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 935 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p 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: £754, 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 | 1870 kWh | 748 kWh | 1122 kWh | £189 | £112 | £302 | £4,069 | 13.5 yrs | £1,963 |
| 3 kW | 2805 kWh | 1122 kWh | 1683 kWh | £284 | £168 | £452 | £6,104 | 13.5 yrs | £2,945 |
| 4 kW | 3739 kWh | 1496 kWh | 2244 kWh | £379 | £224 | £603 | £8,138 | 13.5 yrs | £3,927 |
| 5 kW | 4674 kWh | 1870 kWh | 2805 kWh | £474 | £280 | £754 | £10,173 | 13.5 yrs | £4,908 |
| 6 kW | 5609 kWh | 2244 kWh | 3365 kWh | £568 | £337 | £905 | £12,207 | 13.5 yrs | £5,890 |
| 7 kW | 6544 kWh | 2618 kWh | 3926 kWh | £663 | £393 | £1,056 | £14,242 | 13.5 yrs | £6,872 |
| 8 kW | 7479 kWh | 2991 kWh | 4487 kWh | £758 | £449 | £1,206 | £16,276 | 13.5 yrs | £7,853 |
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: £897, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1870 kWh | 1122 kWh | 748 kWh | £284 | £75 | £359 | £6,169 | 17.2 yrs | £1,010 |
| 3 kW | 2805 kWh | 1683 kWh | 1122 kWh | £426 | £112 | £538 | £8,204 | 15.2 yrs | £2,565 |
| 4 kW | 3739 kWh | 2244 kWh | 1496 kWh | £568 | £150 | £718 | £10,238 | 14.3 yrs | £4,120 |
| 5 kW | 4674 kWh | 2805 kWh | 1870 kWh | £710 | £187 | £897 | £12,273 | 13.7 yrs | £5,675 |
| 6 kW | 5609 kWh | 3365 kWh | 2244 kWh | £852 | £224 | £1,077 | £14,307 | 13.3 yrs | £7,229 |
| 7 kW | 6544 kWh | 3926 kWh | 2618 kWh | £995 | £262 | £1,256 | £16,342 | 13.0 yrs | £8,784 |
| 8 kW | 7479 kWh | 4487 kWh | 2991 kWh | £1,137 | £299 | £1,436 | £18,376 | 12.8 yrs | £10,339 |
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: £969, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1870 kWh | 1309 kWh | 561 kWh | £332 | £56 | £388 | £7,569 | 19.5 yrs | £183 |
| 3 kW | 2805 kWh | 1963 kWh | 841 kWh | £497 | £84 | £581 | £9,604 | 16.5 yrs | £2,025 |
| 4 kW | 3739 kWh | 2618 kWh | 1122 kWh | £663 | £112 | £775 | £11,638 | 15.0 yrs | £3,866 |
| 5 kW | 4674 kWh | 3272 kWh | 1402 kWh | £829 | £140 | £969 | £13,673 | 14.1 yrs | £5,708 |
| 6 kW | 5609 kWh | 3926 kWh | 1683 kWh | £995 | £168 | £1,163 | £15,707 | 13.5 yrs | £7,549 |
| 7 kW | 6544 kWh | 4581 kWh | 1963 kWh | £1,160 | £196 | £1,357 | £17,742 | 13.1 yrs | £9,391 |
| 8 kW | 7479 kWh | 5235 kWh | 2244 kWh | £1,326 | £224 | £1,550 | £19,776 | 12.8 yrs | £11,232 |
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: £991, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1870 kWh | 1365 kWh | 505 kWh | £346 | £50 | £396 | £9,319 | 23.5 yrs | £-1,395 |
| 3 kW | 2805 kWh | 2047 kWh | 757 kWh | £519 | £76 | £594 | £11,354 | 19.1 yrs | £533 |
| 4 kW | 3739 kWh | 2730 kWh | 1010 kWh | £691 | £101 | £792 | £13,388 | 16.9 yrs | £2,460 |
| 5 kW | 4674 kWh | 3412 kWh | 1262 kWh | £864 | £126 | £991 | £15,423 | 15.6 yrs | £4,388 |
| 6 kW | 5609 kWh | 4095 kWh | 1514 kWh | £1,037 | £151 | £1,189 | £17,457 | 14.7 yrs | £6,315 |
| 7 kW | 6544 kWh | 4777 kWh | 1767 kWh | £1,210 | £177 | £1,387 | £19,492 | 14.1 yrs | £8,243 |
| 8 kW | 7479 kWh | 5459 kWh | 2019 kWh | £1,383 | £202 | £1,585 | £21,526 | 13.6 yrs | £10,170 |
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: £1,005, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1870 kWh | 1402 kWh | 467 kWh | £355 | £47 | £402 | £11,069 | 27.5 yrs | £-3,030 |
| 3 kW | 2805 kWh | 2103 kWh | 701 kWh | £533 | £70 | £603 | £13,104 | 21.7 yrs | £-1,045 |
| 4 kW | 3739 kWh | 2805 kWh | 935 kWh | £710 | £93 | £804 | £15,138 | 18.8 yrs | £939 |
| 5 kW | 4674 kWh | 3506 kWh | 1169 kWh | £888 | £117 | £1,005 | £17,173 | 17.1 yrs | £2,924 |
| 6 kW | 5609 kWh | 4207 kWh | 1402 kWh | £1,066 | £140 | £1,206 | £19,207 | 15.9 yrs | £4,909 |
| 7 kW | 6544 kWh | 4908 kWh | 1636 kWh | £1,243 | £164 | £1,407 | £21,242 | 15.1 yrs | £6,894 |
| 8 kW | 7479 kWh | 5609 kWh | 1870 kWh | £1,421 | £187 | £1,608 | £23,276 | 14.5 yrs | £8,879 |
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: £1,019, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1870 kWh | 1440 kWh | 430 kWh | £365 | £43 | £408 | £13,519 | 33.2 yrs | £-5,366 |
| 3 kW | 2805 kWh | 2159 kWh | 645 kWh | £547 | £65 | £612 | £15,554 | 25.4 yrs | £-3,324 |
| 4 kW | 3739 kWh | 2879 kWh | 860 kWh | £729 | £86 | £815 | £17,588 | 21.6 yrs | £-1,281 |
| 5 kW | 4674 kWh | 3599 kWh | 1075 kWh | £912 | £108 | £1,019 | £19,623 | 19.3 yrs | £761 |
| 6 kW | 5609 kWh | 4319 kWh | 1290 kWh | £1,094 | £129 | £1,223 | £21,657 | 17.7 yrs | £2,803 |
| 7 kW | 6544 kWh | 5039 kWh | 1505 kWh | £1,276 | £151 | £1,427 | £23,692 | 16.6 yrs | £4,845 |
| 8 kW | 7479 kWh | 5759 kWh | 1720 kWh | £1,459 | £172 | £1,631 | £25,726 | 15.8 yrs | £6,887 |
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.