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 839 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: £706, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1678 kWh | 671 kWh | 1007 kWh | £182 | £101 | £282 | £4,069 | 14.4 yrs | £1,577 |
| 3 kW | 2517 kWh | 1007 kWh | 1510 kWh | £272 | £151 | £423 | £6,104 | 14.4 yrs | £2,366 |
| 4 kW | 3356 kWh | 1342 kWh | 2014 kWh | £363 | £201 | £565 | £8,138 | 14.4 yrs | £3,155 |
| 5 kW | 4195 kWh | 1678 kWh | 2517 kWh | £454 | £252 | £706 | £10,173 | 14.4 yrs | £3,943 |
| 6 kW | 5034 kWh | 2014 kWh | 3021 kWh | £545 | £302 | £847 | £12,207 | 14.4 yrs | £4,732 |
| 7 kW | 5873 kWh | 2349 kWh | 3524 kWh | £636 | £352 | £988 | £14,242 | 14.4 yrs | £5,521 |
| 8 kW | 6712 kWh | 2685 kWh | 4027 kWh | £727 | £403 | £1,129 | £16,276 | 14.4 yrs | £6,309 |
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: £849, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1678 kWh | 1007 kWh | 671 kWh | £272 | £67 | £340 | £6,169 | 18.2 yrs | £622 |
| 3 kW | 2517 kWh | 1510 kWh | 1007 kWh | £409 | £101 | £509 | £8,204 | 16.1 yrs | £1,984 |
| 4 kW | 3356 kWh | 2014 kWh | 1342 kWh | £545 | £134 | £679 | £10,238 | 15.1 yrs | £3,345 |
| 5 kW | 4195 kWh | 2517 kWh | 1678 kWh | £681 | £168 | £849 | £12,273 | 14.5 yrs | £4,706 |
| 6 kW | 5034 kWh | 3021 kWh | 2014 kWh | £817 | £201 | £1,019 | £14,307 | 14.0 yrs | £6,067 |
| 7 kW | 5873 kWh | 3524 kWh | 2349 kWh | £954 | £235 | £1,189 | £16,342 | 13.7 yrs | £7,428 |
| 8 kW | 6712 kWh | 4027 kWh | 2685 kWh | £1,090 | £268 | £1,358 | £18,376 | 13.5 yrs | £8,790 |
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: £920, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1678 kWh | 1175 kWh | 503 kWh | £318 | £50 | £368 | £7,569 | 20.6 yrs | £-205 |
| 3 kW | 2517 kWh | 1762 kWh | 755 kWh | £477 | £76 | £552 | £9,604 | 17.4 yrs | £1,442 |
| 4 kW | 3356 kWh | 2349 kWh | 1007 kWh | £636 | £101 | £736 | £11,638 | 15.8 yrs | £3,090 |
| 5 kW | 4195 kWh | 2937 kWh | 1259 kWh | £795 | £126 | £920 | £13,673 | 14.9 yrs | £4,737 |
| 6 kW | 5034 kWh | 3524 kWh | 1510 kWh | £954 | £151 | £1,105 | £15,707 | 14.2 yrs | £6,385 |
| 7 kW | 5873 kWh | 4111 kWh | 1762 kWh | £1,113 | £176 | £1,289 | £17,742 | 13.8 yrs | £8,032 |
| 8 kW | 6712 kWh | 4699 kWh | 2014 kWh | £1,271 | £201 | £1,473 | £19,776 | 13.4 yrs | £9,680 |
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: £942, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1678 kWh | 1225 kWh | 453 kWh | £331 | £45 | £377 | £9,319 | 24.7 yrs | £-1,783 |
| 3 kW | 2517 kWh | 1837 kWh | 680 kWh | £497 | £68 | £565 | £11,354 | 20.1 yrs | £-50 |
| 4 kW | 3356 kWh | 2450 kWh | 906 kWh | £663 | £91 | £754 | £13,388 | 17.8 yrs | £1,683 |
| 5 kW | 4195 kWh | 3062 kWh | 1133 kWh | £829 | £113 | £942 | £15,423 | 16.4 yrs | £3,417 |
| 6 kW | 5034 kWh | 3675 kWh | 1359 kWh | £994 | £136 | £1,130 | £17,457 | 15.4 yrs | £5,150 |
| 7 kW | 5873 kWh | 4287 kWh | 1586 kWh | £1,160 | £159 | £1,319 | £19,492 | 14.8 yrs | £6,884 |
| 8 kW | 6712 kWh | 4900 kWh | 1812 kWh | £1,326 | £181 | £1,507 | £21,526 | 14.3 yrs | £8,617 |
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: £956, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 1678 kWh | 1259 kWh | 420 kWh | £341 | £42 | £383 | £11,069 | 28.9 yrs | £-3,419 |
| 3 kW | 2517 kWh | 1888 kWh | 629 kWh | £511 | £63 | £574 | £13,104 | 22.8 yrs | £-1,628 |
| 4 kW | 3356 kWh | 2517 kWh | 839 kWh | £681 | £84 | £765 | £15,138 | 19.8 yrs | £163 |
| 5 kW | 4195 kWh | 3146 kWh | 1049 kWh | £851 | £105 | £956 | £17,173 | 18.0 yrs | £1,953 |
| 6 kW | 5034 kWh | 3776 kWh | 1259 kWh | £1,022 | £126 | £1,148 | £19,207 | 16.7 yrs | £3,744 |
| 7 kW | 5873 kWh | 4405 kWh | 1468 kWh | £1,192 | £147 | £1,339 | £21,242 | 15.9 yrs | £5,534 |
| 8 kW | 6712 kWh | 5034 kWh | 1678 kWh | £1,362 | £168 | £1,530 | £23,276 | 15.2 yrs | £7,325 |
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: £971, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1678 kWh | 1292 kWh | 386 kWh | £350 | £39 | £388 | £13,519 | 34.8 yrs | £-5,754 |
| 3 kW | 2517 kWh | 1938 kWh | 579 kWh | £524 | £58 | £582 | £15,554 | 26.7 yrs | £-3,906 |
| 4 kW | 3356 kWh | 2584 kWh | 772 kWh | £699 | £77 | £776 | £17,588 | 22.7 yrs | £-2,058 |
| 5 kW | 4195 kWh | 3230 kWh | 965 kWh | £874 | £96 | £971 | £19,623 | 20.2 yrs | £-211 |
| 6 kW | 5034 kWh | 3876 kWh | 1158 kWh | £1,049 | £116 | £1,165 | £21,657 | 18.6 yrs | £1,637 |
| 7 kW | 5873 kWh | 4522 kWh | 1351 kWh | £1,224 | £135 | £1,359 | £23,692 | 17.4 yrs | £3,485 |
| 8 kW | 6712 kWh | 5168 kWh | 1544 kWh | £1,399 | £154 | £1,553 | £25,726 | 16.6 yrs | £5,333 |
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.