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 1088 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: £902, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2176 kWh | 870 kWh | 1305 kWh | £230 | £131 | £361 | £4,069 | 11.3 yrs | £3,151 |
| 3 kW | 3264 kWh | 1305 kWh | 1958 kWh | £346 | £196 | £541 | £6,104 | 11.3 yrs | £4,726 |
| 4 kW | 4351 kWh | 1741 kWh | 2611 kWh | £461 | £261 | £722 | £8,138 | 11.3 yrs | £6,302 |
| 5 kW | 5439 kWh | 2176 kWh | 3264 kWh | £576 | £326 | £902 | £10,173 | 11.3 yrs | £7,877 |
| 6 kW | 6527 kWh | 2611 kWh | 3916 kWh | £691 | £392 | £1,083 | £12,207 | 11.3 yrs | £9,452 |
| 7 kW | 7615 kWh | 3046 kWh | 4569 kWh | £807 | £457 | £1,263 | £14,242 | 11.3 yrs | £11,028 |
| 8 kW | 8703 kWh | 3481 kWh | 5222 kWh | £922 | £522 | £1,444 | £16,276 | 11.3 yrs | £12,603 |
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: £1,082, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2176 kWh | 1305 kWh | 870 kWh | £346 | £87 | £433 | £6,169 | 14.3 yrs | £2,485 |
| 3 kW | 3264 kWh | 1958 kWh | 1305 kWh | £519 | £131 | £649 | £8,204 | 12.6 yrs | £4,778 |
| 4 kW | 4351 kWh | 2611 kWh | 1741 kWh | £691 | £174 | £865 | £10,238 | 11.8 yrs | £7,070 |
| 5 kW | 5439 kWh | 3264 kWh | 2176 kWh | £864 | £218 | £1,082 | £12,273 | 11.3 yrs | £9,363 |
| 6 kW | 6527 kWh | 3916 kWh | 2611 kWh | £1,037 | £261 | £1,298 | £14,307 | 11.0 yrs | £11,655 |
| 7 kW | 7615 kWh | 4569 kWh | 3046 kWh | £1,210 | £305 | £1,514 | £16,342 | 10.8 yrs | £13,948 |
| 8 kW | 8703 kWh | 5222 kWh | 3481 kWh | £1,383 | £348 | £1,731 | £18,376 | 10.6 yrs | £16,240 |
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: £1,171, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2176 kWh | 1523 kWh | 653 kWh | £403 | £65 | £469 | £7,569 | 16.2 yrs | £1,802 |
| 3 kW | 3264 kWh | 2284 kWh | 979 kWh | £605 | £98 | £703 | £9,604 | 13.7 yrs | £4,453 |
| 4 kW | 4351 kWh | 3046 kWh | 1305 kWh | £807 | £131 | £937 | £11,638 | 12.4 yrs | £7,104 |
| 5 kW | 5439 kWh | 3807 kWh | 1632 kWh | £1,008 | £163 | £1,171 | £13,673 | 11.7 yrs | £9,755 |
| 6 kW | 6527 kWh | 4569 kWh | 1958 kWh | £1,210 | £196 | £1,406 | £15,707 | 11.2 yrs | £12,406 |
| 7 kW | 7615 kWh | 5330 kWh | 2284 kWh | £1,412 | £228 | £1,640 | £17,742 | 10.8 yrs | £15,058 |
| 8 kW | 8703 kWh | 6092 kWh | 2611 kWh | £1,613 | £261 | £1,874 | £19,776 | 10.6 yrs | £17,709 |
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: £1,198, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2176 kWh | 1588 kWh | 587 kWh | £421 | £59 | £479 | £9,319 | 19.4 yrs | £267 |
| 3 kW | 3264 kWh | 2382 kWh | 881 kWh | £631 | £88 | £719 | £11,354 | 15.8 yrs | £3,026 |
| 4 kW | 4351 kWh | 3177 kWh | 1175 kWh | £841 | £117 | £959 | £13,388 | 14.0 yrs | £5,785 |
| 5 kW | 5439 kWh | 3971 kWh | 1469 kWh | £1,051 | £147 | £1,198 | £15,423 | 12.9 yrs | £8,543 |
| 6 kW | 6527 kWh | 4765 kWh | 1762 kWh | £1,262 | £176 | £1,438 | £17,457 | 12.1 yrs | £11,302 |
| 7 kW | 7615 kWh | 5559 kWh | 2056 kWh | £1,472 | £206 | £1,678 | £19,492 | 11.6 yrs | £14,061 |
| 8 kW | 8703 kWh | 6353 kWh | 2350 kWh | £1,682 | £235 | £1,917 | £21,526 | 11.2 yrs | £16,819 |
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: £1,216, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2176 kWh | 1632 kWh | 544 kWh | £432 | £54 | £486 | £11,069 | 22.8 yrs | £-1,339 |
| 3 kW | 3264 kWh | 2448 kWh | 816 kWh | £648 | £82 | £730 | £13,104 | 18.0 yrs | £1,491 |
| 4 kW | 4351 kWh | 3264 kWh | 1088 kWh | £864 | £109 | £973 | £15,138 | 15.6 yrs | £4,321 |
| 5 kW | 5439 kWh | 4079 kWh | 1360 kWh | £1,080 | £136 | £1,216 | £17,173 | 14.1 yrs | £7,152 |
| 6 kW | 6527 kWh | 4895 kWh | 1632 kWh | £1,296 | £163 | £1,459 | £19,207 | 13.2 yrs | £9,982 |
| 7 kW | 7615 kWh | 5711 kWh | 1904 kWh | £1,512 | £190 | £1,703 | £21,242 | 12.5 yrs | £12,812 |
| 8 kW | 8703 kWh | 6527 kWh | 2176 kWh | £1,728 | £218 | £1,946 | £23,276 | 12.0 yrs | £15,643 |
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: £1,234, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2176 kWh | 1675 kWh | 500 kWh | £444 | £50 | £494 | £13,519 | 27.4 yrs | £-3,646 |
| 3 kW | 3264 kWh | 2513 kWh | 751 kWh | £665 | £75 | £740 | £15,554 | 21.0 yrs | £-744 |
| 4 kW | 4351 kWh | 3351 kWh | 1001 kWh | £887 | £100 | £987 | £17,588 | 17.8 yrs | £2,158 |
| 5 kW | 5439 kWh | 4188 kWh | 1251 kWh | £1,109 | £125 | £1,234 | £19,623 | 15.9 yrs | £5,060 |
| 6 kW | 6527 kWh | 5026 kWh | 1501 kWh | £1,331 | £150 | £1,481 | £21,657 | 14.6 yrs | £7,962 |
| 7 kW | 7615 kWh | 5864 kWh | 1751 kWh | £1,553 | £175 | £1,728 | £23,692 | 13.7 yrs | £10,864 |
| 8 kW | 8703 kWh | 6701 kWh | 2002 kWh | £1,774 | £200 | £1,975 | £25,726 | 13.0 yrs | £13,767 |
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.