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 824 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: £693, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1647 kWh | 659 kWh | 988 kWh | £178 | £99 | £277 | £4,069 | 14.7 yrs | £1,473 |
| 3 kW | 2471 kWh | 988 kWh | 1482 kWh | £267 | £148 | £416 | £6,104 | 14.7 yrs | £2,210 |
| 4 kW | 3294 kWh | 1318 kWh | 1977 kWh | £357 | £198 | £554 | £8,138 | 14.7 yrs | £2,947 |
| 5 kW | 4118 kWh | 1647 kWh | 2471 kWh | £446 | £247 | £693 | £10,173 | 14.7 yrs | £3,684 |
| 6 kW | 4942 kWh | 1977 kWh | 2965 kWh | £535 | £296 | £831 | £12,207 | 14.7 yrs | £4,420 |
| 7 kW | 5765 kWh | 2306 kWh | 3459 kWh | £624 | £346 | £970 | £14,242 | 14.7 yrs | £5,157 |
| 8 kW | 6589 kWh | 2635 kWh | 3953 kWh | £713 | £395 | £1,108 | £16,276 | 14.7 yrs | £5,894 |
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: £833, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 14.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1647 kWh | 988 kWh | 659 kWh | £267 | £66 | £333 | £6,169 | 18.5 yrs | £497 |
| 3 kW | 2471 kWh | 1482 kWh | 988 kWh | £401 | £99 | £500 | £8,204 | 16.4 yrs | £1,796 |
| 4 kW | 3294 kWh | 1977 kWh | 1318 kWh | £535 | £132 | £667 | £10,238 | 15.4 yrs | £3,095 |
| 5 kW | 4118 kWh | 2471 kWh | 1647 kWh | £669 | £165 | £833 | £12,273 | 14.7 yrs | £4,394 |
| 6 kW | 4942 kWh | 2965 kWh | 1977 kWh | £802 | £198 | £1,000 | £14,307 | 14.3 yrs | £5,692 |
| 7 kW | 5765 kWh | 3459 kWh | 2306 kWh | £936 | £231 | £1,167 | £16,342 | 14.0 yrs | £6,991 |
| 8 kW | 6589 kWh | 3953 kWh | 2635 kWh | £1,070 | £264 | £1,333 | £18,376 | 13.8 yrs | £8,290 |
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: £904, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1647 kWh | 1153 kWh | 494 kWh | £312 | £49 | £361 | £7,569 | 20.9 yrs | £-341 |
| 3 kW | 2471 kWh | 1730 kWh | 741 kWh | £468 | £74 | £542 | £9,604 | 17.7 yrs | £1,239 |
| 4 kW | 3294 kWh | 2306 kWh | 988 kWh | £624 | £99 | £723 | £11,638 | 16.1 yrs | £2,819 |
| 5 kW | 4118 kWh | 2883 kWh | 1235 kWh | £780 | £124 | £904 | £13,673 | 15.1 yrs | £4,399 |
| 6 kW | 4942 kWh | 3459 kWh | 1482 kWh | £936 | £148 | £1,084 | £15,707 | 14.5 yrs | £5,978 |
| 7 kW | 5765 kWh | 4036 kWh | 1730 kWh | £1,092 | £173 | £1,265 | £17,742 | 14.0 yrs | £7,558 |
| 8 kW | 6589 kWh | 4612 kWh | 1977 kWh | £1,248 | £198 | £1,446 | £19,776 | 13.7 yrs | £9,138 |
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: £925, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 1647 kWh | 1202 kWh | 445 kWh | £325 | £44 | £370 | £9,319 | 25.2 yrs | £-1,922 |
| 3 kW | 2471 kWh | 1804 kWh | 667 kWh | £488 | £67 | £555 | £11,354 | 20.5 yrs | £-258 |
| 4 kW | 3294 kWh | 2405 kWh | 889 kWh | £651 | £89 | £740 | £13,388 | 18.1 yrs | £1,406 |
| 5 kW | 4118 kWh | 3006 kWh | 1112 kWh | £813 | £111 | £925 | £15,423 | 16.7 yrs | £3,070 |
| 6 kW | 4942 kWh | 3607 kWh | 1334 kWh | £976 | £133 | £1,110 | £17,457 | 15.7 yrs | £4,734 |
| 7 kW | 5765 kWh | 4209 kWh | 1557 kWh | £1,139 | £156 | £1,294 | £19,492 | 15.1 yrs | £6,398 |
| 8 kW | 6589 kWh | 4810 kWh | 1779 kWh | £1,302 | £178 | £1,479 | £21,526 | 14.6 yrs | £8,062 |
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: £939, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 18.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1647 kWh | 1235 kWh | 412 kWh | £334 | £41 | £375 | £11,069 | 29.5 yrs | £-3,560 |
| 3 kW | 2471 kWh | 1853 kWh | 618 kWh | £501 | £62 | £563 | £13,104 | 23.3 yrs | £-1,839 |
| 4 kW | 3294 kWh | 2471 kWh | 824 kWh | £669 | £82 | £751 | £15,138 | 20.2 yrs | £-119 |
| 5 kW | 4118 kWh | 3088 kWh | 1029 kWh | £836 | £103 | £939 | £17,173 | 18.3 yrs | £1,601 |
| 6 kW | 4942 kWh | 3706 kWh | 1235 kWh | £1,003 | £124 | £1,126 | £19,207 | 17.1 yrs | £3,321 |
| 7 kW | 5765 kWh | 4324 kWh | 1441 kWh | £1,170 | £144 | £1,314 | £21,242 | 16.2 yrs | £5,042 |
| 8 kW | 6589 kWh | 4942 kWh | 1647 kWh | £1,337 | £165 | £1,502 | £23,276 | 15.5 yrs | £6,762 |
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: £953, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 20.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1647 kWh | 1268 kWh | 379 kWh | £343 | £38 | £381 | £13,519 | 35.5 yrs | £-5,897 |
| 3 kW | 2471 kWh | 1902 kWh | 568 kWh | £515 | £57 | £572 | £15,554 | 27.2 yrs | £-4,121 |
| 4 kW | 3294 kWh | 2537 kWh | 758 kWh | £686 | £76 | £762 | £17,588 | 23.1 yrs | £-2,344 |
| 5 kW | 4118 kWh | 3171 kWh | 947 kWh | £858 | £95 | £953 | £19,623 | 20.6 yrs | £-568 |
| 6 kW | 4942 kWh | 3805 kWh | 1137 kWh | £1,030 | £114 | £1,143 | £21,657 | 18.9 yrs | £1,209 |
| 7 kW | 5765 kWh | 4439 kWh | 1326 kWh | £1,201 | £133 | £1,334 | £23,692 | 17.8 yrs | £2,985 |
| 8 kW | 6589 kWh | 5073 kWh | 1515 kWh | £1,373 | £152 | £1,524 | £25,726 | 16.9 yrs | £4,762 |
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.