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 942 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p 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: £765, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1883 kWh | 753 kWh | 1130 kWh | £193 | £113 | £306 | £4,069 | 13.3 yrs | £2,054 |
| 3 kW | 2825 kWh | 1130 kWh | 1695 kWh | £290 | £169 | £459 | £6,104 | 13.3 yrs | £3,081 |
| 4 kW | 3766 kWh | 1507 kWh | 2260 kWh | £386 | £226 | £612 | £8,138 | 13.3 yrs | £4,108 |
| 5 kW | 4708 kWh | 1883 kWh | 2825 kWh | £483 | £282 | £765 | £10,173 | 13.3 yrs | £5,134 |
| 6 kW | 5650 kWh | 2260 kWh | 3390 kWh | £579 | £339 | £918 | £12,207 | 13.3 yrs | £6,161 |
| 7 kW | 6591 kWh | 2637 kWh | 3955 kWh | £676 | £395 | £1,071 | £14,242 | 13.3 yrs | £7,188 |
| 8 kW | 7533 kWh | 3013 kWh | 4520 kWh | £773 | £452 | £1,225 | £16,276 | 13.3 yrs | £8,215 |
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: £913, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1883 kWh | 1130 kWh | 753 kWh | £290 | £75 | £365 | £6,169 | 16.9 yrs | £1,132 |
| 3 kW | 2825 kWh | 1695 kWh | 1130 kWh | £435 | £113 | £548 | £8,204 | 15.0 yrs | £2,748 |
| 4 kW | 3766 kWh | 2260 kWh | 1507 kWh | £579 | £151 | £730 | £10,238 | 14.0 yrs | £4,364 |
| 5 kW | 4708 kWh | 2825 kWh | 1883 kWh | £724 | £188 | £913 | £12,273 | 13.4 yrs | £5,980 |
| 6 kW | 5650 kWh | 3390 kWh | 2260 kWh | £869 | £226 | £1,095 | £14,307 | 13.1 yrs | £7,596 |
| 7 kW | 6591 kWh | 3955 kWh | 2637 kWh | £1,014 | £264 | £1,278 | £16,342 | 12.8 yrs | £9,212 |
| 8 kW | 7533 kWh | 4520 kWh | 3013 kWh | £1,159 | £301 | £1,460 | £18,376 | 12.6 yrs | £10,828 |
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: £986, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1883 kWh | 1318 kWh | 565 kWh | £338 | £56 | £395 | £7,569 | 19.2 yrs | £321 |
| 3 kW | 2825 kWh | 1977 kWh | 847 kWh | £507 | £85 | £592 | £9,604 | 16.2 yrs | £2,232 |
| 4 kW | 3766 kWh | 2637 kWh | 1130 kWh | £676 | £113 | £789 | £11,638 | 14.8 yrs | £4,142 |
| 5 kW | 4708 kWh | 3296 kWh | 1412 kWh | £845 | £141 | £986 | £13,673 | 13.9 yrs | £6,053 |
| 6 kW | 5650 kWh | 3955 kWh | 1695 kWh | £1,014 | £169 | £1,184 | £15,707 | 13.3 yrs | £7,963 |
| 7 kW | 6591 kWh | 4614 kWh | 1977 kWh | £1,183 | £198 | £1,381 | £17,742 | 12.8 yrs | £9,874 |
| 8 kW | 7533 kWh | 5273 kWh | 2260 kWh | £1,352 | £226 | £1,578 | £19,776 | 12.5 yrs | £11,784 |
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: £1,008, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1883 kWh | 1375 kWh | 508 kWh | £352 | £51 | £403 | £9,319 | 23.1 yrs | £-1,252 |
| 3 kW | 2825 kWh | 2062 kWh | 763 kWh | £529 | £76 | £605 | £11,354 | 18.8 yrs | £747 |
| 4 kW | 3766 kWh | 2750 kWh | 1017 kWh | £705 | £102 | £807 | £13,388 | 16.6 yrs | £2,745 |
| 5 kW | 4708 kWh | 3437 kWh | 1271 kWh | £881 | £127 | £1,008 | £15,423 | 15.3 yrs | £4,744 |
| 6 kW | 5650 kWh | 4124 kWh | 1525 kWh | £1,057 | £153 | £1,210 | £17,457 | 14.4 yrs | £6,743 |
| 7 kW | 6591 kWh | 4812 kWh | 1780 kWh | £1,234 | £178 | £1,412 | £19,492 | 13.8 yrs | £8,742 |
| 8 kW | 7533 kWh | 5499 kWh | 2034 kWh | £1,410 | £203 | £1,613 | £21,526 | 13.3 yrs | £10,741 |
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: £1,023, Upfront: £17,173, 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 | 1883 kWh | 1412 kWh | 471 kWh | £362 | £47 | £409 | £11,069 | 27.0 yrs | £-2,884 |
| 3 kW | 2825 kWh | 2119 kWh | 706 kWh | £543 | £71 | £614 | £13,104 | 21.3 yrs | £-827 |
| 4 kW | 3766 kWh | 2825 kWh | 942 kWh | £724 | £94 | £818 | £15,138 | 18.5 yrs | £1,231 |
| 5 kW | 4708 kWh | 3531 kWh | 1177 kWh | £905 | £118 | £1,023 | £17,173 | 16.8 yrs | £3,289 |
| 6 kW | 5650 kWh | 4237 kWh | 1412 kWh | £1,086 | £141 | £1,228 | £19,207 | 15.6 yrs | £5,347 |
| 7 kW | 6591 kWh | 4944 kWh | 1648 kWh | £1,268 | £165 | £1,432 | £21,242 | 14.8 yrs | £7,404 |
| 8 kW | 7533 kWh | 5650 kWh | 1883 kWh | £1,449 | £188 | £1,637 | £23,276 | 14.2 yrs | £9,462 |
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: £1,038, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1883 kWh | 1450 kWh | 433 kWh | £372 | £43 | £415 | £13,519 | 32.6 yrs | £-5,217 |
| 3 kW | 2825 kWh | 2175 kWh | 650 kWh | £558 | £65 | £623 | £15,554 | 25.0 yrs | £-3,100 |
| 4 kW | 3766 kWh | 2900 kWh | 866 kWh | £744 | £87 | £830 | £17,588 | 21.2 yrs | £-983 |
| 5 kW | 4708 kWh | 3625 kWh | 1083 kWh | £930 | £108 | £1,038 | £19,623 | 18.9 yrs | £1,133 |
| 6 kW | 5650 kWh | 4350 kWh | 1299 kWh | £1,115 | £130 | £1,245 | £21,657 | 17.4 yrs | £3,250 |
| 7 kW | 6591 kWh | 5075 kWh | 1516 kWh | £1,301 | £152 | £1,453 | £23,692 | 16.3 yrs | £5,367 |
| 8 kW | 7533 kWh | 5800 kWh | 1733 kWh | £1,487 | £173 | £1,660 | £25,726 | 15.5 yrs | £7,483 |
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.