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 693 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: £583, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1386 kWh | 554 kWh | 832 kWh | £150 | £83 | £233 | £4,069 | 17.5 yrs | £594 |
| 3 kW | 2079 kWh | 832 kWh | 1247 kWh | £225 | £125 | £350 | £6,104 | 17.5 yrs | £891 |
| 4 kW | 2772 kWh | 1109 kWh | 1663 kWh | £300 | £166 | £466 | £8,138 | 17.5 yrs | £1,188 |
| 5 kW | 3465 kWh | 1386 kWh | 2079 kWh | £375 | £208 | £583 | £10,173 | 17.5 yrs | £1,485 |
| 6 kW | 4158 kWh | 1663 kWh | 2495 kWh | £450 | £249 | £699 | £12,207 | 17.5 yrs | £1,783 |
| 7 kW | 4851 kWh | 1940 kWh | 2910 kWh | £525 | £291 | £816 | £14,242 | 17.5 yrs | £2,080 |
| 8 kW | 5544 kWh | 2217 kWh | 3326 kWh | £600 | £333 | £933 | £16,276 | 17.5 yrs | £2,377 |
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: £701, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1386 kWh | 832 kWh | 554 kWh | £225 | £55 | £280 | £6,169 | 22.0 yrs | £-560 |
| 3 kW | 2079 kWh | 1247 kWh | 832 kWh | £338 | £83 | £421 | £8,204 | 19.5 yrs | £210 |
| 4 kW | 2772 kWh | 1663 kWh | 1109 kWh | £450 | £111 | £561 | £10,238 | 18.3 yrs | £980 |
| 5 kW | 3465 kWh | 2079 kWh | 1386 kWh | £563 | £139 | £701 | £12,273 | 17.5 yrs | £1,750 |
| 6 kW | 4158 kWh | 2495 kWh | 1663 kWh | £675 | £166 | £841 | £14,307 | 17.0 yrs | £2,520 |
| 7 kW | 4851 kWh | 2910 kWh | 1940 kWh | £788 | £194 | £982 | £16,342 | 16.6 yrs | £3,290 |
| 8 kW | 5544 kWh | 3326 kWh | 2217 kWh | £900 | £222 | £1,122 | £18,376 | 16.4 yrs | £4,060 |
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: £760, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 18.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1386 kWh | 970 kWh | 416 kWh | £263 | £42 | £304 | £7,569 | 24.9 yrs | £-1,487 |
| 3 kW | 2079 kWh | 1455 kWh | 624 kWh | £394 | £62 | £456 | £9,604 | 21.1 yrs | £-481 |
| 4 kW | 2772 kWh | 1940 kWh | 832 kWh | £525 | £83 | £608 | £11,638 | 19.1 yrs | £526 |
| 5 kW | 3465 kWh | 2425 kWh | 1039 kWh | £656 | £104 | £760 | £13,673 | 18.0 yrs | £1,532 |
| 6 kW | 4158 kWh | 2910 kWh | 1247 kWh | £788 | £125 | £912 | £15,707 | 17.2 yrs | £2,538 |
| 7 kW | 4851 kWh | 3395 kWh | 1455 kWh | £919 | £146 | £1,064 | £17,742 | 16.7 yrs | £3,545 |
| 8 kW | 5544 kWh | 3880 kWh | 1663 kWh | £1,050 | £166 | £1,216 | £19,776 | 16.3 yrs | £4,551 |
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: £778, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 19.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1386 kWh | 1012 kWh | 374 kWh | £274 | £37 | £311 | £9,319 | 29.9 yrs | £-3,095 |
| 3 kW | 2079 kWh | 1518 kWh | 561 kWh | £411 | £56 | £467 | £11,354 | 24.3 yrs | £-2,018 |
| 4 kW | 2772 kWh | 2023 kWh | 748 kWh | £548 | £75 | £622 | £13,388 | 21.5 yrs | £-941 |
| 5 kW | 3465 kWh | 2529 kWh | 935 kWh | £684 | £94 | £778 | £15,423 | 19.8 yrs | £137 |
| 6 kW | 4158 kWh | 3035 kWh | 1123 kWh | £821 | £112 | £934 | £17,457 | 18.7 yrs | £1,214 |
| 7 kW | 4851 kWh | 3541 kWh | 1310 kWh | £958 | £131 | £1,089 | £19,492 | 17.9 yrs | £2,291 |
| 8 kW | 5544 kWh | 4047 kWh | 1497 kWh | £1,095 | £150 | £1,245 | £21,526 | 17.3 yrs | £3,369 |
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: £790, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 21.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1386 kWh | 1039 kWh | 346 kWh | £281 | £35 | £316 | £11,069 | 35.0 yrs | £-4,751 |
| 3 kW | 2079 kWh | 1559 kWh | 520 kWh | £422 | £52 | £474 | £13,104 | 27.7 yrs | £-3,626 |
| 4 kW | 2772 kWh | 2079 kWh | 693 kWh | £563 | £69 | £632 | £15,138 | 24.0 yrs | £-2,502 |
| 5 kW | 3465 kWh | 2599 kWh | 866 kWh | £703 | £87 | £790 | £17,173 | 21.7 yrs | £-1,377 |
| 6 kW | 4158 kWh | 3118 kWh | 1039 kWh | £844 | £104 | £948 | £19,207 | 20.3 yrs | £-252 |
| 7 kW | 4851 kWh | 3638 kWh | 1213 kWh | £984 | £121 | £1,106 | £21,242 | 19.2 yrs | £872 |
| 8 kW | 5544 kWh | 4158 kWh | 1386 kWh | £1,125 | £139 | £1,264 | £23,276 | 18.4 yrs | £1,997 |
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: £802, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 24.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1386 kWh | 1067 kWh | 319 kWh | £289 | £32 | £321 | £13,519 | 42.2 yrs | £-7,106 |
| 3 kW | 2079 kWh | 1601 kWh | 478 kWh | £433 | £48 | £481 | £15,554 | 32.3 yrs | £-5,934 |
| 4 kW | 2772 kWh | 2134 kWh | 638 kWh | £578 | £64 | £641 | £17,588 | 27.4 yrs | £-4,762 |
| 5 kW | 3465 kWh | 2668 kWh | 797 kWh | £722 | £80 | £802 | £19,623 | 24.5 yrs | £-3,591 |
| 6 kW | 4158 kWh | 3201 kWh | 956 kWh | £866 | £96 | £962 | £21,657 | 22.5 yrs | £-2,419 |
| 7 kW | 4851 kWh | 3735 kWh | 1116 kWh | £1,011 | £112 | £1,122 | £23,692 | 21.1 yrs | £-1,247 |
| 8 kW | 5544 kWh | 4269 kWh | 1275 kWh | £1,155 | £128 | £1,283 | £25,726 | 20.1 yrs | £-75 |
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.