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 1018 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: £851, 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 | 2036 kWh | 814 kWh | 1222 kWh | £218 | £122 | £341 | £4,069 | 11.9 yrs | £2,743 |
| 3 kW | 3054 kWh | 1222 kWh | 1832 kWh | £328 | £183 | £511 | £6,104 | 11.9 yrs | £4,114 |
| 4 kW | 4072 kWh | 1629 kWh | 2443 kWh | £437 | £244 | £681 | £8,138 | 11.9 yrs | £5,486 |
| 5 kW | 5090 kWh | 2036 kWh | 3054 kWh | £546 | £305 | £851 | £10,173 | 11.9 yrs | £6,857 |
| 6 kW | 6108 kWh | 2443 kWh | 3665 kWh | £655 | £366 | £1,022 | £12,207 | 11.9 yrs | £8,228 |
| 7 kW | 7126 kWh | 2850 kWh | 4276 kWh | £764 | £428 | £1,192 | £14,242 | 11.9 yrs | £9,600 |
| 8 kW | 8144 kWh | 3258 kWh | 4886 kWh | £874 | £489 | £1,362 | £16,276 | 11.9 yrs | £10,971 |
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: £1,023, 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 | 2036 kWh | 1222 kWh | 814 kWh | £328 | £81 | £409 | £6,169 | 15.1 yrs | £2,013 |
| 3 kW | 3054 kWh | 1832 kWh | 1222 kWh | £491 | £122 | £614 | £8,204 | 13.4 yrs | £4,069 |
| 4 kW | 4072 kWh | 2443 kWh | 1629 kWh | £655 | £163 | £818 | £10,238 | 12.5 yrs | £6,125 |
| 5 kW | 5090 kWh | 3054 kWh | 2036 kWh | £819 | £204 | £1,023 | £12,273 | 12.0 yrs | £8,182 |
| 6 kW | 6108 kWh | 3665 kWh | 2443 kWh | £983 | £244 | £1,227 | £14,307 | 11.7 yrs | £10,238 |
| 7 kW | 7126 kWh | 4276 kWh | 2850 kWh | £1,147 | £285 | £1,432 | £16,342 | 11.4 yrs | £12,294 |
| 8 kW | 8144 kWh | 4886 kWh | 3258 kWh | £1,311 | £326 | £1,636 | £18,376 | 11.2 yrs | £14,350 |
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: £1,108, 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 | 2036 kWh | 1425 kWh | 611 kWh | £382 | £61 | £443 | £7,569 | 17.1 yrs | £1,298 |
| 3 kW | 3054 kWh | 2138 kWh | 916 kWh | £573 | £92 | £665 | £9,604 | 14.4 yrs | £3,696 |
| 4 kW | 4072 kWh | 2850 kWh | 1222 kWh | £764 | £122 | £887 | £11,638 | 13.1 yrs | £6,095 |
| 5 kW | 5090 kWh | 3563 kWh | 1527 kWh | £956 | £153 | £1,108 | £13,673 | 12.3 yrs | £8,494 |
| 6 kW | 6108 kWh | 4276 kWh | 1832 kWh | £1,147 | £183 | £1,330 | £15,707 | 11.8 yrs | £10,893 |
| 7 kW | 7126 kWh | 4988 kWh | 2138 kWh | £1,338 | £214 | £1,552 | £17,742 | 11.4 yrs | £13,291 |
| 8 kW | 8144 kWh | 5701 kWh | 2443 kWh | £1,529 | £244 | £1,773 | £19,776 | 11.2 yrs | £15,690 |
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: £1,134, 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 | 2036 kWh | 1486 kWh | 550 kWh | £399 | £55 | £454 | £9,319 | 20.5 yrs | £-247 |
| 3 kW | 3054 kWh | 2229 kWh | 825 kWh | £598 | £82 | £680 | £11,354 | 16.7 yrs | £2,255 |
| 4 kW | 4072 kWh | 2973 kWh | 1099 kWh | £797 | £110 | £907 | £13,388 | 14.8 yrs | £4,756 |
| 5 kW | 5090 kWh | 3716 kWh | 1374 kWh | £997 | £137 | £1,134 | £15,423 | 13.6 yrs | £7,258 |
| 6 kW | 6108 kWh | 4459 kWh | 1649 kWh | £1,196 | £165 | £1,361 | £17,457 | 12.8 yrs | £9,759 |
| 7 kW | 7126 kWh | 5202 kWh | 1924 kWh | £1,395 | £192 | £1,588 | £19,492 | 12.3 yrs | £12,261 |
| 8 kW | 8144 kWh | 5945 kWh | 2199 kWh | £1,595 | £220 | £1,814 | £21,526 | 11.9 yrs | £14,762 |
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: £1,151, 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 | 2036 kWh | 1527 kWh | 509 kWh | £410 | £51 | £460 | £11,069 | 24.0 yrs | £-1,860 |
| 3 kW | 3054 kWh | 2291 kWh | 764 kWh | £614 | £76 | £691 | £13,104 | 19.0 yrs | £710 |
| 4 kW | 4072 kWh | 3054 kWh | 1018 kWh | £819 | £102 | £921 | £15,138 | 16.4 yrs | £3,280 |
| 5 kW | 5090 kWh | 3818 kWh | 1273 kWh | £1,024 | £127 | £1,151 | £17,173 | 14.9 yrs | £5,850 |
| 6 kW | 6108 kWh | 4581 kWh | 1527 kWh | £1,229 | £153 | £1,381 | £19,207 | 13.9 yrs | £8,420 |
| 7 kW | 7126 kWh | 5345 kWh | 1782 kWh | £1,433 | £178 | £1,612 | £21,242 | 13.2 yrs | £10,990 |
| 8 kW | 8144 kWh | 6108 kWh | 2036 kWh | £1,638 | £204 | £1,842 | £23,276 | 12.6 yrs | £13,560 |
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: £1,168, 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 | 2036 kWh | 1568 kWh | 468 kWh | £420 | £47 | £467 | £13,519 | 28.9 yrs | £-4,173 |
| 3 kW | 3054 kWh | 2352 kWh | 702 kWh | £631 | £70 | £701 | £15,554 | 22.2 yrs | £-1,535 |
| 4 kW | 4072 kWh | 3136 kWh | 937 kWh | £841 | £94 | £935 | £17,588 | 18.8 yrs | £1,104 |
| 5 kW | 5090 kWh | 3919 kWh | 1171 kWh | £1,051 | £117 | £1,168 | £19,623 | 16.8 yrs | £3,742 |
| 6 kW | 6108 kWh | 4703 kWh | 1405 kWh | £1,261 | £140 | £1,402 | £21,657 | 15.4 yrs | £6,381 |
| 7 kW | 7126 kWh | 5487 kWh | 1639 kWh | £1,472 | £164 | £1,636 | £23,692 | 14.5 yrs | £9,019 |
| 8 kW | 8144 kWh | 6271 kWh | 1873 kWh | £1,682 | £187 | £1,869 | £25,726 | 13.8 yrs | £11,658 |
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.