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 1016 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p 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: £843, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2033 kWh | 813 kWh | 1220 kWh | £215 | £122 | £337 | £4,069 | 12.1 yrs | £2,677 |
| 3 kW | 3049 kWh | 1220 kWh | 1830 kWh | £323 | £183 | £506 | £6,104 | 12.1 yrs | £4,015 |
| 4 kW | 4066 kWh | 1626 kWh | 2439 kWh | £431 | £244 | £675 | £8,138 | 12.1 yrs | £5,353 |
| 5 kW | 5082 kWh | 2033 kWh | 3049 kWh | £538 | £305 | £843 | £10,173 | 12.1 yrs | £6,692 |
| 6 kW | 6098 kWh | 2439 kWh | 3659 kWh | £646 | £366 | £1,012 | £12,207 | 12.1 yrs | £8,030 |
| 7 kW | 7115 kWh | 2846 kWh | 4269 kWh | £754 | £427 | £1,180 | £14,242 | 12.1 yrs | £9,368 |
| 8 kW | 8131 kWh | 3253 kWh | 4879 kWh | £861 | £488 | £1,349 | £16,276 | 12.1 yrs | £10,707 |
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: £1,011, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2033 kWh | 1220 kWh | 813 kWh | £323 | £81 | £404 | £6,169 | 15.3 yrs | £1,917 |
| 3 kW | 3049 kWh | 1830 kWh | 1220 kWh | £484 | £122 | £606 | £8,204 | 13.5 yrs | £3,925 |
| 4 kW | 4066 kWh | 2439 kWh | 1626 kWh | £646 | £163 | £809 | £10,238 | 12.7 yrs | £5,933 |
| 5 kW | 5082 kWh | 3049 kWh | 2033 kWh | £807 | £203 | £1,011 | £12,273 | 12.1 yrs | £7,942 |
| 6 kW | 6098 kWh | 3659 kWh | 2439 kWh | £969 | £244 | £1,213 | £14,307 | 11.8 yrs | £9,950 |
| 7 kW | 7115 kWh | 4269 kWh | 2846 kWh | £1,130 | £285 | £1,415 | £16,342 | 11.5 yrs | £11,959 |
| 8 kW | 8131 kWh | 4879 kWh | 3253 kWh | £1,292 | £325 | £1,617 | £18,376 | 11.4 yrs | £13,967 |
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: £1,094, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 2033 kWh | 1423 kWh | 610 kWh | £377 | £61 | £438 | £7,569 | 17.3 yrs | £1,187 |
| 3 kW | 3049 kWh | 2134 kWh | 915 kWh | £565 | £91 | £657 | £9,604 | 14.6 yrs | £3,530 |
| 4 kW | 4066 kWh | 2846 kWh | 1220 kWh | £754 | £122 | £876 | £11,638 | 13.3 yrs | £5,873 |
| 5 kW | 5082 kWh | 3557 kWh | 1525 kWh | £942 | £152 | £1,094 | £13,673 | 12.5 yrs | £8,217 |
| 6 kW | 6098 kWh | 4269 kWh | 1830 kWh | £1,130 | £183 | £1,313 | £15,707 | 12.0 yrs | £10,560 |
| 7 kW | 7115 kWh | 4980 kWh | 2134 kWh | £1,319 | £213 | £1,532 | £17,742 | 11.6 yrs | £12,904 |
| 8 kW | 8131 kWh | 5692 kWh | 2439 kWh | £1,507 | £244 | £1,751 | £19,776 | 11.3 yrs | £15,247 |
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: £1,120, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2033 kWh | 1484 kWh | 549 kWh | £393 | £55 | £448 | £9,319 | 20.8 yrs | £-362 |
| 3 kW | 3049 kWh | 2226 kWh | 823 kWh | £589 | £82 | £672 | £11,354 | 16.9 yrs | £2,082 |
| 4 kW | 4066 kWh | 2968 kWh | 1098 kWh | £786 | £110 | £896 | £13,388 | 14.9 yrs | £4,525 |
| 5 kW | 5082 kWh | 3710 kWh | 1372 kWh | £982 | £137 | £1,120 | £15,423 | 13.8 yrs | £6,969 |
| 6 kW | 6098 kWh | 4452 kWh | 1647 kWh | £1,179 | £165 | £1,344 | £17,457 | 13.0 yrs | £9,413 |
| 7 kW | 7115 kWh | 5194 kWh | 1921 kWh | £1,375 | £192 | £1,567 | £19,492 | 12.4 yrs | £11,857 |
| 8 kW | 8131 kWh | 5936 kWh | 2195 kWh | £1,572 | £220 | £1,791 | £21,526 | 12.0 yrs | £14,301 |
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: £1,136, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2033 kWh | 1525 kWh | 508 kWh | £404 | £51 | £455 | £11,069 | 24.4 yrs | £-1,978 |
| 3 kW | 3049 kWh | 2287 kWh | 762 kWh | £606 | £76 | £682 | £13,104 | 19.2 yrs | £533 |
| 4 kW | 4066 kWh | 3049 kWh | 1016 kWh | £807 | £102 | £909 | £15,138 | 16.7 yrs | £3,044 |
| 5 kW | 5082 kWh | 3812 kWh | 1271 kWh | £1,009 | £127 | £1,136 | £17,173 | 15.1 yrs | £5,554 |
| 6 kW | 6098 kWh | 4574 kWh | 1525 kWh | £1,211 | £152 | £1,364 | £19,207 | 14.1 yrs | £8,065 |
| 7 kW | 7115 kWh | 5336 kWh | 1779 kWh | £1,413 | £178 | £1,591 | £21,242 | 13.4 yrs | £10,576 |
| 8 kW | 8131 kWh | 6098 kWh | 2033 kWh | £1,615 | £203 | £1,818 | £23,276 | 12.8 yrs | £13,087 |
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: £1,153, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2033 kWh | 1565 kWh | 468 kWh | £414 | £47 | £461 | £13,519 | 29.3 yrs | £-4,294 |
| 3 kW | 3049 kWh | 2348 kWh | 701 kWh | £622 | £70 | £692 | £15,554 | 22.5 yrs | £-1,716 |
| 4 kW | 4066 kWh | 3131 kWh | 935 kWh | £829 | £94 | £922 | £17,588 | 19.1 yrs | £862 |
| 5 kW | 5082 kWh | 3913 kWh | 1169 kWh | £1,036 | £117 | £1,153 | £19,623 | 17.0 yrs | £3,439 |
| 6 kW | 6098 kWh | 4696 kWh | 1403 kWh | £1,243 | £140 | £1,384 | £21,657 | 15.7 yrs | £6,017 |
| 7 kW | 7115 kWh | 5478 kWh | 1636 kWh | £1,451 | £164 | £1,614 | £23,692 | 14.7 yrs | £8,595 |
| 8 kW | 8131 kWh | 6261 kWh | 1870 kWh | £1,658 | £187 | £1,845 | £25,726 | 13.9 yrs | £11,173 |
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.