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 1062 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: £881, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2124 kWh | 850 kWh | 1275 kWh | £225 | £127 | £352 | £4,069 | 11.5 yrs | £2,981 |
| 3 kW | 3187 kWh | 1275 kWh | 1912 kWh | £338 | £191 | £529 | £6,104 | 11.5 yrs | £4,471 |
| 4 kW | 4249 kWh | 1700 kWh | 2549 kWh | £450 | £255 | £705 | £8,138 | 11.5 yrs | £5,962 |
| 5 kW | 5311 kWh | 2124 kWh | 3187 kWh | £563 | £319 | £881 | £10,173 | 11.5 yrs | £7,452 |
| 6 kW | 6373 kWh | 2549 kWh | 3824 kWh | £675 | £382 | £1,057 | £12,207 | 11.5 yrs | £8,943 |
| 7 kW | 7436 kWh | 2974 kWh | 4461 kWh | £788 | £446 | £1,234 | £14,242 | 11.5 yrs | £10,433 |
| 8 kW | 8498 kWh | 3399 kWh | 5099 kWh | £900 | £510 | £1,410 | £16,276 | 11.5 yrs | £11,923 |
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: £1,056, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2124 kWh | 1275 kWh | 850 kWh | £338 | £85 | £423 | £6,169 | 14.6 yrs | £2,281 |
| 3 kW | 3187 kWh | 1912 kWh | 1275 kWh | £506 | £127 | £634 | £8,204 | 12.9 yrs | £4,472 |
| 4 kW | 4249 kWh | 2549 kWh | 1700 kWh | £675 | £170 | £845 | £10,238 | 12.1 yrs | £6,663 |
| 5 kW | 5311 kWh | 3187 kWh | 2124 kWh | £844 | £212 | £1,056 | £12,273 | 11.6 yrs | £8,853 |
| 6 kW | 6373 kWh | 3824 kWh | 2549 kWh | £1,013 | £255 | £1,268 | £14,307 | 11.3 yrs | £11,044 |
| 7 kW | 7436 kWh | 4461 kWh | 2974 kWh | £1,181 | £297 | £1,479 | £16,342 | 11.1 yrs | £13,235 |
| 8 kW | 8498 kWh | 5099 kWh | 3399 kWh | £1,350 | £340 | £1,690 | £18,376 | 10.9 yrs | £15,425 |
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: £1,144, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2124 kWh | 1487 kWh | 637 kWh | £394 | £64 | £458 | £7,569 | 16.5 yrs | £1,582 |
| 3 kW | 3187 kWh | 2231 kWh | 956 kWh | £591 | £96 | £686 | £9,604 | 14.0 yrs | £4,122 |
| 4 kW | 4249 kWh | 2974 kWh | 1275 kWh | £788 | £127 | £915 | £11,638 | 12.7 yrs | £6,663 |
| 5 kW | 5311 kWh | 3718 kWh | 1593 kWh | £984 | £159 | £1,144 | £13,673 | 12.0 yrs | £9,204 |
| 6 kW | 6373 kWh | 4461 kWh | 1912 kWh | £1,181 | £191 | £1,373 | £15,707 | 11.4 yrs | £11,745 |
| 7 kW | 7436 kWh | 5205 kWh | 2231 kWh | £1,378 | £223 | £1,601 | £17,742 | 11.1 yrs | £14,285 |
| 8 kW | 8498 kWh | 5949 kWh | 2549 kWh | £1,575 | £255 | £1,830 | £19,776 | 10.8 yrs | £16,826 |
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: £1,170, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2124 kWh | 1551 kWh | 574 kWh | £411 | £57 | £468 | £9,319 | 19.9 yrs | £42 |
| 3 kW | 3187 kWh | 2326 kWh | 860 kWh | £616 | £86 | £702 | £11,354 | 16.2 yrs | £2,687 |
| 4 kW | 4249 kWh | 3102 kWh | 1147 kWh | £821 | £115 | £936 | £13,388 | 14.3 yrs | £5,333 |
| 5 kW | 5311 kWh | 3877 kWh | 1434 kWh | £1,027 | £143 | £1,170 | £15,423 | 13.2 yrs | £7,979 |
| 6 kW | 6373 kWh | 4653 kWh | 1721 kWh | £1,232 | £172 | £1,404 | £17,457 | 12.4 yrs | £10,625 |
| 7 kW | 7436 kWh | 5428 kWh | 2008 kWh | £1,437 | £201 | £1,638 | £19,492 | 11.9 yrs | £13,271 |
| 8 kW | 8498 kWh | 6203 kWh | 2294 kWh | £1,643 | £229 | £1,872 | £21,526 | 11.5 yrs | £15,916 |
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: £1,188, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 2124 kWh | 1593 kWh | 531 kWh | £422 | £53 | £475 | £11,069 | 23.3 yrs | £-1,568 |
| 3 kW | 3187 kWh | 2390 kWh | 797 kWh | £633 | £80 | £713 | £13,104 | 18.4 yrs | £1,147 |
| 4 kW | 4249 kWh | 3187 kWh | 1062 kWh | £844 | £106 | £950 | £15,138 | 15.9 yrs | £3,863 |
| 5 kW | 5311 kWh | 3983 kWh | 1328 kWh | £1,055 | £133 | £1,188 | £17,173 | 14.5 yrs | £6,579 |
| 6 kW | 6373 kWh | 4780 kWh | 1593 kWh | £1,266 | £159 | £1,425 | £19,207 | 13.5 yrs | £9,295 |
| 7 kW | 7436 kWh | 5577 kWh | 1859 kWh | £1,477 | £186 | £1,663 | £21,242 | 12.8 yrs | £12,011 |
| 8 kW | 8498 kWh | 6373 kWh | 2124 kWh | £1,688 | £212 | £1,900 | £23,276 | 12.2 yrs | £14,727 |
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: £1,205, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2124 kWh | 1636 kWh | 489 kWh | £433 | £49 | £482 | £13,519 | 28.0 yrs | £-3,878 |
| 3 kW | 3187 kWh | 2454 kWh | 733 kWh | £650 | £73 | £723 | £15,554 | 21.5 yrs | £-1,092 |
| 4 kW | 4249 kWh | 3272 kWh | 977 kWh | £866 | £98 | £964 | £17,588 | 18.2 yrs | £1,693 |
| 5 kW | 5311 kWh | 4090 kWh | 1222 kWh | £1,083 | £122 | £1,205 | £19,623 | 16.3 yrs | £4,479 |
| 6 kW | 6373 kWh | 4908 kWh | 1466 kWh | £1,300 | £147 | £1,446 | £21,657 | 15.0 yrs | £7,265 |
| 7 kW | 7436 kWh | 5725 kWh | 1710 kWh | £1,516 | £171 | £1,687 | £23,692 | 14.0 yrs | £10,051 |
| 8 kW | 8498 kWh | 6543 kWh | 1955 kWh | £1,733 | £195 | £1,928 | £25,726 | 13.3 yrs | £12,837 |
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.