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 1055 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.9p 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: £884, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2109 kWh | 844 kWh | 1266 kWh | £227 | £127 | £354 | £4,069 | 11.5 yrs | £3,005 |
| 3 kW | 3164 kWh | 1266 kWh | 1898 kWh | £341 | £190 | £531 | £6,104 | 11.5 yrs | £4,507 |
| 4 kW | 4219 kWh | 1687 kWh | 2531 kWh | £454 | £253 | £707 | £8,138 | 11.5 yrs | £6,009 |
| 5 kW | 5273 kWh | 2109 kWh | 3164 kWh | £568 | £316 | £884 | £10,173 | 11.5 yrs | £7,511 |
| 6 kW | 6328 kWh | 2531 kWh | 3797 kWh | £681 | £380 | £1,061 | £12,207 | 11.5 yrs | £9,014 |
| 7 kW | 7382 kWh | 2953 kWh | 4429 kWh | £795 | £443 | £1,238 | £14,242 | 11.5 yrs | £10,516 |
| 8 kW | 8437 kWh | 3375 kWh | 5062 kWh | £909 | £506 | £1,415 | £16,276 | 11.5 yrs | £12,018 |
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: £1,063, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2109 kWh | 1266 kWh | 844 kWh | £341 | £84 | £425 | £6,169 | 14.5 yrs | £2,332 |
| 3 kW | 3164 kWh | 1898 kWh | 1266 kWh | £511 | £127 | £638 | £8,204 | 12.9 yrs | £4,548 |
| 4 kW | 4219 kWh | 2531 kWh | 1687 kWh | £681 | £169 | £850 | £10,238 | 12.0 yrs | £6,764 |
| 5 kW | 5273 kWh | 3164 kWh | 2109 kWh | £852 | £211 | £1,063 | £12,273 | 11.5 yrs | £8,980 |
| 6 kW | 6328 kWh | 3797 kWh | 2531 kWh | £1,022 | £253 | £1,275 | £14,307 | 11.2 yrs | £11,196 |
| 7 kW | 7382 kWh | 4429 kWh | 2953 kWh | £1,192 | £295 | £1,488 | £16,342 | 11.0 yrs | £13,412 |
| 8 kW | 8437 kWh | 5062 kWh | 3375 kWh | £1,363 | £337 | £1,700 | £18,376 | 10.8 yrs | £15,629 |
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: £1,152, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 2109 kWh | 1476 kWh | 633 kWh | £397 | £63 | £461 | £7,569 | 16.4 yrs | £1,646 |
| 3 kW | 3164 kWh | 2215 kWh | 949 kWh | £596 | £95 | £691 | £9,604 | 13.9 yrs | £4,219 |
| 4 kW | 4219 kWh | 2953 kWh | 1266 kWh | £795 | £127 | £921 | £11,638 | 12.6 yrs | £6,792 |
| 5 kW | 5273 kWh | 3691 kWh | 1582 kWh | £994 | £158 | £1,152 | £13,673 | 11.9 yrs | £9,365 |
| 6 kW | 6328 kWh | 4429 kWh | 1898 kWh | £1,192 | £190 | £1,382 | £15,707 | 11.4 yrs | £11,938 |
| 7 kW | 7382 kWh | 5168 kWh | 2215 kWh | £1,391 | £221 | £1,613 | £17,742 | 11.0 yrs | £14,511 |
| 8 kW | 8437 kWh | 5906 kWh | 2531 kWh | £1,590 | £253 | £1,843 | £19,776 | 10.7 yrs | £17,084 |
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: £1,179, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2109 kWh | 1540 kWh | 570 kWh | £415 | £57 | £471 | £9,319 | 19.8 yrs | £110 |
| 3 kW | 3164 kWh | 2310 kWh | 854 kWh | £622 | £85 | £707 | £11,354 | 16.1 yrs | £2,790 |
| 4 kW | 4219 kWh | 3080 kWh | 1139 kWh | £829 | £114 | £943 | £13,388 | 14.2 yrs | £5,470 |
| 5 kW | 5273 kWh | 3849 kWh | 1424 kWh | £1,036 | £142 | £1,179 | £15,423 | 13.1 yrs | £8,150 |
| 6 kW | 6328 kWh | 4619 kWh | 1709 kWh | £1,244 | £171 | £1,414 | £17,457 | 12.3 yrs | £10,830 |
| 7 kW | 7382 kWh | 5389 kWh | 1993 kWh | £1,451 | £199 | £1,650 | £19,492 | 11.8 yrs | £13,510 |
| 8 kW | 8437 kWh | 6159 kWh | 2278 kWh | £1,658 | £228 | £1,886 | £21,526 | 11.4 yrs | £16,190 |
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: £1,196, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2109 kWh | 1582 kWh | 527 kWh | £426 | £53 | £479 | £11,069 | 23.1 yrs | £-1,497 |
| 3 kW | 3164 kWh | 2373 kWh | 791 kWh | £639 | £79 | £718 | £13,104 | 18.3 yrs | £1,254 |
| 4 kW | 4219 kWh | 3164 kWh | 1055 kWh | £852 | £105 | £957 | £15,138 | 15.8 yrs | £4,006 |
| 5 kW | 5273 kWh | 3955 kWh | 1318 kWh | £1,065 | £132 | £1,196 | £17,173 | 14.4 yrs | £6,757 |
| 6 kW | 6328 kWh | 4746 kWh | 1582 kWh | £1,278 | £158 | £1,436 | £19,207 | 13.4 yrs | £9,508 |
| 7 kW | 7382 kWh | 5537 kWh | 1846 kWh | £1,491 | £185 | £1,675 | £21,242 | 12.7 yrs | £12,260 |
| 8 kW | 8437 kWh | 6328 kWh | 2109 kWh | £1,703 | £211 | £1,914 | £23,276 | 12.2 yrs | £15,011 |
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: £1,214, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2109 kWh | 1624 kWh | 485 kWh | £437 | £49 | £486 | £13,519 | 27.8 yrs | £-3,804 |
| 3 kW | 3164 kWh | 2436 kWh | 728 kWh | £656 | £73 | £729 | £15,554 | 21.3 yrs | £-982 |
| 4 kW | 4219 kWh | 3248 kWh | 970 kWh | £874 | £97 | £971 | £17,588 | 18.1 yrs | £1,841 |
| 5 kW | 5273 kWh | 4060 kWh | 1213 kWh | £1,093 | £121 | £1,214 | £19,623 | 16.2 yrs | £4,664 |
| 6 kW | 6328 kWh | 4872 kWh | 1455 kWh | £1,312 | £146 | £1,457 | £21,657 | 14.9 yrs | £7,487 |
| 7 kW | 7382 kWh | 5684 kWh | 1698 kWh | £1,530 | £170 | £1,700 | £23,692 | 13.9 yrs | £10,309 |
| 8 kW | 8437 kWh | 6497 kWh | 1941 kWh | £1,749 | £194 | £1,943 | £25,726 | 13.2 yrs | £13,132 |
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.