 15.3 yrs | £1,238 |
| 3 kW | 2467 kWh | 987 kWh | 1480 kWh | £250 | £148 | £398 | £6,104 | 15.3 yrs | £1,857 |
| 4 kW | 3290 kWh | 1316 kWh | 1974 kWh | £333 | £197 | £531 | £8,138 | 15.3 yrs | £2,476 |
| 5 kW | 4112 kWh | 1645 kWh | 2467 kWh | £417 | £247 | £663 | £10,173 | 15.3 yrs | £3,095 |
| 6 kW | 4935 kWh | 1974 kWh | 2961 kWh | £500 | £296 | £796 | £12,207 | 15.3 yrs | £3,714 |
| 7 kW | 5757 kWh | 2303 kWh | 3454 kWh | £583 | £345 | £929 | £14,242 | 15.3 yrs | £4,334 |
| 8 kW | 6580 kWh | 2632 kWh | 3948 kWh | £667 | £395 | £1,061 | £16,276 | 15.3 yrs | £4,953 |
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: £789, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1645 kWh | 987 kWh | 658 kWh | £250 | £66 | £316 | £6,169 | 19.5 yrs | £147 |
| 3 kW | 2467 kWh | 1480 kWh | 987 kWh | £375 | £99 | £474 | £8,204 | 17.3 yrs | £1,270 |
| 4 kW | 3290 kWh | 1974 kWh | 1316 kWh | £500 | £132 | £632 | £10,238 | 16.2 yrs | £2,394 |
| 5 kW | 4112 kWh | 2467 kWh | 1645 kWh | £625 | £164 | £789 | £12,273 | 15.5 yrs | £3,517 |
| 6 kW | 4935 kWh | 2961 kWh | 1974 kWh | £750 | £197 | £947 | £14,307 | 15.1 yrs | £4,640 |
| 7 kW | 5757 kWh | 3454 kWh | 2303 kWh | £875 | £230 | £1,105 | £16,342 | 14.8 yrs | £5,764 |
| 8 kW | 6580 kWh | 3948 kWh | 2632 kWh | £1,000 | £263 | £1,263 | £18,376 | 14.5 yrs | £6,887 |
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: £853, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1645 kWh | 1151 kWh | 493 kWh | £292 | £49 | £341 | £7,569 | 22.2 yrs | £-749 |
| 3 kW | 2467 kWh | 1727 kWh | 740 kWh | £437 | £74 | £512 | £9,604 | 18.8 yrs | £627 |
| 4 kW | 3290 kWh | 2303 kWh | 987 kWh | £583 | £99 | £682 | £11,638 | 17.1 yrs | £2,002 |
| 5 kW | 4112 kWh | 2879 kWh | 1234 kWh | £729 | £123 | £853 | £13,673 | 16.0 yrs | £3,378 |
| 6 kW | 4935 kWh | 3454 kWh | 1480 kWh | £875 | £148 | £1,023 | £15,707 | 15.4 yrs | £4,753 |
| 7 kW | 5757 kWh | 4030 kWh | 1727 kWh | £1,021 | £173 | £1,194 | £17,742 | 14.9 yrs | £6,129 |
| 8 kW | 6580 kWh | 4606 kWh | 1974 kWh | £1,167 | £197 | £1,364 | £19,776 | 14.5 yrs | £7,505 |
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: £871, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 17.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1645 kWh | 1201 kWh | 444 kWh | £304 | £44 | £349 | £9,319 | 26.7 yrs | £-2,348 |
| 3 kW | 2467 kWh | 1801 kWh | 666 kWh | £456 | £67 | £523 | £11,354 | 21.7 yrs | £-896 |
| 4 kW | 3290 kWh | 2402 kWh | 888 kWh | £608 | £89 | £697 | £13,388 | 19.2 yrs | £555 |
| 5 kW | 4112 kWh | 3002 kWh | 1110 kWh | £760 | £111 | £871 | £15,423 | 17.7 yrs | £2,006 |
| 6 kW | 4935 kWh | 3602 kWh | 1332 kWh | £912 | £133 | £1,046 | £17,457 | 16.7 yrs | £3,457 |
| 7 kW | 5757 kWh | 4203 kWh | 1554 kWh | £1,065 | £155 | £1,220 | £19,492 | 16.0 yrs | £4,909 |
| 8 kW | 6580 kWh | 4803 kWh | 1777 kWh | £1,217 | £178 | £1,394 | £21,526 | 15.4 yrs | £6,360 |
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: £884, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1645 kWh | 1234 kWh | 411 kWh | £312 | £41 | £354 | £11,069 | 31.3 yrs | £-3,997 |
| 3 kW | 2467 kWh | 1851 kWh | 617 kWh | £469 | £62 | £530 | £13,104 | 24.7 yrs | £-2,495 |
| 4 kW | 3290 kWh | 2467 kWh | 822 kWh | £625 | £82 | £707 | £15,138 | 21.4 yrs | £-993 |
| 5 kW | 4112 kWh | 3084 kWh | 1028 kWh | £781 | £103 | £884 | £17,173 | 19.4 yrs | £508 |
| 6 kW | 4935 kWh | 3701 kWh | 1234 kWh | £937 | £123 | £1,061 | £19,207 | 18.1 yrs | £2,010 |
| 7 kW | 5757 kWh | 4318 kWh | 1439 kWh | £1,094 | £144 | £1,238 | £21,242 | 17.2 yrs | £3,512 |
| 8 kW | 6580 kWh | 4935 kWh | 1645 kWh | £1,250 | £164 | £1,414 | £23,276 | 16.5 yrs | £5,013 |
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: £897, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 21.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1645 kWh | 1267 kWh | 378 kWh | £321 | £38 | £359 | £13,519 | 37.7 yrs | £-6,346 |
| 3 kW | 2467 kWh | 1900 kWh | 567 kWh | £481 | £57 | £538 | £15,554 | 28.9 yrs | £-4,794 |
| 4 kW | 3290 kWh | 2533 kWh | 757 kWh | £642 | £76 | £717 | £17,588 | 24.5 yrs | £-3,242 |
| 5 kW | 4112 kWh | 3166 kWh | 946 kWh | £802 | £95 | £897 | £19,623 | 21.9 yrs | £-1,690 |
| 6 kW | 4935 kWh | 3800 kWh | 1135 kWh | £962 | £113 | £1,076 | £21,657 | 20.1 yrs | £-137 |
| 7 kW | 5757 kWh | 4433 kWh | 1324 kWh | £1,123 | £132 | £1,255 | £23,692 | 18.9 yrs | £1,415 |
| 8 kW | 6580 kWh | 5066 kWh | 1513 kWh | £1,283 | £151 | £1,435 | £25,726 | 17.9 yrs | £2,967 |
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.