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 869 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 27.1p 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: £731, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1738 kWh | 695 kWh | 1043 kWh | £188 | £104 | £292 | £4,069 | 13.9 yrs | £1,781 |
| 3 kW | 2608 kWh | 1043 kWh | 1565 kWh | £282 | £156 | £439 | £6,104 | 13.9 yrs | £2,671 |
| 4 kW | 3477 kWh | 1391 kWh | 2086 kWh | £376 | £209 | £585 | £8,138 | 13.9 yrs | £3,561 |
| 5 kW | 4346 kWh | 1738 kWh | 2608 kWh | £470 | £261 | £731 | £10,173 | 13.9 yrs | £4,452 |
| 6 kW | 5215 kWh | 2086 kWh | 3129 kWh | £565 | £313 | £877 | £12,207 | 13.9 yrs | £5,342 |
| 7 kW | 6085 kWh | 2434 kWh | 3651 kWh | £659 | £365 | £1,024 | £14,242 | 13.9 yrs | £6,232 |
| 8 kW | 6954 kWh | 2782 kWh | 4172 kWh | £753 | £417 | £1,170 | £16,276 | 13.9 yrs | £7,122 |
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: £879, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1738 kWh | 1043 kWh | 695 kWh | £282 | £70 | £352 | £6,169 | 17.5 yrs | £867 |
| 3 kW | 2608 kWh | 1565 kWh | 1043 kWh | £423 | £104 | £528 | £8,204 | 15.5 yrs | £2,350 |
| 4 kW | 3477 kWh | 2086 kWh | 1391 kWh | £565 | £139 | £704 | £10,238 | 14.6 yrs | £3,834 |
| 5 kW | 4346 kWh | 2608 kWh | 1738 kWh | £706 | £174 | £879 | £12,273 | 14.0 yrs | £5,317 |
| 6 kW | 5215 kWh | 3129 kWh | 2086 kWh | £847 | £209 | £1,055 | £14,307 | 13.6 yrs | £6,801 |
| 7 kW | 6085 kWh | 3651 kWh | 2434 kWh | £988 | £243 | £1,231 | £16,342 | 13.3 yrs | £8,284 |
| 8 kW | 6954 kWh | 4172 kWh | 2782 kWh | £1,129 | £278 | £1,407 | £18,376 | 13.1 yrs | £9,768 |
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: £954, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 14.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1738 kWh | 1217 kWh | 522 kWh | £329 | £52 | £381 | £7,569 | 19.8 yrs | £60 |
| 3 kW | 2608 kWh | 1825 kWh | 782 kWh | £494 | £78 | £572 | £9,604 | 16.8 yrs | £1,840 |
| 4 kW | 3477 kWh | 2434 kWh | 1043 kWh | £659 | £104 | £763 | £11,638 | 15.3 yrs | £3,620 |
| 5 kW | 4346 kWh | 3042 kWh | 1304 kWh | £823 | £130 | £954 | £13,673 | 14.3 yrs | £5,400 |
| 6 kW | 5215 kWh | 3651 kWh | 1565 kWh | £988 | £156 | £1,144 | £15,707 | 13.7 yrs | £7,180 |
| 7 kW | 6085 kWh | 4259 kWh | 1825 kWh | £1,153 | £183 | £1,335 | £17,742 | 13.3 yrs | £8,960 |
| 8 kW | 6954 kWh | 4868 kWh | 2086 kWh | £1,317 | £209 | £1,526 | £19,776 | 13.0 yrs | £10,741 |
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: £976, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1738 kWh | 1269 kWh | 469 kWh | £343 | £47 | £390 | £9,319 | 23.9 yrs | £-1,512 |
| 3 kW | 2608 kWh | 1904 kWh | 704 kWh | £515 | £70 | £586 | £11,354 | 19.4 yrs | £357 |
| 4 kW | 3477 kWh | 2538 kWh | 939 kWh | £687 | £94 | £781 | £13,388 | 17.1 yrs | £2,226 |
| 5 kW | 4346 kWh | 3173 kWh | 1173 kWh | £859 | £117 | £976 | £15,423 | 15.8 yrs | £4,095 |
| 6 kW | 5215 kWh | 3807 kWh | 1408 kWh | £1,030 | £141 | £1,171 | £17,457 | 14.9 yrs | £5,964 |
| 7 kW | 6085 kWh | 4442 kWh | 1643 kWh | £1,202 | £164 | £1,366 | £19,492 | 14.3 yrs | £7,833 |
| 8 kW | 6954 kWh | 5076 kWh | 1878 kWh | £1,374 | £188 | £1,561 | £21,526 | 13.8 yrs | £9,702 |
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: £991, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1738 kWh | 1304 kWh | 435 kWh | £353 | £43 | £396 | £11,069 | 27.9 yrs | £-3,143 |
| 3 kW | 2608 kWh | 1956 kWh | 652 kWh | £529 | £65 | £594 | £13,104 | 22.0 yrs | £-1,215 |
| 4 kW | 3477 kWh | 2608 kWh | 869 kWh | £706 | £87 | £793 | £15,138 | 19.1 yrs | £713 |
| 5 kW | 4346 kWh | 3260 kWh | 1087 kWh | £882 | £109 | £991 | £17,173 | 17.3 yrs | £2,642 |
| 6 kW | 5215 kWh | 3912 kWh | 1304 kWh | £1,058 | £130 | £1,189 | £19,207 | 16.2 yrs | £4,570 |
| 7 kW | 6085 kWh | 4564 kWh | 1521 kWh | £1,235 | £152 | £1,387 | £21,242 | 15.3 yrs | £6,498 |
| 8 kW | 6954 kWh | 5215 kWh | 1738 kWh | £1,411 | £174 | £1,585 | £23,276 | 14.7 yrs | £8,427 |
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: £1,006, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1738 kWh | 1339 kWh | 400 kWh | £362 | £40 | £402 | £13,519 | 33.6 yrs | £-5,475 |
| 3 kW | 2608 kWh | 2008 kWh | 600 kWh | £543 | £60 | £603 | £15,554 | 25.8 yrs | £-3,487 |
| 4 kW | 3477 kWh | 2677 kWh | 800 kWh | £724 | £80 | £804 | £17,588 | 21.9 yrs | £-1,499 |
| 5 kW | 4346 kWh | 3347 kWh | 1000 kWh | £906 | £100 | £1,006 | £19,623 | 19.5 yrs | £488 |
| 6 kW | 5215 kWh | 4016 kWh | 1200 kWh | £1,087 | £120 | £1,207 | £21,657 | 17.9 yrs | £2,476 |
| 7 kW | 6085 kWh | 4685 kWh | 1399 kWh | £1,268 | £140 | £1,408 | £23,692 | 16.8 yrs | £4,464 |
| 8 kW | 6954 kWh | 5355 kWh | 1599 kWh | £1,449 | £160 | £1,609 | £25,726 | 16.0 yrs | £6,451 |
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.