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 893 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: £752, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1787 kWh | 715 kWh | 1072 kWh | £194 | £107 | £301 | £4,069 | 13.5 yrs | £1,950 |
| 3 kW | 2680 kWh | 1072 kWh | 1608 kWh | £291 | £161 | £451 | £6,104 | 13.5 yrs | £2,925 |
| 4 kW | 3573 kWh | 1429 kWh | 2144 kWh | £387 | £214 | £602 | £8,138 | 13.5 yrs | £3,900 |
| 5 kW | 4467 kWh | 1787 kWh | 2680 kWh | £484 | £268 | £752 | £10,173 | 13.5 yrs | £4,875 |
| 6 kW | 5360 kWh | 2144 kWh | 3216 kWh | £581 | £322 | £903 | £12,207 | 13.5 yrs | £5,850 |
| 7 kW | 6253 kWh | 2501 kWh | 3752 kWh | £678 | £375 | £1,053 | £14,242 | 13.5 yrs | £6,825 |
| 8 kW | 7147 kWh | 2859 kWh | 4288 kWh | £775 | £429 | £1,204 | £16,276 | 13.5 yrs | £7,800 |
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: £905, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1787 kWh | 1072 kWh | 715 kWh | £291 | £71 | £362 | £6,169 | 17.0 yrs | £1,073 |
| 3 kW | 2680 kWh | 1608 kWh | 1072 kWh | £436 | £107 | £543 | £8,204 | 15.1 yrs | £2,659 |
| 4 kW | 3573 kWh | 2144 kWh | 1429 kWh | £581 | £143 | £724 | £10,238 | 14.1 yrs | £4,245 |
| 5 kW | 4467 kWh | 2680 kWh | 1787 kWh | £727 | £179 | £905 | £12,273 | 13.6 yrs | £5,832 |
| 6 kW | 5360 kWh | 3216 kWh | 2144 kWh | £872 | £214 | £1,086 | £14,307 | 13.2 yrs | £7,418 |
| 7 kW | 6253 kWh | 3752 kWh | 2501 kWh | £1,017 | £250 | £1,267 | £16,342 | 12.9 yrs | £9,004 |
| 8 kW | 7147 kWh | 4288 kWh | 2859 kWh | £1,162 | £286 | £1,448 | £18,376 | 12.7 yrs | £10,591 |
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: £982, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1787 kWh | 1251 kWh | 536 kWh | £339 | £54 | £393 | £7,569 | 19.3 yrs | £284 |
| 3 kW | 2680 kWh | 1876 kWh | 804 kWh | £509 | £80 | £589 | £9,604 | 16.3 yrs | £2,176 |
| 4 kW | 3573 kWh | 2501 kWh | 1072 kWh | £678 | £107 | £785 | £11,638 | 14.8 yrs | £4,068 |
| 5 kW | 4467 kWh | 3127 kWh | 1340 kWh | £848 | £134 | £982 | £13,673 | 13.9 yrs | £5,960 |
| 6 kW | 5360 kWh | 3752 kWh | 1608 kWh | £1,017 | £161 | £1,178 | £15,707 | 13.3 yrs | £7,852 |
| 7 kW | 6253 kWh | 4377 kWh | 1876 kWh | £1,187 | £188 | £1,374 | £17,742 | 12.9 yrs | £9,744 |
| 8 kW | 7147 kWh | 5003 kWh | 2144 kWh | £1,356 | £214 | £1,571 | £19,776 | 12.6 yrs | £11,636 |
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: £1,005, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1787 kWh | 1304 kWh | 482 kWh | £354 | £48 | £402 | £9,319 | 23.2 yrs | £-1,283 |
| 3 kW | 2680 kWh | 1956 kWh | 724 kWh | £530 | £72 | £603 | £11,354 | 18.8 yrs | £701 |
| 4 kW | 3573 kWh | 2609 kWh | 965 kWh | £707 | £96 | £804 | £13,388 | 16.7 yrs | £2,685 |
| 5 kW | 4467 kWh | 3261 kWh | 1206 kWh | £884 | £121 | £1,005 | £15,423 | 15.4 yrs | £4,669 |
| 6 kW | 5360 kWh | 3913 kWh | 1447 kWh | £1,061 | £145 | £1,205 | £17,457 | 14.5 yrs | £6,652 |
| 7 kW | 6253 kWh | 4565 kWh | 1688 kWh | £1,238 | £169 | £1,406 | £19,492 | 13.9 yrs | £8,636 |
| 8 kW | 7147 kWh | 5217 kWh | 1930 kWh | £1,414 | £193 | £1,607 | £21,526 | 13.4 yrs | £10,620 |
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: £1,020, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1787 kWh | 1340 kWh | 447 kWh | £363 | £45 | £408 | £11,069 | 27.1 yrs | £-2,910 |
| 3 kW | 2680 kWh | 2010 kWh | 670 kWh | £545 | £67 | £612 | £13,104 | 21.4 yrs | £-865 |
| 4 kW | 3573 kWh | 2680 kWh | 893 kWh | £727 | £89 | £816 | £15,138 | 18.6 yrs | £1,180 |
| 5 kW | 4467 kWh | 3350 kWh | 1117 kWh | £908 | £112 | £1,020 | £17,173 | 16.8 yrs | £3,224 |
| 6 kW | 5360 kWh | 4020 kWh | 1340 kWh | £1,090 | £134 | £1,224 | £19,207 | 15.7 yrs | £5,269 |
| 7 kW | 6253 kWh | 4690 kWh | 1563 kWh | £1,271 | £156 | £1,428 | £21,242 | 14.9 yrs | £7,314 |
| 8 kW | 7147 kWh | 5360 kWh | 1787 kWh | £1,453 | £179 | £1,632 | £23,276 | 14.3 yrs | £9,359 |
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: £1,035, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1787 kWh | 1376 kWh | 411 kWh | £373 | £41 | £414 | £13,519 | 32.7 yrs | £-5,238 |
| 3 kW | 2680 kWh | 2064 kWh | 616 kWh | £559 | £62 | £621 | £15,554 | 25.0 yrs | £-3,132 |
| 4 kW | 3573 kWh | 2751 kWh | 822 kWh | £746 | £82 | £828 | £17,588 | 21.2 yrs | £-1,026 |
| 5 kW | 4467 kWh | 3439 kWh | 1027 kWh | £932 | £103 | £1,035 | £19,623 | 19.0 yrs | £1,080 |
| 6 kW | 5360 kWh | 4127 kWh | 1233 kWh | £1,119 | £123 | £1,242 | £21,657 | 17.4 yrs | £3,186 |
| 7 kW | 6253 kWh | 4815 kWh | 1438 kWh | £1,305 | £144 | £1,449 | £23,692 | 16.3 yrs | £5,292 |
| 8 kW | 7147 kWh | 5503 kWh | 1644 kWh | £1,492 | £164 | £1,656 | £25,726 | 15.5 yrs | £7,398 |
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.