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 1004 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: £834, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2009 kWh | 803 kWh | 1205 kWh | £213 | £121 | £334 | £4,069 | 12.2 yrs | £2,605 |
| 3 kW | 3013 kWh | 1205 kWh | 1808 kWh | £320 | £181 | £501 | £6,104 | 12.2 yrs | £3,907 |
| 4 kW | 4017 kWh | 1607 kWh | 2410 kWh | £426 | £241 | £667 | £8,138 | 12.2 yrs | £5,209 |
| 5 kW | 5022 kWh | 2009 kWh | 3013 kWh | £533 | £301 | £834 | £10,173 | 12.2 yrs | £6,512 |
| 6 kW | 6026 kWh | 2410 kWh | 3616 kWh | £639 | £362 | £1,001 | £12,207 | 12.2 yrs | £7,814 |
| 7 kW | 7030 kWh | 2812 kWh | 4218 kWh | £746 | £422 | £1,168 | £14,242 | 12.2 yrs | £9,116 |
| 8 kW | 8035 kWh | 3214 kWh | 4821 kWh | £853 | £482 | £1,335 | £16,276 | 12.2 yrs | £10,419 |
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: £1,000, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2009 kWh | 1205 kWh | 803 kWh | £320 | £80 | £400 | £6,169 | 15.4 yrs | £1,833 |
| 3 kW | 3013 kWh | 1808 kWh | 1205 kWh | £480 | £121 | £600 | £8,204 | 13.7 yrs | £3,799 |
| 4 kW | 4017 kWh | 2410 kWh | 1607 kWh | £639 | £161 | £800 | £10,238 | 12.8 yrs | £5,766 |
| 5 kW | 5022 kWh | 3013 kWh | 2009 kWh | £799 | £201 | £1,000 | £12,273 | 12.3 yrs | £7,732 |
| 6 kW | 6026 kWh | 3616 kWh | 2410 kWh | £959 | £241 | £1,200 | £14,307 | 11.9 yrs | £9,699 |
| 7 kW | 7030 kWh | 4218 kWh | 2812 kWh | £1,119 | £281 | £1,400 | £16,342 | 11.7 yrs | £11,665 |
| 8 kW | 8035 kWh | 4821 kWh | 3214 kWh | £1,279 | £321 | £1,600 | £18,376 | 11.5 yrs | £13,631 |
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: £1,083, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 2009 kWh | 1406 kWh | 603 kWh | £373 | £60 | £433 | £7,569 | 17.5 yrs | £1,097 |
| 3 kW | 3013 kWh | 2109 kWh | 904 kWh | £560 | £90 | £650 | £9,604 | 14.8 yrs | £3,395 |
| 4 kW | 4017 kWh | 2812 kWh | 1205 kWh | £746 | £121 | £867 | £11,638 | 13.4 yrs | £5,694 |
| 5 kW | 5022 kWh | 3515 kWh | 1507 kWh | £933 | £151 | £1,083 | £13,673 | 12.6 yrs | £7,992 |
| 6 kW | 6026 kWh | 4218 kWh | 1808 kWh | £1,119 | £181 | £1,300 | £15,707 | 12.1 yrs | £10,291 |
| 7 kW | 7030 kWh | 4921 kWh | 2109 kWh | £1,306 | £211 | £1,517 | £17,742 | 11.7 yrs | £12,589 |
| 8 kW | 8035 kWh | 5624 kWh | 2410 kWh | £1,492 | £241 | £1,733 | £19,776 | 11.4 yrs | £14,888 |
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: £1,108, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 2009 kWh | 1466 kWh | 542 kWh | £389 | £54 | £443 | £9,319 | 21.0 yrs | £-454 |
| 3 kW | 3013 kWh | 2200 kWh | 814 kWh | £584 | £81 | £665 | £11,354 | 17.1 yrs | £1,944 |
| 4 kW | 4017 kWh | 2933 kWh | 1085 kWh | £778 | £108 | £887 | £13,388 | 15.1 yrs | £4,342 |
| 5 kW | 5022 kWh | 3666 kWh | 1356 kWh | £973 | £136 | £1,108 | £15,423 | 13.9 yrs | £6,740 |
| 6 kW | 6026 kWh | 4399 kWh | 1627 kWh | £1,167 | £163 | £1,330 | £17,457 | 13.1 yrs | £9,138 |
| 7 kW | 7030 kWh | 5132 kWh | 1898 kWh | £1,362 | £190 | £1,551 | £19,492 | 12.6 yrs | £11,536 |
| 8 kW | 8035 kWh | 5865 kWh | 2169 kWh | £1,556 | £217 | £1,773 | £21,526 | 12.1 yrs | £13,935 |
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: £1,125, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 2009 kWh | 1507 kWh | 502 kWh | £400 | £50 | £450 | £11,069 | 24.6 yrs | £-2,071 |
| 3 kW | 3013 kWh | 2260 kWh | 753 kWh | £600 | £75 | £675 | £13,104 | 19.4 yrs | £393 |
| 4 kW | 4017 kWh | 3013 kWh | 1004 kWh | £799 | £100 | £900 | £15,138 | 16.8 yrs | £2,858 |
| 5 kW | 5022 kWh | 3766 kWh | 1255 kWh | £999 | £126 | £1,125 | £17,173 | 15.3 yrs | £5,322 |
| 6 kW | 6026 kWh | 4520 kWh | 1507 kWh | £1,199 | £151 | £1,350 | £19,207 | 14.2 yrs | £7,787 |
| 7 kW | 7030 kWh | 5273 kWh | 1758 kWh | £1,399 | £176 | £1,575 | £21,242 | 13.5 yrs | £10,251 |
| 8 kW | 8035 kWh | 6026 kWh | 2009 kWh | £1,599 | £201 | £1,800 | £23,276 | 12.9 yrs | £12,716 |
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: £1,141, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2009 kWh | 1547 kWh | 462 kWh | £410 | £46 | £457 | £13,519 | 29.6 yrs | £-4,388 |
| 3 kW | 3013 kWh | 2320 kWh | 693 kWh | £616 | £69 | £685 | £15,554 | 22.7 yrs | £-1,857 |
| 4 kW | 4017 kWh | 3093 kWh | 924 kWh | £821 | £92 | £913 | £17,588 | 19.3 yrs | £674 |
| 5 kW | 5022 kWh | 3867 kWh | 1155 kWh | £1,026 | £116 | £1,141 | £19,623 | 17.2 yrs | £3,204 |
| 6 kW | 6026 kWh | 4640 kWh | 1386 kWh | £1,231 | £139 | £1,370 | £21,657 | 15.8 yrs | £5,735 |
| 7 kW | 7030 kWh | 5413 kWh | 1617 kWh | £1,436 | £162 | £1,598 | £23,692 | 14.8 yrs | £8,266 |
| 8 kW | 8035 kWh | 6187 kWh | 1848 kWh | £1,641 | £185 | £1,826 | £25,726 | 14.1 yrs | £10,797 |
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.