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 707 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: £595, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1414 kWh | 565 kWh | 848 kWh | £153 | £85 | £238 | £4,069 | 17.1 yrs | £687 |
| 3 kW | 2120 kWh | 848 kWh | 1272 kWh | £229 | £127 | £357 | £6,104 | 17.1 yrs | £1,031 |
| 4 kW | 2827 kWh | 1131 kWh | 1696 kWh | £306 | £170 | £476 | £8,138 | 17.1 yrs | £1,374 |
| 5 kW | 3534 kWh | 1414 kWh | 2120 kWh | £382 | £212 | £595 | £10,173 | 17.1 yrs | £1,718 |
| 6 kW | 4241 kWh | 1696 kWh | 2544 kWh | £459 | £254 | £713 | £12,207 | 17.1 yrs | £2,062 |
| 7 kW | 4947 kWh | 1979 kWh | 2968 kWh | £535 | £297 | £832 | £14,242 | 17.1 yrs | £2,405 |
| 8 kW | 5654 kWh | 2262 kWh | 3392 kWh | £612 | £339 | £951 | £16,276 | 17.1 yrs | £2,749 |
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: £715, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1414 kWh | 848 kWh | 565 kWh | £229 | £57 | £286 | £6,169 | 21.6 yrs | £-448 |
| 3 kW | 2120 kWh | 1272 kWh | 848 kWh | £344 | £85 | £429 | £8,204 | 19.1 yrs | £378 |
| 4 kW | 2827 kWh | 1696 kWh | 1131 kWh | £459 | £113 | £572 | £10,238 | 17.9 yrs | £1,204 |
| 5 kW | 3534 kWh | 2120 kWh | 1414 kWh | £574 | £141 | £715 | £12,273 | 17.2 yrs | £2,029 |
| 6 kW | 4241 kWh | 2544 kWh | 1696 kWh | £688 | £170 | £858 | £14,307 | 16.7 yrs | £2,855 |
| 7 kW | 4947 kWh | 2968 kWh | 1979 kWh | £803 | £198 | £1,001 | £16,342 | 16.3 yrs | £3,681 |
| 8 kW | 5654 kWh | 3392 kWh | 2262 kWh | £918 | £226 | £1,144 | £18,376 | 16.1 yrs | £4,507 |
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: £775, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 17.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1414 kWh | 989 kWh | 424 kWh | £268 | £42 | £310 | £7,569 | 24.4 yrs | £-1,366 |
| 3 kW | 2120 kWh | 1484 kWh | 636 kWh | £402 | £64 | £465 | £9,604 | 20.6 yrs | £-299 |
| 4 kW | 2827 kWh | 1979 kWh | 848 kWh | £535 | £85 | £620 | £11,638 | 18.8 yrs | £768 |
| 5 kW | 3534 kWh | 2474 kWh | 1060 kWh | £669 | £106 | £775 | £13,673 | 17.6 yrs | £1,835 |
| 6 kW | 4241 kWh | 2968 kWh | 1272 kWh | £803 | £127 | £930 | £15,707 | 16.9 yrs | £2,902 |
| 7 kW | 4947 kWh | 3463 kWh | 1484 kWh | £937 | £148 | £1,086 | £17,742 | 16.3 yrs | £3,969 |
| 8 kW | 5654 kWh | 3958 kWh | 1696 kWh | £1,071 | £170 | £1,241 | £19,776 | 15.9 yrs | £5,036 |
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: £793, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1414 kWh | 1032 kWh | 382 kWh | £279 | £38 | £317 | £9,319 | 29.4 yrs | £-2,971 |
| 3 kW | 2120 kWh | 1548 kWh | 572 kWh | £419 | £57 | £476 | £11,354 | 23.8 yrs | £-1,832 |
| 4 kW | 2827 kWh | 2064 kWh | 763 kWh | £558 | £76 | £635 | £13,388 | 21.1 yrs | £-692 |
| 5 kW | 3534 kWh | 2580 kWh | 954 kWh | £698 | £95 | £793 | £15,423 | 19.4 yrs | £447 |
| 6 kW | 4241 kWh | 3096 kWh | 1145 kWh | £838 | £114 | £952 | £17,457 | 18.3 yrs | £1,586 |
| 7 kW | 4947 kWh | 3612 kWh | 1336 kWh | £977 | £134 | £1,111 | £19,492 | 17.5 yrs | £2,726 |
| 8 kW | 5654 kWh | 4127 kWh | 1527 kWh | £1,117 | £153 | £1,270 | £21,526 | 17.0 yrs | £3,865 |
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: £806, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 21.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1414 kWh | 1060 kWh | 353 kWh | £287 | £35 | £322 | £11,069 | 34.4 yrs | £-4,625 |
| 3 kW | 2120 kWh | 1590 kWh | 530 kWh | £430 | £53 | £483 | £13,104 | 27.1 yrs | £-3,437 |
| 4 kW | 2827 kWh | 2120 kWh | 707 kWh | £574 | £71 | £644 | £15,138 | 23.5 yrs | £-2,250 |
| 5 kW | 3534 kWh | 2650 kWh | 883 kWh | £717 | £88 | £806 | £17,173 | 21.3 yrs | £-1,062 |
| 6 kW | 4241 kWh | 3180 kWh | 1060 kWh | £861 | £106 | £967 | £19,207 | 19.9 yrs | £126 |
| 7 kW | 4947 kWh | 3710 kWh | 1237 kWh | £1,004 | £124 | £1,128 | £21,242 | 18.8 yrs | £1,313 |
| 8 kW | 5654 kWh | 4241 kWh | 1414 kWh | £1,147 | £141 | £1,289 | £23,276 | 18.1 yrs | £2,501 |
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: £818, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 24.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1414 kWh | 1088 kWh | 325 kWh | £295 | £33 | £327 | £13,519 | 41.3 yrs | £-6,978 |
| 3 kW | 2120 kWh | 1633 kWh | 488 kWh | £442 | £49 | £491 | £15,554 | 31.7 yrs | £-5,742 |
| 4 kW | 2827 kWh | 2177 kWh | 650 kWh | £589 | £65 | £654 | £17,588 | 26.9 yrs | £-4,507 |
| 5 kW | 3534 kWh | 2721 kWh | 813 kWh | £736 | £81 | £818 | £19,623 | 24.0 yrs | £-3,271 |
| 6 kW | 4241 kWh | 3265 kWh | 975 kWh | £884 | £98 | £981 | £21,657 | 22.1 yrs | £-2,035 |
| 7 kW | 4947 kWh | 3809 kWh | 1138 kWh | £1,031 | £114 | £1,145 | £23,692 | 20.7 yrs | £-799 |
| 8 kW | 5654 kWh | 4354 kWh | 1300 kWh | £1,178 | £130 | £1,308 | £25,726 | 19.7 yrs | £437 |
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.