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 1012 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.9p 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: £848, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 2024 kWh | 809 kWh | 1214 kWh | £218 | £121 | £339 | £4,069 | 12.0 yrs | £2,717 |
| 3 kW | 3035 kWh | 1214 kWh | 1821 kWh | £327 | £182 | £509 | £6,104 | 12.0 yrs | £4,076 |
| 4 kW | 4047 kWh | 1619 kWh | 2428 kWh | £436 | £243 | £679 | £8,138 | 12.0 yrs | £5,435 |
| 5 kW | 5059 kWh | 2024 kWh | 3035 kWh | £545 | £304 | £848 | £10,173 | 12.0 yrs | £6,794 |
| 6 kW | 6071 kWh | 2428 kWh | 3643 kWh | £654 | £364 | £1,018 | £12,207 | 12.0 yrs | £8,152 |
| 7 kW | 7083 kWh | 2833 kWh | 4250 kWh | £763 | £425 | £1,188 | £14,242 | 12.0 yrs | £9,511 |
| 8 kW | 8095 kWh | 3238 kWh | 4857 kWh | £872 | £486 | £1,357 | £16,276 | 12.0 yrs | £10,870 |
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: £1,020, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 2024 kWh | 1214 kWh | 809 kWh | £327 | £81 | £408 | £6,169 | 15.1 yrs | £1,987 |
| 3 kW | 3035 kWh | 1821 kWh | 1214 kWh | £490 | £121 | £612 | £8,204 | 13.4 yrs | £4,031 |
| 4 kW | 4047 kWh | 2428 kWh | 1619 kWh | £654 | £162 | £816 | £10,238 | 12.6 yrs | £6,074 |
| 5 kW | 5059 kWh | 3035 kWh | 2024 kWh | £817 | £202 | £1,020 | £12,273 | 12.0 yrs | £8,118 |
| 6 kW | 6071 kWh | 3643 kWh | 2428 kWh | £981 | £243 | £1,223 | £14,307 | 11.7 yrs | £10,161 |
| 7 kW | 7083 kWh | 4250 kWh | 2833 kWh | £1,144 | £283 | £1,427 | £16,342 | 11.4 yrs | £12,205 |
| 8 kW | 8095 kWh | 4857 kWh | 3238 kWh | £1,307 | £324 | £1,631 | £18,376 | 11.3 yrs | £14,248 |
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: £1,105, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2024 kWh | 1417 kWh | 607 kWh | £381 | £61 | £442 | £7,569 | 17.1 yrs | £1,272 |
| 3 kW | 3035 kWh | 2125 kWh | 911 kWh | £572 | £91 | £663 | £9,604 | 14.5 yrs | £3,658 |
| 4 kW | 4047 kWh | 2833 kWh | 1214 kWh | £763 | £121 | £884 | £11,638 | 13.2 yrs | £6,044 |
| 5 kW | 5059 kWh | 3541 kWh | 1518 kWh | £953 | £152 | £1,105 | £13,673 | 12.4 yrs | £8,430 |
| 6 kW | 6071 kWh | 4250 kWh | 1821 kWh | £1,144 | £182 | £1,326 | £15,707 | 11.8 yrs | £10,816 |
| 7 kW | 7083 kWh | 4958 kWh | 2125 kWh | £1,335 | £212 | £1,547 | £17,742 | 11.5 yrs | £13,202 |
| 8 kW | 8095 kWh | 5666 kWh | 2428 kWh | £1,525 | £243 | £1,768 | £19,776 | 11.2 yrs | £15,587 |
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: £1,131, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 2024 kWh | 1477 kWh | 546 kWh | £398 | £55 | £452 | £9,319 | 20.6 yrs | £-273 |
| 3 kW | 3035 kWh | 2216 kWh | 820 kWh | £597 | £82 | £678 | £11,354 | 16.7 yrs | £2,216 |
| 4 kW | 4047 kWh | 2955 kWh | 1093 kWh | £795 | £109 | £905 | £13,388 | 14.8 yrs | £4,705 |
| 5 kW | 5059 kWh | 3693 kWh | 1366 kWh | £994 | £137 | £1,131 | £15,423 | 13.6 yrs | £7,193 |
| 6 kW | 6071 kWh | 4432 kWh | 1639 kWh | £1,193 | £164 | £1,357 | £17,457 | 12.9 yrs | £9,682 |
| 7 kW | 7083 kWh | 5170 kWh | 1912 kWh | £1,392 | £191 | £1,583 | £19,492 | 12.3 yrs | £12,171 |
| 8 kW | 8095 kWh | 5909 kWh | 2186 kWh | £1,591 | £219 | £1,809 | £21,526 | 11.9 yrs | £14,659 |
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: £1,148, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2024 kWh | 1518 kWh | 506 kWh | £409 | £51 | £459 | £11,069 | 24.1 yrs | £-1,886 |
| 3 kW | 3035 kWh | 2277 kWh | 759 kWh | £613 | £76 | £689 | £13,104 | 19.0 yrs | £671 |
| 4 kW | 4047 kWh | 3035 kWh | 1012 kWh | £817 | £101 | £918 | £15,138 | 16.5 yrs | £3,229 |
| 5 kW | 5059 kWh | 3794 kWh | 1265 kWh | £1,021 | £126 | £1,148 | £17,173 | 15.0 yrs | £5,786 |
| 6 kW | 6071 kWh | 4553 kWh | 1518 kWh | £1,226 | £152 | £1,377 | £19,207 | 13.9 yrs | £8,343 |
| 7 kW | 7083 kWh | 5312 kWh | 1771 kWh | £1,430 | £177 | £1,607 | £21,242 | 13.2 yrs | £10,900 |
| 8 kW | 8095 kWh | 6071 kWh | 2024 kWh | £1,634 | £202 | £1,837 | £23,276 | 12.7 yrs | £13,457 |
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: £1,165, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 2024 kWh | 1558 kWh | 465 kWh | £419 | £47 | £466 | £13,519 | 29.0 yrs | £-4,199 |
| 3 kW | 3035 kWh | 2337 kWh | 698 kWh | £629 | £70 | £699 | £15,554 | 22.3 yrs | £-1,573 |
| 4 kW | 4047 kWh | 3116 kWh | 931 kWh | £839 | £93 | £932 | £17,588 | 18.9 yrs | £1,052 |
| 5 kW | 5059 kWh | 3896 kWh | 1164 kWh | £1,049 | £116 | £1,165 | £19,623 | 16.8 yrs | £3,678 |
| 6 kW | 6071 kWh | 4675 kWh | 1396 kWh | £1,258 | £140 | £1,398 | £21,657 | 15.5 yrs | £6,304 |
| 7 kW | 7083 kWh | 5454 kWh | 1629 kWh | £1,468 | £163 | £1,631 | £23,692 | 14.5 yrs | £8,929 |
| 8 kW | 8095 kWh | 6233 kWh | 1862 kWh | £1,678 | £186 | £1,864 | £25,726 | 13.8 yrs | £11,555 |
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.