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 1008 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: £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 | 2015 kWh | 806 kWh | 1209 kWh | £216 | £121 | £337 | £4,069 | 12.1 yrs | £2,673 |
| 3 kW | 3023 kWh | 1209 kWh | 1814 kWh | £324 | £181 | £506 | £6,104 | 12.1 yrs | £4,009 |
| 4 kW | 4030 kWh | 1612 kWh | 2418 kWh | £432 | £242 | £674 | £8,138 | 12.1 yrs | £5,345 |
| 5 kW | 5038 kWh | 2015 kWh | 3023 kWh | £540 | £302 | £843 | £10,173 | 12.1 yrs | £6,682 |
| 6 kW | 6045 kWh | 2418 kWh | 3627 kWh | £649 | £363 | £1,011 | £12,207 | 12.1 yrs | £8,018 |
| 7 kW | 7053 kWh | 2821 kWh | 4232 kWh | £757 | £423 | £1,180 | £14,242 | 12.1 yrs | £9,354 |
| 8 kW | 8060 kWh | 3224 kWh | 4836 kWh | £865 | £484 | £1,348 | £16,276 | 12.1 yrs | £10,691 |
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: £1,012, 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 | 2015 kWh | 1209 kWh | 806 kWh | £324 | £81 | £405 | £6,169 | 15.2 yrs | £1,928 |
| 3 kW | 3023 kWh | 1814 kWh | 1209 kWh | £486 | £121 | £607 | £8,204 | 13.5 yrs | £3,943 |
| 4 kW | 4030 kWh | 2418 kWh | 1612 kWh | £649 | £161 | £810 | £10,238 | 12.6 yrs | £5,957 |
| 5 kW | 5038 kWh | 3023 kWh | 2015 kWh | £811 | £202 | £1,012 | £12,273 | 12.1 yrs | £7,971 |
| 6 kW | 6045 kWh | 3627 kWh | 2418 kWh | £973 | £242 | £1,215 | £14,307 | 11.8 yrs | £9,985 |
| 7 kW | 7053 kWh | 4232 kWh | 2821 kWh | £1,135 | £282 | £1,417 | £16,342 | 11.5 yrs | £12,000 |
| 8 kW | 8060 kWh | 4836 kWh | 3224 kWh | £1,297 | £322 | £1,619 | £18,376 | 11.3 yrs | £14,014 |
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: £1,097, 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 | 2015 kWh | 1411 kWh | 605 kWh | £378 | £60 | £439 | £7,569 | 17.3 yrs | £1,206 |
| 3 kW | 3023 kWh | 2116 kWh | 907 kWh | £567 | £91 | £658 | £9,604 | 14.6 yrs | £3,560 |
| 4 kW | 4030 kWh | 2821 kWh | 1209 kWh | £757 | £121 | £878 | £11,638 | 13.3 yrs | £5,913 |
| 5 kW | 5038 kWh | 3526 kWh | 1511 kWh | £946 | £151 | £1,097 | £13,673 | 12.5 yrs | £8,266 |
| 6 kW | 6045 kWh | 4232 kWh | 1814 kWh | £1,135 | £181 | £1,316 | £15,707 | 11.9 yrs | £10,619 |
| 7 kW | 7053 kWh | 4937 kWh | 2116 kWh | £1,324 | £212 | £1,536 | £17,742 | 11.6 yrs | £12,972 |
| 8 kW | 8060 kWh | 5642 kWh | 2418 kWh | £1,513 | £242 | £1,755 | £19,776 | 11.3 yrs | £15,325 |
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: £1,122, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2015 kWh | 1471 kWh | 544 kWh | £395 | £54 | £449 | £9,319 | 20.8 yrs | £-340 |
| 3 kW | 3023 kWh | 2207 kWh | 816 kWh | £592 | £82 | £673 | £11,354 | 16.9 yrs | £2,115 |
| 4 kW | 4030 kWh | 2942 kWh | 1088 kWh | £789 | £109 | £898 | £13,388 | 14.9 yrs | £4,569 |
| 5 kW | 5038 kWh | 3678 kWh | 1360 kWh | £986 | £136 | £1,122 | £15,423 | 13.7 yrs | £7,024 |
| 6 kW | 6045 kWh | 4413 kWh | 1632 kWh | £1,184 | £163 | £1,347 | £17,457 | 13.0 yrs | £9,479 |
| 7 kW | 7053 kWh | 5149 kWh | 1904 kWh | £1,381 | £190 | £1,571 | £19,492 | 12.4 yrs | £11,934 |
| 8 kW | 8060 kWh | 5884 kWh | 2176 kWh | £1,578 | £218 | £1,796 | £21,526 | 12.0 yrs | £14,389 |
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: £1,139, 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 | 2015 kWh | 1511 kWh | 504 kWh | £405 | £50 | £456 | £11,069 | 24.3 yrs | £-1,955 |
| 3 kW | 3023 kWh | 2267 kWh | 756 kWh | £608 | £76 | £684 | £13,104 | 19.2 yrs | £568 |
| 4 kW | 4030 kWh | 3023 kWh | 1008 kWh | £811 | £101 | £911 | £15,138 | 16.6 yrs | £3,091 |
| 5 kW | 5038 kWh | 3778 kWh | 1259 kWh | £1,013 | £126 | £1,139 | £17,173 | 15.1 yrs | £5,613 |
| 6 kW | 6045 kWh | 4534 kWh | 1511 kWh | £1,216 | £151 | £1,367 | £19,207 | 14.0 yrs | £8,136 |
| 7 kW | 7053 kWh | 5290 kWh | 1763 kWh | £1,419 | £176 | £1,595 | £21,242 | 13.3 yrs | £10,658 |
| 8 kW | 8060 kWh | 6045 kWh | 2015 kWh | £1,621 | £202 | £1,823 | £23,276 | 12.8 yrs | £13,181 |
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: £1,156, 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 | 2015 kWh | 1552 kWh | 463 kWh | £416 | £46 | £462 | £13,519 | 29.2 yrs | £-4,269 |
| 3 kW | 3023 kWh | 2327 kWh | 695 kWh | £624 | £70 | £694 | £15,554 | 22.4 yrs | £-1,679 |
| 4 kW | 4030 kWh | 3103 kWh | 927 kWh | £832 | £93 | £925 | £17,588 | 19.0 yrs | £912 |
| 5 kW | 5038 kWh | 3879 kWh | 1159 kWh | £1,040 | £116 | £1,156 | £19,623 | 17.0 yrs | £3,502 |
| 6 kW | 6045 kWh | 4655 kWh | 1390 kWh | £1,248 | £139 | £1,387 | £21,657 | 15.6 yrs | £6,093 |
| 7 kW | 7053 kWh | 5431 kWh | 1622 kWh | £1,457 | £162 | £1,619 | £23,692 | 14.6 yrs | £8,683 |
| 8 kW | 8060 kWh | 6207 kWh | 1854 kWh | £1,665 | £185 | £1,850 | £25,726 | 13.9 yrs | £11,273 |
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.