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 1133 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: £940, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 10.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2265 kWh | 906 kWh | 1359 kWh | £240 | £136 | £376 | £4,069 | 10.8 yrs | £3,447 |
| 3 kW | 3398 kWh | 1359 kWh | 2039 kWh | £360 | £204 | £564 | £6,104 | 10.8 yrs | £5,171 |
| 4 kW | 4530 kWh | 1812 kWh | 2718 kWh | £480 | £272 | £752 | £8,138 | 10.8 yrs | £6,895 |
| 5 kW | 5663 kWh | 2265 kWh | 3398 kWh | £600 | £340 | £940 | £10,173 | 10.8 yrs | £8,618 |
| 6 kW | 6795 kWh | 2718 kWh | 4077 kWh | £720 | £408 | £1,127 | £12,207 | 10.8 yrs | £10,342 |
| 7 kW | 7928 kWh | 3171 kWh | 4757 kWh | £840 | £476 | £1,315 | £14,242 | 10.8 yrs | £12,066 |
| 8 kW | 9060 kWh | 3624 kWh | 5436 kWh | £960 | £544 | £1,503 | £16,276 | 10.8 yrs | £13,789 |
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: £1,126, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 10.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2265 kWh | 1359 kWh | 906 kWh | £360 | £91 | £450 | £6,169 | 13.7 yrs | £2,840 |
| 3 kW | 3398 kWh | 2039 kWh | 1359 kWh | £540 | £136 | £676 | £8,204 | 12.1 yrs | £5,311 |
| 4 kW | 4530 kWh | 2718 kWh | 1812 kWh | £720 | £181 | £901 | £10,238 | 11.4 yrs | £7,781 |
| 5 kW | 5663 kWh | 3398 kWh | 2265 kWh | £900 | £227 | £1,126 | £12,273 | 10.9 yrs | £10,251 |
| 6 kW | 6795 kWh | 4077 kWh | 2718 kWh | £1,080 | £272 | £1,351 | £14,307 | 10.6 yrs | £12,721 |
| 7 kW | 7928 kWh | 4757 kWh | 3171 kWh | £1,260 | £317 | £1,577 | £16,342 | 10.4 yrs | £15,191 |
| 8 kW | 9060 kWh | 5436 kWh | 3624 kWh | £1,439 | £362 | £1,802 | £18,376 | 10.2 yrs | £17,662 |
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: £1,219, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2265 kWh | 1586 kWh | 680 kWh | £420 | £68 | £488 | £7,569 | 15.5 yrs | £2,187 |
| 3 kW | 3398 kWh | 2378 kWh | 1019 kWh | £630 | £102 | £732 | £9,604 | 13.1 yrs | £5,030 |
| 4 kW | 4530 kWh | 3171 kWh | 1359 kWh | £840 | £136 | £976 | £11,638 | 11.9 yrs | £7,874 |
| 5 kW | 5663 kWh | 3964 kWh | 1699 kWh | £1,050 | £170 | £1,219 | £13,673 | 11.2 yrs | £10,717 |
| 6 kW | 6795 kWh | 4757 kWh | 2039 kWh | £1,260 | £204 | £1,463 | £15,707 | 10.7 yrs | £13,561 |
| 7 kW | 7928 kWh | 5549 kWh | 2378 kWh | £1,469 | £238 | £1,707 | £17,742 | 10.4 yrs | £16,404 |
| 8 kW | 9060 kWh | 6342 kWh | 2718 kWh | £1,679 | £272 | £1,951 | £19,776 | 10.1 yrs | £19,248 |
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: £1,247, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2265 kWh | 1653 kWh | 612 kWh | £438 | £61 | £499 | £9,319 | 18.7 yrs | £661 |
| 3 kW | 3398 kWh | 2480 kWh | 917 kWh | £657 | £92 | £748 | £11,354 | 15.2 yrs | £3,616 |
| 4 kW | 4530 kWh | 3307 kWh | 1223 kWh | £876 | £122 | £998 | £13,388 | 13.4 yrs | £6,572 |
| 5 kW | 5663 kWh | 4134 kWh | 1529 kWh | £1,095 | £153 | £1,247 | £15,423 | 12.4 yrs | £9,527 |
| 6 kW | 6795 kWh | 4960 kWh | 1835 kWh | £1,314 | £183 | £1,497 | £17,457 | 11.7 yrs | £12,483 |
| 7 kW | 7928 kWh | 5787 kWh | 2140 kWh | £1,532 | £214 | £1,746 | £19,492 | 11.2 yrs | £15,438 |
| 8 kW | 9060 kWh | 6614 kWh | 2446 kWh | £1,751 | £245 | £1,996 | £21,526 | 10.8 yrs | £18,394 |
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: £1,266, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2265 kWh | 1699 kWh | 566 kWh | £450 | £57 | £506 | £11,069 | 21.9 yrs | £-940 |
| 3 kW | 3398 kWh | 2548 kWh | 849 kWh | £675 | £85 | £760 | £13,104 | 17.2 yrs | £2,090 |
| 4 kW | 4530 kWh | 3398 kWh | 1133 kWh | £900 | £113 | £1,013 | £15,138 | 14.9 yrs | £5,120 |
| 5 kW | 5663 kWh | 4247 kWh | 1416 kWh | £1,125 | £142 | £1,266 | £17,173 | 13.6 yrs | £8,151 |
| 6 kW | 6795 kWh | 5096 kWh | 1699 kWh | £1,350 | £170 | £1,519 | £19,207 | 12.6 yrs | £11,181 |
| 7 kW | 7928 kWh | 5946 kWh | 1982 kWh | £1,574 | £198 | £1,773 | £21,242 | 12.0 yrs | £14,211 |
| 8 kW | 9060 kWh | 6795 kWh | 2265 kWh | £1,799 | £227 | £2,026 | £23,276 | 11.5 yrs | £17,241 |
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: £1,285, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2265 kWh | 1744 kWh | 521 kWh | £462 | £52 | £514 | £13,519 | 26.3 yrs | £-3,240 |
| 3 kW | 3398 kWh | 2616 kWh | 781 kWh | £693 | £78 | £771 | £15,554 | 20.2 yrs | £-136 |
| 4 kW | 4530 kWh | 3488 kWh | 1042 kWh | £924 | £104 | £1,028 | £17,588 | 17.1 yrs | £2,969 |
| 5 kW | 5663 kWh | 4360 kWh | 1302 kWh | £1,155 | £130 | £1,285 | £19,623 | 15.3 yrs | £6,074 |
| 6 kW | 6795 kWh | 5232 kWh | 1563 kWh | £1,385 | £156 | £1,542 | £21,657 | 14.0 yrs | £9,179 |
| 7 kW | 7928 kWh | 6104 kWh | 1823 kWh | £1,616 | £182 | £1,799 | £23,692 | 13.2 yrs | £12,283 |
| 8 kW | 9060 kWh | 6976 kWh | 2084 kWh | £1,847 | £208 | £2,056 | £25,726 | 12.5 yrs | £15,388 |
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.