A typical roof here lands around 6.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 1113 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: £923, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2226 kWh | 890 kWh | 1336 kWh | £236 | £134 | £369 | £4,069 | 11.0 yrs | £3,317 |
| 3 kW | 3339 kWh | 1336 kWh | 2003 kWh | £354 | £200 | £554 | £6,104 | 11.0 yrs | £4,976 |
| 4 kW | 4452 kWh | 1781 kWh | 2671 kWh | £472 | £267 | £739 | £8,138 | 11.0 yrs | £6,635 |
| 5 kW | 5565 kWh | 2226 kWh | 3339 kWh | £589 | £334 | £923 | £10,173 | 11.0 yrs | £8,294 |
| 6 kW | 6678 kWh | 2671 kWh | 4007 kWh | £707 | £401 | £1,108 | £12,207 | 11.0 yrs | £9,952 |
| 7 kW | 7791 kWh | 3116 kWh | 4674 kWh | £825 | £467 | £1,293 | £14,242 | 11.0 yrs | £11,611 |
| 8 kW | 8904 kWh | 3561 kWh | 5342 kWh | £943 | £534 | £1,477 | £16,276 | 11.0 yrs | £13,270 |
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: £1,107, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2226 kWh | 1336 kWh | 890 kWh | £354 | £89 | £443 | £6,169 | 13.9 yrs | £2,685 |
| 3 kW | 3339 kWh | 2003 kWh | 1336 kWh | £530 | £134 | £664 | £8,204 | 12.4 yrs | £5,077 |
| 4 kW | 4452 kWh | 2671 kWh | 1781 kWh | £707 | £178 | £885 | £10,238 | 11.6 yrs | £7,470 |
| 5 kW | 5565 kWh | 3339 kWh | 2226 kWh | £884 | £223 | £1,107 | £12,273 | 11.1 yrs | £9,862 |
| 6 kW | 6678 kWh | 4007 kWh | 2671 kWh | £1,061 | £267 | £1,328 | £14,307 | 10.8 yrs | £12,254 |
| 7 kW | 7791 kWh | 4674 kWh | 3116 kWh | £1,238 | £312 | £1,549 | £16,342 | 10.5 yrs | £14,647 |
| 8 kW | 8904 kWh | 5342 kWh | 3561 kWh | £1,415 | £356 | £1,771 | £18,376 | 10.4 yrs | £17,039 |
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: £1,198, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2226 kWh | 1558 kWh | 668 kWh | £413 | £67 | £479 | £7,569 | 15.8 yrs | £2,018 |
| 3 kW | 3339 kWh | 2337 kWh | 1002 kWh | £619 | £100 | £719 | £9,604 | 13.4 yrs | £4,778 |
| 4 kW | 4452 kWh | 3116 kWh | 1336 kWh | £825 | £134 | £959 | £11,638 | 12.1 yrs | £7,537 |
| 5 kW | 5565 kWh | 3895 kWh | 1669 kWh | £1,031 | £167 | £1,198 | £13,673 | 11.4 yrs | £10,296 |
| 6 kW | 6678 kWh | 4674 kWh | 2003 kWh | £1,238 | £200 | £1,438 | £15,707 | 10.9 yrs | £13,055 |
| 7 kW | 7791 kWh | 5454 kWh | 2337 kWh | £1,444 | £234 | £1,678 | £17,742 | 10.6 yrs | £15,815 |
| 8 kW | 8904 kWh | 6233 kWh | 2671 kWh | £1,650 | £267 | £1,917 | £19,776 | 10.3 yrs | £18,574 |
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: £1,226, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2226 kWh | 1625 kWh | 601 kWh | £430 | £60 | £490 | £9,319 | 19.0 yrs | £489 |
| 3 kW | 3339 kWh | 2437 kWh | 901 kWh | £645 | £90 | £736 | £11,354 | 15.4 yrs | £3,358 |
| 4 kW | 4452 kWh | 3250 kWh | 1202 kWh | £861 | £120 | £981 | £13,388 | 13.7 yrs | £6,227 |
| 5 kW | 5565 kWh | 4062 kWh | 1502 kWh | £1,076 | £150 | £1,226 | £15,423 | 12.6 yrs | £9,096 |
| 6 kW | 6678 kWh | 4875 kWh | 1803 kWh | £1,291 | £180 | £1,471 | £17,457 | 11.9 yrs | £11,966 |
| 7 kW | 7791 kWh | 5687 kWh | 2103 kWh | £1,506 | £210 | £1,716 | £19,492 | 11.4 yrs | £14,835 |
| 8 kW | 8904 kWh | 6500 kWh | 2404 kWh | £1,721 | £240 | £1,962 | £21,526 | 11.0 yrs | £17,704 |
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: £1,244, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2226 kWh | 1669 kWh | 556 kWh | £442 | £56 | £498 | £11,069 | 22.2 yrs | £-1,115 |
| 3 kW | 3339 kWh | 2504 kWh | 835 kWh | £663 | £83 | £747 | £13,104 | 17.6 yrs | £1,828 |
| 4 kW | 4452 kWh | 3339 kWh | 1113 kWh | £884 | £111 | £995 | £15,138 | 15.2 yrs | £4,771 |
| 5 kW | 5565 kWh | 4174 kWh | 1391 kWh | £1,105 | £139 | £1,244 | £17,173 | 13.8 yrs | £7,713 |
| 6 kW | 6678 kWh | 5008 kWh | 1669 kWh | £1,326 | £167 | £1,493 | £19,207 | 12.9 yrs | £10,656 |
| 7 kW | 7791 kWh | 5843 kWh | 1948 kWh | £1,547 | £195 | £1,742 | £21,242 | 12.2 yrs | £13,599 |
| 8 kW | 8904 kWh | 6678 kWh | 2226 kWh | £1,768 | £223 | £1,991 | £23,276 | 11.7 yrs | £16,541 |
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: £1,263, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2226 kWh | 1714 kWh | 512 kWh | £454 | £51 | £505 | £13,519 | 26.8 yrs | £-3,418 |
| 3 kW | 3339 kWh | 2571 kWh | 768 kWh | £681 | £77 | £758 | £15,554 | 20.5 yrs | £-402 |
| 4 kW | 4452 kWh | 3428 kWh | 1024 kWh | £908 | £102 | £1,010 | £17,588 | 17.4 yrs | £2,614 |
| 5 kW | 5565 kWh | 4285 kWh | 1280 kWh | £1,135 | £128 | £1,263 | £19,623 | 15.5 yrs | £5,630 |
| 6 kW | 6678 kWh | 5142 kWh | 1536 kWh | £1,362 | £154 | £1,515 | £21,657 | 14.3 yrs | £8,646 |
| 7 kW | 7791 kWh | 5999 kWh | 1792 kWh | £1,588 | £179 | £1,768 | £23,692 | 13.4 yrs | £11,662 |
| 8 kW | 8904 kWh | 6856 kWh | 2048 kWh | £1,815 | £205 | £2,020 | £25,726 | 12.7 yrs | £14,678 |
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.