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 905 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: £762, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1809 kWh | 724 kWh | 1086 kWh | £196 | £109 | £305 | £4,069 | 13.4 yrs | £2,026 |
| 3 kW | 2714 kWh | 1086 kWh | 1628 kWh | £294 | £163 | £457 | £6,104 | 13.4 yrs | £3,039 |
| 4 kW | 3619 kWh | 1447 kWh | 2171 kWh | £392 | £217 | £610 | £8,138 | 13.4 yrs | £4,052 |
| 5 kW | 4523 kWh | 1809 kWh | 2714 kWh | £491 | £271 | £762 | £10,173 | 13.4 yrs | £5,066 |
| 6 kW | 5428 kWh | 2171 kWh | 3257 kWh | £589 | £326 | £914 | £12,207 | 13.4 yrs | £6,079 |
| 7 kW | 6333 kWh | 2533 kWh | 3800 kWh | £687 | £380 | £1,067 | £14,242 | 13.4 yrs | £7,092 |
| 8 kW | 7237 kWh | 2895 kWh | 4342 kWh | £785 | £434 | £1,219 | £16,276 | 13.4 yrs | £8,105 |
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: £917, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1809 kWh | 1086 kWh | 724 kWh | £294 | £72 | £367 | £6,169 | 16.8 yrs | £1,165 |
| 3 kW | 2714 kWh | 1628 kWh | 1086 kWh | £441 | £109 | £550 | £8,204 | 14.9 yrs | £2,797 |
| 4 kW | 3619 kWh | 2171 kWh | 1447 kWh | £589 | £145 | £733 | £10,238 | 14.0 yrs | £4,429 |
| 5 kW | 4523 kWh | 2714 kWh | 1809 kWh | £736 | £181 | £917 | £12,273 | 13.4 yrs | £6,061 |
| 6 kW | 5428 kWh | 3257 kWh | 2171 kWh | £883 | £217 | £1,100 | £14,307 | 13.0 yrs | £7,694 |
| 7 kW | 6333 kWh | 3800 kWh | 2533 kWh | £1,030 | £253 | £1,283 | £16,342 | 12.7 yrs | £9,326 |
| 8 kW | 7237 kWh | 4342 kWh | 2895 kWh | £1,177 | £289 | £1,467 | £18,376 | 12.5 yrs | £10,958 |
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: £994, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1809 kWh | 1267 kWh | 543 kWh | £343 | £54 | £398 | £7,569 | 19.0 yrs | £384 |
| 3 kW | 2714 kWh | 1900 kWh | 814 kWh | £515 | £81 | £596 | £9,604 | 16.1 yrs | £2,325 |
| 4 kW | 3619 kWh | 2533 kWh | 1086 kWh | £687 | £109 | £795 | £11,638 | 14.6 yrs | £4,267 |
| 5 kW | 4523 kWh | 3166 kWh | 1357 kWh | £858 | £136 | £994 | £13,673 | 13.8 yrs | £6,209 |
| 6 kW | 5428 kWh | 3800 kWh | 1628 kWh | £1,030 | £163 | £1,193 | £15,707 | 13.2 yrs | £8,151 |
| 7 kW | 6333 kWh | 4433 kWh | 1900 kWh | £1,202 | £190 | £1,392 | £17,742 | 12.7 yrs | £10,093 |
| 8 kW | 7237 kWh | 5066 kWh | 2171 kWh | £1,373 | £217 | £1,591 | £19,776 | 12.4 yrs | £12,035 |
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: £1,017, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1809 kWh | 1321 kWh | 489 kWh | £358 | £49 | £407 | £9,319 | 22.9 yrs | £-1,181 |
| 3 kW | 2714 kWh | 1981 kWh | 733 kWh | £537 | £73 | £610 | £11,354 | 18.6 yrs | £854 |
| 4 kW | 3619 kWh | 2642 kWh | 977 kWh | £716 | £98 | £814 | £13,388 | 16.5 yrs | £2,889 |
| 5 kW | 4523 kWh | 3302 kWh | 1221 kWh | £895 | £122 | £1,017 | £15,423 | 15.2 yrs | £4,924 |
| 6 kW | 5428 kWh | 3962 kWh | 1466 kWh | £1,074 | £147 | £1,221 | £17,457 | 14.3 yrs | £6,958 |
| 7 kW | 6333 kWh | 4623 kWh | 1710 kWh | £1,253 | £171 | £1,424 | £19,492 | 13.7 yrs | £8,993 |
| 8 kW | 7237 kWh | 5283 kWh | 1954 kWh | £1,432 | £195 | £1,628 | £21,526 | 13.2 yrs | £11,028 |
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: £1,033, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1809 kWh | 1357 kWh | 452 kWh | £368 | £45 | £413 | £11,069 | 26.8 yrs | £-2,807 |
| 3 kW | 2714 kWh | 2035 kWh | 678 kWh | £552 | £68 | £620 | £13,104 | 21.1 yrs | £-710 |
| 4 kW | 3619 kWh | 2714 kWh | 905 kWh | £736 | £90 | £826 | £15,138 | 18.3 yrs | £1,386 |
| 5 kW | 4523 kWh | 3392 kWh | 1131 kWh | £920 | £113 | £1,033 | £17,173 | 16.6 yrs | £3,483 |
| 6 kW | 5428 kWh | 4071 kWh | 1357 kWh | £1,104 | £136 | £1,239 | £19,207 | 15.5 yrs | £5,580 |
| 7 kW | 6333 kWh | 4749 kWh | 1583 kWh | £1,288 | £158 | £1,446 | £21,242 | 14.7 yrs | £7,676 |
| 8 kW | 7237 kWh | 5428 kWh | 1809 kWh | £1,472 | £181 | £1,652 | £23,276 | 14.1 yrs | £9,773 |
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: £1,048, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1809 kWh | 1393 kWh | 416 kWh | £378 | £42 | £419 | £13,519 | 32.2 yrs | £-5,133 |
| 3 kW | 2714 kWh | 2090 kWh | 624 kWh | £567 | £62 | £629 | £15,554 | 24.7 yrs | £-2,974 |
| 4 kW | 3619 kWh | 2786 kWh | 832 kWh | £755 | £83 | £839 | £17,588 | 21.0 yrs | £-816 |
| 5 kW | 4523 kWh | 3483 kWh | 1040 kWh | £944 | £104 | £1,048 | £19,623 | 18.7 yrs | £1,343 |
| 6 kW | 5428 kWh | 4180 kWh | 1248 kWh | £1,133 | £125 | £1,258 | £21,657 | 17.2 yrs | £3,501 |
| 7 kW | 6333 kWh | 4876 kWh | 1457 kWh | £1,322 | £146 | £1,468 | £23,692 | 16.1 yrs | £5,660 |
| 8 kW | 7237 kWh | 5573 kWh | 1665 kWh | £1,511 | £166 | £1,677 | £25,726 | 15.3 yrs | £7,818 |
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.