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 1009 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p 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: £818, 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 | 2018 kWh | 807 kWh | 1211 kWh | £206 | £121 | £327 | £4,069 | 12.4 yrs | £2,478 |
| 3 kW | 3027 kWh | 1211 kWh | 1816 kWh | £309 | £182 | £491 | £6,104 | 12.4 yrs | £3,717 |
| 4 kW | 4036 kWh | 1615 kWh | 2422 kWh | £413 | £242 | £655 | £8,138 | 12.4 yrs | £4,956 |
| 5 kW | 5045 kWh | 2018 kWh | 3027 kWh | £516 | £303 | £818 | £10,173 | 12.4 yrs | £6,195 |
| 6 kW | 6054 kWh | 2422 kWh | 3633 kWh | £619 | £363 | £982 | £12,207 | 12.4 yrs | £7,433 |
| 7 kW | 7063 kWh | 2825 kWh | 4238 kWh | £722 | £424 | £1,146 | £14,242 | 12.4 yrs | £8,672 |
| 8 kW | 8073 kWh | 3229 kWh | 4844 kWh | £825 | £484 | £1,309 | £16,276 | 12.4 yrs | £9,911 |
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: £975, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2018 kWh | 1211 kWh | 807 kWh | £309 | £81 | £390 | £6,169 | 15.8 yrs | £1,633 |
| 3 kW | 3027 kWh | 1816 kWh | 1211 kWh | £464 | £121 | £585 | £8,204 | 14.0 yrs | £3,500 |
| 4 kW | 4036 kWh | 2422 kWh | 1615 kWh | £619 | £161 | £780 | £10,238 | 13.1 yrs | £5,366 |
| 5 kW | 5045 kWh | 3027 kWh | 2018 kWh | £773 | £202 | £975 | £12,273 | 12.6 yrs | £7,233 |
| 6 kW | 6054 kWh | 3633 kWh | 2422 kWh | £928 | £242 | £1,170 | £14,307 | 12.2 yrs | £9,099 |
| 7 kW | 7063 kWh | 4238 kWh | 2825 kWh | £1,083 | £283 | £1,365 | £16,342 | 12.0 yrs | £10,966 |
| 8 kW | 8073 kWh | 4844 kWh | 3229 kWh | £1,238 | £323 | £1,560 | £18,376 | 11.8 yrs | £12,832 |
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: £1,054, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2018 kWh | 1413 kWh | 605 kWh | £361 | £61 | £421 | £7,569 | 18.0 yrs | £861 |
| 3 kW | 3027 kWh | 2119 kWh | 908 kWh | £541 | £91 | £632 | £9,604 | 15.2 yrs | £3,041 |
| 4 kW | 4036 kWh | 2825 kWh | 1211 kWh | £722 | £121 | £843 | £11,638 | 13.8 yrs | £5,222 |
| 5 kW | 5045 kWh | 3532 kWh | 1514 kWh | £902 | £151 | £1,054 | £13,673 | 13.0 yrs | £7,402 |
| 6 kW | 6054 kWh | 4238 kWh | 1816 kWh | £1,083 | £182 | £1,264 | £15,707 | 12.4 yrs | £9,582 |
| 7 kW | 7063 kWh | 4944 kWh | 2119 kWh | £1,263 | £212 | £1,475 | £17,742 | 12.0 yrs | £11,763 |
| 8 kW | 8073 kWh | 5651 kWh | 2422 kWh | £1,444 | £242 | £1,686 | £19,776 | 11.7 yrs | £13,943 |
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: £1,077, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 2018 kWh | 1473 kWh | 545 kWh | £376 | £54 | £431 | £9,319 | 21.6 yrs | £-701 |
| 3 kW | 3027 kWh | 2210 kWh | 817 kWh | £565 | £82 | £646 | £11,354 | 17.6 yrs | £1,574 |
| 4 kW | 4036 kWh | 2946 kWh | 1090 kWh | £753 | £109 | £862 | £13,388 | 15.5 yrs | £3,848 |
| 5 kW | 5045 kWh | 3683 kWh | 1362 kWh | £941 | £136 | £1,077 | £15,423 | 14.3 yrs | £6,123 |
| 6 kW | 6054 kWh | 4420 kWh | 1635 kWh | £1,129 | £163 | £1,293 | £17,457 | 13.5 yrs | £8,397 |
| 7 kW | 7063 kWh | 5156 kWh | 1907 kWh | £1,317 | £191 | £1,508 | £19,492 | 12.9 yrs | £10,672 |
| 8 kW | 8073 kWh | 5893 kWh | 2180 kWh | £1,506 | £218 | £1,724 | £21,526 | 12.5 yrs | £12,946 |
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: £1,093, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2018 kWh | 1514 kWh | 505 kWh | £387 | £50 | £437 | £11,069 | 25.3 yrs | £-2,325 |
| 3 kW | 3027 kWh | 2270 kWh | 757 kWh | £580 | £76 | £656 | £13,104 | 20.0 yrs | £12 |
| 4 kW | 4036 kWh | 3027 kWh | 1009 kWh | £773 | £101 | £874 | £15,138 | 17.3 yrs | £2,349 |
| 5 kW | 5045 kWh | 3784 kWh | 1261 kWh | £967 | £126 | £1,093 | £17,173 | 15.7 yrs | £4,686 |
| 6 kW | 6054 kWh | 4541 kWh | 1514 kWh | £1,160 | £151 | £1,312 | £19,207 | 14.6 yrs | £7,024 |
| 7 kW | 7063 kWh | 5298 kWh | 1766 kWh | £1,354 | £177 | £1,530 | £21,242 | 13.9 yrs | £9,361 |
| 8 kW | 8073 kWh | 6054 kWh | 2018 kWh | £1,547 | £202 | £1,749 | £23,276 | 13.3 yrs | £11,698 |
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: £1,109, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 2018 kWh | 1554 kWh | 464 kWh | £397 | £46 | £443 | £13,519 | 30.5 yrs | £-4,650 |
| 3 kW | 3027 kWh | 2331 kWh | 696 kWh | £596 | £70 | £665 | £15,554 | 23.4 yrs | £-2,250 |
| 4 kW | 4036 kWh | 3108 kWh | 928 kWh | £794 | £93 | £887 | £17,588 | 19.8 yrs | £150 |
| 5 kW | 5045 kWh | 3885 kWh | 1160 kWh | £993 | £116 | £1,109 | £19,623 | 17.7 yrs | £2,550 |
| 6 kW | 6054 kWh | 4662 kWh | 1393 kWh | £1,191 | £139 | £1,330 | £21,657 | 16.3 yrs | £4,950 |
| 7 kW | 7063 kWh | 5439 kWh | 1625 kWh | £1,390 | £162 | £1,552 | £23,692 | 15.3 yrs | £7,350 |
| 8 kW | 8073 kWh | 6216 kWh | 1857 kWh | £1,588 | £186 | £1,774 | £25,726 | 14.5 yrs | £9,750 |
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.