A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1032 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: £857, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2065 kWh | 826 kWh | 1239 kWh | £219 | £124 | £343 | £4,069 | 11.9 yrs | £2,790 |
| 3 kW | 3097 kWh | 1239 kWh | 1858 kWh | £329 | £186 | £514 | £6,104 | 11.9 yrs | £4,185 |
| 4 kW | 4129 kWh | 1652 kWh | 2477 kWh | £438 | £248 | £686 | £8,138 | 11.9 yrs | £5,581 |
| 5 kW | 5161 kWh | 2065 kWh | 3097 kWh | £548 | £310 | £857 | £10,173 | 11.9 yrs | £6,976 |
| 6 kW | 6194 kWh | 2477 kWh | 3716 kWh | £657 | £372 | £1,029 | £12,207 | 11.9 yrs | £8,371 |
| 7 kW | 7226 kWh | 2890 kWh | 4336 kWh | £767 | £434 | £1,200 | £14,242 | 11.9 yrs | £9,766 |
| 8 kW | 8258 kWh | 3303 kWh | 4955 kWh | £876 | £495 | £1,372 | £16,276 | 11.9 yrs | £11,161 |
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: £1,028, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2065 kWh | 1239 kWh | 826 kWh | £329 | £83 | £411 | £6,169 | 15.0 yrs | £2,055 |
| 3 kW | 3097 kWh | 1858 kWh | 1239 kWh | £493 | £124 | £617 | £8,204 | 13.3 yrs | £4,133 |
| 4 kW | 4129 kWh | 2477 kWh | 1652 kWh | £657 | £165 | £822 | £10,238 | 12.4 yrs | £6,211 |
| 5 kW | 5161 kWh | 3097 kWh | 2065 kWh | £822 | £206 | £1,028 | £12,273 | 11.9 yrs | £8,288 |
| 6 kW | 6194 kWh | 3716 kWh | 2477 kWh | £986 | £248 | £1,234 | £14,307 | 11.6 yrs | £10,366 |
| 7 kW | 7226 kWh | 4336 kWh | 2890 kWh | £1,150 | £289 | £1,439 | £16,342 | 11.4 yrs | £12,444 |
| 8 kW | 8258 kWh | 4955 kWh | 3303 kWh | £1,315 | £330 | £1,645 | £18,376 | 11.2 yrs | £14,521 |
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: £1,113, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 2065 kWh | 1445 kWh | 619 kWh | £383 | £62 | £445 | £7,569 | 17.0 yrs | £1,338 |
| 3 kW | 3097 kWh | 2168 kWh | 929 kWh | £575 | £93 | £668 | £9,604 | 14.4 yrs | £3,757 |
| 4 kW | 4129 kWh | 2890 kWh | 1239 kWh | £767 | £124 | £891 | £11,638 | 13.1 yrs | £6,176 |
| 5 kW | 5161 kWh | 3613 kWh | 1548 kWh | £959 | £155 | £1,113 | £13,673 | 12.3 yrs | £8,595 |
| 6 kW | 6194 kWh | 4336 kWh | 1858 kWh | £1,150 | £186 | £1,336 | £15,707 | 11.8 yrs | £11,014 |
| 7 kW | 7226 kWh | 5058 kWh | 2168 kWh | £1,342 | £217 | £1,559 | £17,742 | 11.4 yrs | £13,433 |
| 8 kW | 8258 kWh | 5781 kWh | 2477 kWh | £1,534 | £248 | £1,781 | £19,776 | 11.1 yrs | £15,852 |
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: £1,139, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2065 kWh | 1507 kWh | 557 kWh | £400 | £56 | £456 | £9,319 | 20.5 yrs | £-207 |
| 3 kW | 3097 kWh | 2261 kWh | 836 kWh | £600 | £84 | £683 | £11,354 | 16.6 yrs | £2,314 |
| 4 kW | 4129 kWh | 3014 kWh | 1115 kWh | £800 | £111 | £911 | £13,388 | 14.7 yrs | £4,835 |
| 5 kW | 5161 kWh | 3768 kWh | 1394 kWh | £1,000 | £139 | £1,139 | £15,423 | 13.5 yrs | £7,357 |
| 6 kW | 6194 kWh | 4521 kWh | 1672 kWh | £1,200 | £167 | £1,367 | £17,457 | 12.8 yrs | £9,878 |
| 7 kW | 7226 kWh | 5275 kWh | 1951 kWh | £1,399 | £195 | £1,595 | £19,492 | 12.2 yrs | £12,399 |
| 8 kW | 8258 kWh | 6029 kWh | 2230 kWh | £1,599 | £223 | £1,822 | £21,526 | 11.8 yrs | £14,921 |
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: £1,156, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2065 kWh | 1548 kWh | 516 kWh | £411 | £52 | £462 | £11,069 | 23.9 yrs | £-1,821 |
| 3 kW | 3097 kWh | 2323 kWh | 774 kWh | £616 | £77 | £694 | £13,104 | 18.9 yrs | £769 |
| 4 kW | 4129 kWh | 3097 kWh | 1032 kWh | £822 | £103 | £925 | £15,138 | 16.4 yrs | £3,358 |
| 5 kW | 5161 kWh | 3871 kWh | 1290 kWh | £1,027 | £129 | £1,156 | £17,173 | 14.9 yrs | £5,948 |
| 6 kW | 6194 kWh | 4645 kWh | 1548 kWh | £1,232 | £155 | £1,387 | £19,207 | 13.8 yrs | £8,538 |
| 7 kW | 7226 kWh | 5419 kWh | 1806 kWh | £1,438 | £181 | £1,618 | £21,242 | 13.1 yrs | £11,127 |
| 8 kW | 8258 kWh | 6194 kWh | 2065 kWh | £1,643 | £206 | £1,850 | £23,276 | 12.6 yrs | £13,717 |
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: £1,173, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2065 kWh | 1590 kWh | 475 kWh | £422 | £47 | £469 | £13,519 | 28.8 yrs | £-4,134 |
| 3 kW | 3097 kWh | 2385 kWh | 712 kWh | £633 | £71 | £704 | £15,554 | 22.1 yrs | £-1,476 |
| 4 kW | 4129 kWh | 3179 kWh | 950 kWh | £844 | £95 | £938 | £17,588 | 18.7 yrs | £1,181 |
| 5 kW | 5161 kWh | 3974 kWh | 1187 kWh | £1,054 | £119 | £1,173 | £19,623 | 16.7 yrs | £3,839 |
| 6 kW | 6194 kWh | 4769 kWh | 1425 kWh | £1,265 | £142 | £1,408 | £21,657 | 15.4 yrs | £6,497 |
| 7 kW | 7226 kWh | 5564 kWh | 1662 kWh | £1,476 | £166 | £1,642 | £23,692 | 14.4 yrs | £9,155 |
| 8 kW | 8258 kWh | 6359 kWh | 1899 kWh | £1,687 | £190 | £1,877 | £25,726 | 13.7 yrs | £11,813 |
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.