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 988 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: £820, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 791 kWh | 1186 kWh | £209 | £119 | £328 | £4,069 | 12.4 yrs | £2,489 |
| 3 kW | 2965 kWh | 1186 kWh | 1779 kWh | £314 | £178 | £492 | £6,104 | 12.4 yrs | £3,734 |
| 4 kW | 3953 kWh | 1581 kWh | 2372 kWh | £419 | £237 | £656 | £8,138 | 12.4 yrs | £4,979 |
| 5 kW | 4941 kWh | 1976 kWh | 2965 kWh | £523 | £296 | £820 | £10,173 | 12.4 yrs | £6,223 |
| 6 kW | 5929 kWh | 2372 kWh | 3557 kWh | £628 | £356 | £984 | £12,207 | 12.4 yrs | £7,468 |
| 7 kW | 6917 kWh | 2767 kWh | 4150 kWh | £733 | £415 | £1,148 | £14,242 | 12.4 yrs | £8,713 |
| 8 kW | 7906 kWh | 3162 kWh | 4743 kWh | £837 | £474 | £1,312 | £16,276 | 12.4 yrs | £9,958 |
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: £983, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 1186 kWh | 791 kWh | £314 | £79 | £393 | £6,169 | 15.7 yrs | £1,692 |
| 3 kW | 2965 kWh | 1779 kWh | 1186 kWh | £471 | £119 | £590 | £8,204 | 13.9 yrs | £3,588 |
| 4 kW | 3953 kWh | 2372 kWh | 1581 kWh | £628 | £158 | £786 | £10,238 | 13.0 yrs | £5,484 |
| 5 kW | 4941 kWh | 2965 kWh | 1976 kWh | £785 | £198 | £983 | £12,273 | 12.5 yrs | £7,381 |
| 6 kW | 5929 kWh | 3557 kWh | 2372 kWh | £942 | £237 | £1,179 | £14,307 | 12.1 yrs | £9,277 |
| 7 kW | 6917 kWh | 4150 kWh | 2767 kWh | £1,099 | £277 | £1,376 | £16,342 | 11.9 yrs | £11,173 |
| 8 kW | 7906 kWh | 4743 kWh | 3162 kWh | £1,256 | £316 | £1,572 | £18,376 | 11.7 yrs | £13,069 |
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: £1,064, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 1383 kWh | 593 kWh | £366 | £59 | £426 | £7,569 | 17.8 yrs | £944 |
| 3 kW | 2965 kWh | 2075 kWh | 889 kWh | £550 | £89 | £638 | £9,604 | 15.0 yrs | £3,165 |
| 4 kW | 3953 kWh | 2767 kWh | 1186 kWh | £733 | £119 | £851 | £11,638 | 13.7 yrs | £5,387 |
| 5 kW | 4941 kWh | 3459 kWh | 1482 kWh | £916 | £148 | £1,064 | £13,673 | 12.8 yrs | £7,609 |
| 6 kW | 5929 kWh | 4150 kWh | 1779 kWh | £1,099 | £178 | £1,277 | £15,707 | 12.3 yrs | £9,831 |
| 7 kW | 6917 kWh | 4842 kWh | 2075 kWh | £1,282 | £208 | £1,490 | £17,742 | 11.9 yrs | £12,053 |
| 8 kW | 7906 kWh | 5534 kWh | 2372 kWh | £1,465 | £237 | £1,703 | £19,776 | 11.6 yrs | £14,275 |
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: £1,089, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 1443 kWh | 534 kWh | £382 | £53 | £435 | £9,319 | 21.4 yrs | £-611 |
| 3 kW | 2965 kWh | 2164 kWh | 800 kWh | £573 | £80 | £653 | £11,354 | 17.4 yrs | £1,709 |
| 4 kW | 3953 kWh | 2886 kWh | 1067 kWh | £764 | £107 | £871 | £13,388 | 15.4 yrs | £4,028 |
| 5 kW | 4941 kWh | 3607 kWh | 1334 kWh | £955 | £133 | £1,089 | £15,423 | 14.2 yrs | £6,348 |
| 6 kW | 5929 kWh | 4328 kWh | 1601 kWh | £1,146 | £160 | £1,306 | £17,457 | 13.4 yrs | £8,667 |
| 7 kW | 6917 kWh | 5050 kWh | 1868 kWh | £1,337 | £187 | £1,524 | £19,492 | 12.8 yrs | £10,987 |
| 8 kW | 7906 kWh | 5771 kWh | 2134 kWh | £1,528 | £213 | £1,742 | £21,526 | 12.4 yrs | £13,306 |
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: £1,105, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 1976 kWh | 1482 kWh | 494 kWh | £393 | £49 | £442 | £11,069 | 25.0 yrs | £-2,231 |
| 3 kW | 2965 kWh | 2223 kWh | 741 kWh | £589 | £74 | £663 | £13,104 | 19.8 yrs | £154 |
| 4 kW | 3953 kWh | 2965 kWh | 988 kWh | £785 | £99 | £884 | £15,138 | 17.1 yrs | £2,539 |
| 5 kW | 4941 kWh | 3706 kWh | 1235 kWh | £981 | £124 | £1,105 | £17,173 | 15.5 yrs | £4,923 |
| 6 kW | 5929 kWh | 4447 kWh | 1482 kWh | £1,178 | £148 | £1,326 | £19,207 | 14.5 yrs | £7,308 |
| 7 kW | 6917 kWh | 5188 kWh | 1729 kWh | £1,374 | £173 | £1,547 | £21,242 | 13.7 yrs | £9,693 |
| 8 kW | 7906 kWh | 5929 kWh | 1976 kWh | £1,570 | £198 | £1,768 | £23,276 | 13.2 yrs | £12,077 |
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: £1,121, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1976 kWh | 1522 kWh | 455 kWh | £403 | £45 | £448 | £13,519 | 30.1 yrs | £-4,550 |
| 3 kW | 2965 kWh | 2283 kWh | 682 kWh | £604 | £68 | £673 | £15,554 | 23.1 yrs | £-2,101 |
| 4 kW | 3953 kWh | 3044 kWh | 909 kWh | £806 | £91 | £897 | £17,588 | 19.6 yrs | £349 |
| 5 kW | 4941 kWh | 3805 kWh | 1136 kWh | £1,007 | £114 | £1,121 | £19,623 | 17.5 yrs | £2,799 |
| 6 kW | 5929 kWh | 4565 kWh | 1364 kWh | £1,209 | £136 | £1,345 | £21,657 | 16.1 yrs | £5,249 |
| 7 kW | 6917 kWh | 5326 kWh | 1591 kWh | £1,410 | £159 | £1,570 | £23,692 | 15.1 yrs | £7,699 |
| 8 kW | 7906 kWh | 6087 kWh | 1818 kWh | £1,612 | £182 | £1,794 | £25,726 | 14.3 yrs | £10,149 |
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.