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 953 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: £797, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1905 kWh | 762 kWh | 1143 kWh | £204 | £114 | £319 | £4,069 | 12.8 yrs | £2,307 |
| 3 kW | 2858 kWh | 1143 kWh | 1715 kWh | £307 | £171 | £478 | £6,104 | 12.8 yrs | £3,460 |
| 4 kW | 3811 kWh | 1524 kWh | 2286 kWh | £409 | £229 | £638 | £8,138 | 12.8 yrs | £4,613 |
| 5 kW | 4763 kWh | 1905 kWh | 2858 kWh | £511 | £286 | £797 | £10,173 | 12.8 yrs | £5,767 |
| 6 kW | 5716 kWh | 2286 kWh | 3429 kWh | £613 | £343 | £956 | £12,207 | 12.8 yrs | £6,920 |
| 7 kW | 6668 kWh | 2667 kWh | 4001 kWh | £716 | £400 | £1,116 | £14,242 | 12.8 yrs | £8,074 |
| 8 kW | 7621 kWh | 3048 kWh | 4573 kWh | £818 | £457 | £1,275 | £16,276 | 12.8 yrs | £9,227 |
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: £957, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1905 kWh | 1143 kWh | 762 kWh | £307 | £76 | £383 | £6,169 | 16.1 yrs | £1,489 |
| 3 kW | 2858 kWh | 1715 kWh | 1143 kWh | £460 | £114 | £574 | £8,204 | 14.3 yrs | £3,284 |
| 4 kW | 3811 kWh | 2286 kWh | 1524 kWh | £613 | £152 | £766 | £10,238 | 13.4 yrs | £5,079 |
| 5 kW | 4763 kWh | 2858 kWh | 1905 kWh | £767 | £191 | £957 | £12,273 | 12.8 yrs | £6,873 |
| 6 kW | 5716 kWh | 3429 kWh | 2286 kWh | £920 | £229 | £1,149 | £14,307 | 12.5 yrs | £8,668 |
| 7 kW | 6668 kWh | 4001 kWh | 2667 kWh | £1,073 | £267 | £1,340 | £16,342 | 12.2 yrs | £10,463 |
| 8 kW | 7621 kWh | 4573 kWh | 3048 kWh | £1,227 | £305 | £1,532 | £18,376 | 12.0 yrs | £12,257 |
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: £1,037, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1905 kWh | 1334 kWh | 572 kWh | £358 | £57 | £415 | £7,569 | 18.2 yrs | £731 |
| 3 kW | 2858 kWh | 2001 kWh | 857 kWh | £537 | £86 | £622 | £9,604 | 15.4 yrs | £2,846 |
| 4 kW | 3811 kWh | 2667 kWh | 1143 kWh | £716 | £114 | £830 | £11,638 | 14.0 yrs | £4,961 |
| 5 kW | 4763 kWh | 3334 kWh | 1429 kWh | £895 | £143 | £1,037 | £13,673 | 13.2 yrs | £7,077 |
| 6 kW | 5716 kWh | 4001 kWh | 1715 kWh | £1,073 | £171 | £1,245 | £15,707 | 12.6 yrs | £9,192 |
| 7 kW | 6668 kWh | 4668 kWh | 2001 kWh | £1,252 | £200 | £1,452 | £17,742 | 12.2 yrs | £11,307 |
| 8 kW | 7621 kWh | 5335 kWh | 2286 kWh | £1,431 | £229 | £1,660 | £19,776 | 11.9 yrs | £13,423 |
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: £1,062, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1905 kWh | 1391 kWh | 514 kWh | £373 | £51 | £425 | £9,319 | 21.9 yrs | £-827 |
| 3 kW | 2858 kWh | 2086 kWh | 772 kWh | £560 | £77 | £637 | £11,354 | 17.8 yrs | £1,385 |
| 4 kW | 3811 kWh | 2782 kWh | 1029 kWh | £746 | £103 | £849 | £13,388 | 15.8 yrs | £3,596 |
| 5 kW | 4763 kWh | 3477 kWh | 1286 kWh | £933 | £129 | £1,062 | £15,423 | 14.5 yrs | £5,808 |
| 6 kW | 5716 kWh | 4173 kWh | 1543 kWh | £1,119 | £154 | £1,274 | £17,457 | 13.7 yrs | £8,019 |
| 7 kW | 6668 kWh | 4868 kWh | 1800 kWh | £1,306 | £180 | £1,486 | £19,492 | 13.1 yrs | £10,231 |
| 8 kW | 7621 kWh | 5563 kWh | 2058 kWh | £1,493 | £206 | £1,698 | £21,526 | 12.7 yrs | £12,442 |
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: £1,078, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1905 kWh | 1429 kWh | 476 kWh | £383 | £48 | £431 | £11,069 | 25.7 yrs | £-2,449 |
| 3 kW | 2858 kWh | 2143 kWh | 714 kWh | £575 | £71 | £647 | £13,104 | 20.3 yrs | £-173 |
| 4 kW | 3811 kWh | 2858 kWh | 953 kWh | £767 | £95 | £862 | £15,138 | 17.6 yrs | £2,103 |
| 5 kW | 4763 kWh | 3572 kWh | 1191 kWh | £958 | £119 | £1,078 | £17,173 | 15.9 yrs | £4,378 |
| 6 kW | 5716 kWh | 4287 kWh | 1429 kWh | £1,150 | £143 | £1,293 | £19,207 | 14.9 yrs | £6,654 |
| 7 kW | 6668 kWh | 5001 kWh | 1667 kWh | £1,342 | £167 | £1,509 | £21,242 | 14.1 yrs | £8,930 |
| 8 kW | 7621 kWh | 5716 kWh | 1905 kWh | £1,534 | £191 | £1,724 | £23,276 | 13.5 yrs | £11,205 |
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: £1,094, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1905 kWh | 1467 kWh | 438 kWh | £394 | £44 | £437 | £13,519 | 30.9 yrs | £-4,770 |
| 3 kW | 2858 kWh | 2201 kWh | 657 kWh | £590 | £66 | £656 | £15,554 | 23.7 yrs | £-2,431 |
| 4 kW | 3811 kWh | 2934 kWh | 876 kWh | £787 | £88 | £875 | £17,588 | 20.1 yrs | £-91 |
| 5 kW | 4763 kWh | 3668 kWh | 1096 kWh | £984 | £110 | £1,094 | £19,623 | 17.9 yrs | £2,249 |
| 6 kW | 5716 kWh | 4401 kWh | 1315 kWh | £1,181 | £131 | £1,312 | £21,657 | 16.5 yrs | £4,589 |
| 7 kW | 6668 kWh | 5135 kWh | 1534 kWh | £1,378 | £153 | £1,531 | £23,692 | 15.5 yrs | £6,929 |
| 8 kW | 7621 kWh | 5868 kWh | 1753 kWh | £1,574 | £175 | £1,750 | £25,726 | 14.7 yrs | £9,268 |
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.