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 979 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: £819, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1959 kWh | 783 kWh | 1175 kWh | £210 | £118 | £328 | £4,069 | 12.4 yrs | £2,486 |
| 3 kW | 2938 kWh | 1175 kWh | 1763 kWh | £315 | £176 | £492 | £6,104 | 12.4 yrs | £3,728 |
| 4 kW | 3917 kWh | 1567 kWh | 2350 kWh | £420 | £235 | £655 | £8,138 | 12.4 yrs | £4,971 |
| 5 kW | 4897 kWh | 1959 kWh | 2938 kWh | £526 | £294 | £819 | £10,173 | 12.4 yrs | £6,214 |
| 6 kW | 5876 kWh | 2350 kWh | 3526 kWh | £631 | £353 | £983 | £12,207 | 12.4 yrs | £7,457 |
| 7 kW | 6855 kWh | 2742 kWh | 4113 kWh | £736 | £411 | £1,147 | £14,242 | 12.4 yrs | £8,699 |
| 8 kW | 7835 kWh | 3134 kWh | 4701 kWh | £841 | £470 | £1,311 | £16,276 | 12.4 yrs | £9,942 |
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: £984, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1959 kWh | 1175 kWh | 783 kWh | £315 | £78 | £394 | £6,169 | 15.7 yrs | £1,704 |
| 3 kW | 2938 kWh | 1763 kWh | 1175 kWh | £473 | £118 | £590 | £8,204 | 13.9 yrs | £3,606 |
| 4 kW | 3917 kWh | 2350 kWh | 1567 kWh | £631 | £157 | £787 | £10,238 | 13.0 yrs | £5,508 |
| 5 kW | 4897 kWh | 2938 kWh | 1959 kWh | £788 | £196 | £984 | £12,273 | 12.5 yrs | £7,410 |
| 6 kW | 5876 kWh | 3526 kWh | 2350 kWh | £946 | £235 | £1,181 | £14,307 | 12.1 yrs | £9,312 |
| 7 kW | 6855 kWh | 4113 kWh | 2742 kWh | £1,104 | £274 | £1,378 | £16,342 | 11.9 yrs | £11,214 |
| 8 kW | 7835 kWh | 4701 kWh | 3134 kWh | £1,261 | £313 | £1,575 | £18,376 | 11.7 yrs | £13,116 |
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: £1,067, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1959 kWh | 1371 kWh | 588 kWh | £368 | £59 | £427 | £7,569 | 17.7 yrs | £963 |
| 3 kW | 2938 kWh | 2057 kWh | 881 kWh | £552 | £88 | £640 | £9,604 | 15.0 yrs | £3,195 |
| 4 kW | 3917 kWh | 2742 kWh | 1175 kWh | £736 | £118 | £853 | £11,638 | 13.6 yrs | £5,427 |
| 5 kW | 4897 kWh | 3428 kWh | 1469 kWh | £920 | £147 | £1,067 | £13,673 | 12.8 yrs | £7,658 |
| 6 kW | 5876 kWh | 4113 kWh | 1763 kWh | £1,104 | £176 | £1,280 | £15,707 | 12.3 yrs | £9,890 |
| 7 kW | 6855 kWh | 4799 kWh | 2057 kWh | £1,288 | £206 | £1,493 | £17,742 | 11.9 yrs | £12,122 |
| 8 kW | 7835 kWh | 5484 kWh | 2350 kWh | £1,471 | £235 | £1,706 | £19,776 | 11.6 yrs | £14,354 |
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: £1,091, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 1959 kWh | 1430 kWh | 529 kWh | £384 | £53 | £437 | £9,319 | 21.3 yrs | £-589 |
| 3 kW | 2938 kWh | 2145 kWh | 793 kWh | £575 | £79 | £655 | £11,354 | 17.3 yrs | £1,742 |
| 4 kW | 3917 kWh | 2860 kWh | 1058 kWh | £767 | £106 | £873 | £13,388 | 15.3 yrs | £4,072 |
| 5 kW | 4897 kWh | 3575 kWh | 1322 kWh | £959 | £132 | £1,091 | £15,423 | 14.1 yrs | £6,403 |
| 6 kW | 5876 kWh | 4290 kWh | 1587 kWh | £1,151 | £159 | £1,310 | £17,457 | 13.3 yrs | £8,734 |
| 7 kW | 6855 kWh | 5004 kWh | 1851 kWh | £1,343 | £185 | £1,528 | £19,492 | 12.8 yrs | £11,064 |
| 8 kW | 7835 kWh | 5719 kWh | 2115 kWh | £1,535 | £212 | £1,746 | £21,526 | 12.3 yrs | £13,395 |
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: £1,108, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1959 kWh | 1469 kWh | 490 kWh | £394 | £49 | £443 | £11,069 | 25.0 yrs | £-2,207 |
| 3 kW | 2938 kWh | 2204 kWh | 735 kWh | £591 | £73 | £665 | £13,104 | 19.7 yrs | £190 |
| 4 kW | 3917 kWh | 2938 kWh | 979 kWh | £788 | £98 | £886 | £15,138 | 17.1 yrs | £2,586 |
| 5 kW | 4897 kWh | 3673 kWh | 1224 kWh | £985 | £122 | £1,108 | £17,173 | 15.5 yrs | £4,983 |
| 6 kW | 5876 kWh | 4407 kWh | 1469 kWh | £1,182 | £147 | £1,329 | £19,207 | 14.4 yrs | £7,379 |
| 7 kW | 6855 kWh | 5142 kWh | 1714 kWh | £1,379 | £171 | £1,551 | £21,242 | 13.7 yrs | £9,776 |
| 8 kW | 7835 kWh | 5876 kWh | 1959 kWh | £1,577 | £196 | £1,772 | £23,276 | 13.1 yrs | £12,172 |
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: £1,124, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1959 kWh | 1508 kWh | 450 kWh | £405 | £45 | £450 | £13,519 | 30.1 yrs | £-4,525 |
| 3 kW | 2938 kWh | 2262 kWh | 676 kWh | £607 | £68 | £675 | £15,554 | 23.1 yrs | £-2,063 |
| 4 kW | 3917 kWh | 3016 kWh | 901 kWh | £809 | £90 | £899 | £17,588 | 19.6 yrs | £400 |
| 5 kW | 4897 kWh | 3770 kWh | 1126 kWh | £1,012 | £113 | £1,124 | £19,623 | 17.5 yrs | £2,862 |
| 6 kW | 5876 kWh | 4525 kWh | 1351 kWh | £1,214 | £135 | £1,349 | £21,657 | 16.1 yrs | £5,325 |
| 7 kW | 6855 kWh | 5279 kWh | 1577 kWh | £1,416 | £158 | £1,574 | £23,692 | 15.1 yrs | £7,787 |
| 8 kW | 7835 kWh | 6033 kWh | 1802 kWh | £1,619 | £180 | £1,799 | £25,726 | 14.3 yrs | £10,250 |
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.