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 935 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.8p 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: £782, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1871 kWh | 748 kWh | 1122 kWh | £201 | £112 | £313 | £4,069 | 13.0 yrs | £2,191 |
| 3 kW | 2806 kWh | 1122 kWh | 1684 kWh | £301 | £168 | £469 | £6,104 | 13.0 yrs | £3,286 |
| 4 kW | 3741 kWh | 1496 kWh | 2245 kWh | £402 | £224 | £626 | £8,138 | 13.0 yrs | £4,381 |
| 5 kW | 4676 kWh | 1871 kWh | 2806 kWh | £502 | £281 | £782 | £10,173 | 13.0 yrs | £5,477 |
| 6 kW | 5612 kWh | 2245 kWh | 3367 kWh | £602 | £337 | £939 | £12,207 | 13.0 yrs | £6,572 |
| 7 kW | 6547 kWh | 2619 kWh | 3928 kWh | £703 | £393 | £1,095 | £14,242 | 13.0 yrs | £7,667 |
| 8 kW | 7482 kWh | 2993 kWh | 4489 kWh | £803 | £449 | £1,252 | £16,276 | 13.0 yrs | £8,763 |
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: £940, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1871 kWh | 1122 kWh | 748 kWh | £301 | £75 | £376 | £6,169 | 16.4 yrs | £1,350 |
| 3 kW | 2806 kWh | 1684 kWh | 1122 kWh | £452 | £112 | £564 | £8,204 | 14.5 yrs | £3,075 |
| 4 kW | 3741 kWh | 2245 kWh | 1496 kWh | £602 | £150 | £752 | £10,238 | 13.6 yrs | £4,800 |
| 5 kW | 4676 kWh | 2806 kWh | 1871 kWh | £753 | £187 | £940 | £12,273 | 13.1 yrs | £6,525 |
| 6 kW | 5612 kWh | 3367 kWh | 2245 kWh | £903 | £224 | £1,128 | £14,307 | 12.7 yrs | £8,250 |
| 7 kW | 6547 kWh | 3928 kWh | 2619 kWh | £1,054 | £262 | £1,316 | £16,342 | 12.4 yrs | £9,975 |
| 8 kW | 7482 kWh | 4489 kWh | 2993 kWh | £1,205 | £299 | £1,504 | £18,376 | 12.2 yrs | £11,700 |
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: £1,019, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1871 kWh | 1309 kWh | 561 kWh | £351 | £56 | £407 | £7,569 | 18.6 yrs | £580 |
| 3 kW | 2806 kWh | 1964 kWh | 842 kWh | £527 | £84 | £611 | £9,604 | 15.7 yrs | £2,619 |
| 4 kW | 3741 kWh | 2619 kWh | 1122 kWh | £703 | £112 | £815 | £11,638 | 14.3 yrs | £4,659 |
| 5 kW | 4676 kWh | 3274 kWh | 1403 kWh | £878 | £140 | £1,019 | £13,673 | 13.4 yrs | £6,699 |
| 6 kW | 5612 kWh | 3928 kWh | 1684 kWh | £1,054 | £168 | £1,222 | £15,707 | 12.9 yrs | £8,739 |
| 7 kW | 6547 kWh | 4583 kWh | 1964 kWh | £1,230 | £196 | £1,426 | £17,742 | 12.4 yrs | £10,779 |
| 8 kW | 7482 kWh | 5238 kWh | 2245 kWh | £1,405 | £224 | £1,630 | £19,776 | 12.1 yrs | £12,818 |
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: £1,042, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1871 kWh | 1366 kWh | 505 kWh | £366 | £51 | £417 | £9,319 | 22.4 yrs | £-982 |
| 3 kW | 2806 kWh | 2048 kWh | 758 kWh | £550 | £76 | £625 | £11,354 | 18.2 yrs | £1,153 |
| 4 kW | 3741 kWh | 2731 kWh | 1010 kWh | £733 | £101 | £834 | £13,388 | 16.1 yrs | £3,287 |
| 5 kW | 4676 kWh | 3414 kWh | 1263 kWh | £916 | £126 | £1,042 | £15,423 | 14.8 yrs | £5,421 |
| 6 kW | 5612 kWh | 4097 kWh | 1515 kWh | £1,099 | £152 | £1,251 | £17,457 | 14.0 yrs | £7,555 |
| 7 kW | 6547 kWh | 4779 kWh | 1768 kWh | £1,282 | £177 | £1,459 | £19,492 | 13.4 yrs | £9,690 |
| 8 kW | 7482 kWh | 5462 kWh | 2020 kWh | £1,465 | £202 | £1,668 | £21,526 | 12.9 yrs | £11,824 |
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: £1,058, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1871 kWh | 1403 kWh | 468 kWh | £376 | £47 | £423 | £11,069 | 26.2 yrs | £-2,606 |
| 3 kW | 2806 kWh | 2104 kWh | 701 kWh | £565 | £70 | £635 | £13,104 | 20.6 yrs | £-408 |
| 4 kW | 3741 kWh | 2806 kWh | 935 kWh | £753 | £94 | £846 | £15,138 | 17.9 yrs | £1,789 |
| 5 kW | 4676 kWh | 3507 kWh | 1169 kWh | £941 | £117 | £1,058 | £17,173 | 16.2 yrs | £3,986 |
| 6 kW | 5612 kWh | 4209 kWh | 1403 kWh | £1,129 | £140 | £1,270 | £19,207 | 15.1 yrs | £6,183 |
| 7 kW | 6547 kWh | 4910 kWh | 1637 kWh | £1,317 | £164 | £1,481 | £21,242 | 14.3 yrs | £8,380 |
| 8 kW | 7482 kWh | 5612 kWh | 1871 kWh | £1,506 | £187 | £1,693 | £23,276 | 13.8 yrs | £10,578 |
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: £1,074, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1871 kWh | 1440 kWh | 430 kWh | £386 | £43 | £429 | £13,519 | 31.5 yrs | £-4,930 |
| 3 kW | 2806 kWh | 2161 kWh | 645 kWh | £580 | £65 | £644 | £15,554 | 24.1 yrs | £-2,669 |
| 4 kW | 3741 kWh | 2881 kWh | 860 kWh | £773 | £86 | £859 | £17,588 | 20.5 yrs | £-409 |
| 5 kW | 4676 kWh | 3601 kWh | 1076 kWh | £966 | £108 | £1,074 | £19,623 | 18.3 yrs | £1,851 |
| 6 kW | 5612 kWh | 4321 kWh | 1291 kWh | £1,159 | £129 | £1,288 | £21,657 | 16.8 yrs | £4,111 |
| 7 kW | 6547 kWh | 5041 kWh | 1506 kWh | £1,353 | £151 | £1,503 | £23,692 | 15.8 yrs | £6,371 |
| 8 kW | 7482 kWh | 5761 kWh | 1721 kWh | £1,546 | £172 | £1,718 | £25,726 | 15.0 yrs | £8,631 |
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.