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 1020 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: £853, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2041 kWh | 816 kWh | 1224 kWh | £219 | £122 | £341 | £4,069 | 11.9 yrs | £2,758 |
| 3 kW | 3061 kWh | 1224 kWh | 1836 kWh | £328 | £184 | £512 | £6,104 | 11.9 yrs | £4,137 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 1632 kWh | 2449 kWh | £438 | £245 | £683 | £8,138 | 11.9 yrs | £5,516 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 2041 kWh | 3061 kWh | £547 | £306 | £853 | £10,173 | 11.9 yrs | £6,895 |
| 6 kW | 6122 kWh | 2449 kWh | 3673 kWh | £657 | £367 | £1,024 | £12,207 | 11.9 yrs | £8,273 |
| 7 kW | 7142 kWh | 2857 kWh | 4285 kWh | £766 | £429 | £1,195 | £14,242 | 11.9 yrs | £9,652 |
| 8 kW | 8162 kWh | 3265 kWh | 4897 kWh | £876 | £490 | £1,365 | £16,276 | 11.9 yrs | £11,031 |
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: £1,025, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2041 kWh | 1224 kWh | 816 kWh | £328 | £82 | £410 | £6,169 | 15.0 yrs | £2,031 |
| 3 kW | 3061 kWh | 1836 kWh | 1224 kWh | £493 | £122 | £615 | £8,204 | 13.3 yrs | £4,096 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 2449 kWh | 1632 kWh | £657 | £163 | £820 | £10,238 | 12.5 yrs | £6,161 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3061 kWh | 2041 kWh | £821 | £204 | £1,025 | £12,273 | 12.0 yrs | £8,227 |
| 6 kW | 6122 kWh | 3673 kWh | 2449 kWh | £985 | £245 | £1,230 | £14,307 | 11.6 yrs | £10,292 |
| 7 kW | 7142 kWh | 4285 kWh | 2857 kWh | £1,149 | £286 | £1,435 | £16,342 | 11.4 yrs | £12,357 |
| 8 kW | 8162 kWh | 4897 kWh | 3265 kWh | £1,313 | £326 | £1,640 | £18,376 | 11.2 yrs | £14,423 |
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: £1,111, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2041 kWh | 1428 kWh | 612 kWh | £383 | £61 | £444 | £7,569 | 17.0 yrs | £1,317 |
| 3 kW | 3061 kWh | 2143 kWh | 918 kWh | £575 | £92 | £666 | £9,604 | 14.4 yrs | £3,726 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 2857 kWh | 1224 kWh | £766 | £122 | £889 | £11,638 | 13.1 yrs | £6,134 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3571 kWh | 1530 kWh | £958 | £153 | £1,111 | £13,673 | 12.3 yrs | £8,543 |
| 6 kW | 6122 kWh | 4285 kWh | 1836 kWh | £1,149 | £184 | £1,333 | £15,707 | 11.8 yrs | £10,951 |
| 7 kW | 7142 kWh | 4999 kWh | 2143 kWh | £1,341 | £214 | £1,555 | £17,742 | 11.4 yrs | £13,360 |
| 8 kW | 8162 kWh | 5714 kWh | 2449 kWh | £1,532 | £245 | £1,777 | £19,776 | 11.1 yrs | £15,768 |
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: £1,137, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2041 kWh | 1490 kWh | 551 kWh | £400 | £55 | £455 | £9,319 | 20.5 yrs | £-227 |
| 3 kW | 3061 kWh | 2234 kWh | 826 kWh | £599 | £83 | £682 | £11,354 | 16.6 yrs | £2,285 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 2979 kWh | 1102 kWh | £799 | £110 | £909 | £13,388 | 14.7 yrs | £4,796 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3724 kWh | 1377 kWh | £999 | £138 | £1,137 | £15,423 | 13.6 yrs | £7,308 |
| 6 kW | 6122 kWh | 4469 kWh | 1653 kWh | £1,199 | £165 | £1,364 | £17,457 | 12.8 yrs | £9,819 |
| 7 kW | 7142 kWh | 5214 kWh | 1928 kWh | £1,398 | £193 | £1,591 | £19,492 | 12.3 yrs | £12,331 |
| 8 kW | 8162 kWh | 5958 kWh | 2204 kWh | £1,598 | £220 | £1,818 | £21,526 | 11.8 yrs | £14,842 |
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: £1,154, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2041 kWh | 1530 kWh | 510 kWh | £410 | £51 | £461 | £11,069 | 24.0 yrs | £-1,840 |
| 3 kW | 3061 kWh | 2296 kWh | 765 kWh | £616 | £77 | £692 | £13,104 | 18.9 yrs | £741 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 3061 kWh | 1020 kWh | £821 | £102 | £923 | £15,138 | 16.4 yrs | £3,321 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3826 kWh | 1275 kWh | £1,026 | £128 | £1,154 | £17,173 | 14.9 yrs | £5,901 |
| 6 kW | 6122 kWh | 4591 kWh | 1530 kWh | £1,231 | £153 | £1,384 | £19,207 | 13.9 yrs | £8,481 |
| 7 kW | 7142 kWh | 5356 kWh | 1785 kWh | £1,437 | £179 | £1,615 | £21,242 | 13.2 yrs | £11,061 |
| 8 kW | 8162 kWh | 6122 kWh | 2041 kWh | £1,642 | £204 | £1,846 | £23,276 | 12.6 yrs | £13,641 |
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: £1,171, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2041 kWh | 1571 kWh | 469 kWh | £421 | £47 | £468 | £13,519 | 28.9 yrs | £-4,152 |
| 3 kW | 3061 kWh | 2357 kWh | 704 kWh | £632 | £70 | £702 | £15,554 | 22.1 yrs | £-1,504 |
| 4 kW | 4081 kWh | 3142 kWh | 939 kWh | £843 | £94 | £937 | £17,588 | 18.8 yrs | £1,145 |
| 5 kW | 5101 kWh | 3928 kWh | 1173 kWh | £1,054 | £117 | £1,171 | £19,623 | 16.8 yrs | £3,794 |
| 6 kW | 6122 kWh | 4714 kWh | 1408 kWh | £1,264 | £141 | £1,405 | £21,657 | 15.4 yrs | £6,443 |
| 7 kW | 7142 kWh | 5499 kWh | 1643 kWh | £1,475 | £164 | £1,639 | £23,692 | 14.5 yrs | £9,092 |
| 8 kW | 8162 kWh | 6285 kWh | 1877 kWh | £1,686 | £188 | £1,873 | £25,726 | 13.7 yrs | £11,741 |
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.