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 1067 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: £893, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2135 kWh | 854 kWh | 1281 kWh | £229 | £128 | £357 | £4,069 | 11.4 yrs | £3,074 |
| 3 kW | 3202 kWh | 1281 kWh | 1921 kWh | £344 | £192 | £536 | £6,104 | 11.4 yrs | £4,610 |
| 4 kW | 4270 kWh | 1708 kWh | 2562 kWh | £458 | £256 | £714 | £8,138 | 11.4 yrs | £6,147 |
| 5 kW | 5337 kWh | 2135 kWh | 3202 kWh | £573 | £320 | £893 | £10,173 | 11.4 yrs | £7,684 |
| 6 kW | 6405 kWh | 2562 kWh | 3843 kWh | £687 | £384 | £1,071 | £12,207 | 11.4 yrs | £9,221 |
| 7 kW | 7472 kWh | 2989 kWh | 4483 kWh | £802 | £448 | £1,250 | £14,242 | 11.4 yrs | £10,757 |
| 8 kW | 8540 kWh | 3416 kWh | 5124 kWh | £916 | £512 | £1,429 | £16,276 | 11.4 yrs | £12,294 |
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: £1,072, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 11.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2135 kWh | 1281 kWh | 854 kWh | £344 | £85 | £429 | £6,169 | 14.4 yrs | £2,410 |
| 3 kW | 3202 kWh | 1921 kWh | 1281 kWh | £515 | £128 | £643 | £8,204 | 12.7 yrs | £4,665 |
| 4 kW | 4270 kWh | 2562 kWh | 1708 kWh | £687 | £171 | £858 | £10,238 | 11.9 yrs | £6,920 |
| 5 kW | 5337 kWh | 3202 kWh | 2135 kWh | £859 | £213 | £1,072 | £12,273 | 11.4 yrs | £9,175 |
| 6 kW | 6405 kWh | 3843 kWh | 2562 kWh | £1,031 | £256 | £1,287 | £14,307 | 11.1 yrs | £11,430 |
| 7 kW | 7472 kWh | 4483 kWh | 2989 kWh | £1,202 | £299 | £1,501 | £16,342 | 10.9 yrs | £13,685 |
| 8 kW | 8540 kWh | 5124 kWh | 3416 kWh | £1,374 | £342 | £1,716 | £18,376 | 10.7 yrs | £15,939 |
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: £1,162, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 11.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2135 kWh | 1494 kWh | 640 kWh | £401 | £64 | £465 | £7,569 | 16.3 yrs | £1,728 |
| 3 kW | 3202 kWh | 2242 kWh | 961 kWh | £601 | £96 | £697 | £9,604 | 13.8 yrs | £4,342 |
| 4 kW | 4270 kWh | 2989 kWh | 1281 kWh | £802 | £128 | £930 | £11,638 | 12.5 yrs | £6,956 |
| 5 kW | 5337 kWh | 3736 kWh | 1601 kWh | £1,002 | £160 | £1,162 | £13,673 | 11.8 yrs | £9,570 |
| 6 kW | 6405 kWh | 4483 kWh | 1921 kWh | £1,202 | £192 | £1,395 | £15,707 | 11.3 yrs | £12,184 |
| 7 kW | 7472 kWh | 5231 kWh | 2242 kWh | £1,403 | £224 | £1,627 | £17,742 | 10.9 yrs | £14,798 |
| 8 kW | 8540 kWh | 5978 kWh | 2562 kWh | £1,603 | £256 | £1,859 | £19,776 | 10.6 yrs | £17,412 |
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: £1,189, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2135 kWh | 1558 kWh | 576 kWh | £418 | £58 | £476 | £9,319 | 19.6 yrs | £193 |
| 3 kW | 3202 kWh | 2338 kWh | 865 kWh | £627 | £86 | £713 | £11,354 | 15.9 yrs | £2,915 |
| 4 kW | 4270 kWh | 3117 kWh | 1153 kWh | £836 | £115 | £951 | £13,388 | 14.1 yrs | £5,637 |
| 5 kW | 5337 kWh | 3896 kWh | 1441 kWh | £1,045 | £144 | £1,189 | £15,423 | 13.0 yrs | £8,359 |
| 6 kW | 6405 kWh | 4675 kWh | 1729 kWh | £1,254 | £173 | £1,427 | £17,457 | 12.2 yrs | £11,080 |
| 7 kW | 7472 kWh | 5455 kWh | 2017 kWh | £1,463 | £202 | £1,665 | £19,492 | 11.7 yrs | £13,802 |
| 8 kW | 8540 kWh | 6234 kWh | 2306 kWh | £1,672 | £231 | £1,903 | £21,526 | 11.3 yrs | £16,524 |
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: £1,207, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 14.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2135 kWh | 1601 kWh | 534 kWh | £429 | £53 | £483 | £11,069 | 22.9 yrs | £-1,413 |
| 3 kW | 3202 kWh | 2402 kWh | 801 kWh | £644 | £80 | £724 | £13,104 | 18.1 yrs | £1,381 |
| 4 kW | 4270 kWh | 3202 kWh | 1067 kWh | £859 | £107 | £966 | £15,138 | 15.7 yrs | £4,174 |
| 5 kW | 5337 kWh | 4003 kWh | 1334 kWh | £1,074 | £133 | £1,207 | £17,173 | 14.2 yrs | £6,968 |
| 6 kW | 6405 kWh | 4804 kWh | 1601 kWh | £1,288 | £160 | £1,448 | £19,207 | 13.3 yrs | £9,761 |
| 7 kW | 7472 kWh | 5604 kWh | 1868 kWh | £1,503 | £187 | £1,690 | £21,242 | 12.6 yrs | £12,555 |
| 8 kW | 8540 kWh | 6405 kWh | 2135 kWh | £1,718 | £213 | £1,931 | £23,276 | 12.1 yrs | £15,349 |
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: £1,225, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 16.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2135 kWh | 1644 kWh | 491 kWh | £441 | £49 | £490 | £13,519 | 27.6 yrs | £-3,719 |
| 3 kW | 3202 kWh | 2466 kWh | 737 kWh | £661 | £74 | £735 | £15,554 | 21.2 yrs | £-854 |
| 4 kW | 4270 kWh | 3288 kWh | 982 kWh | £882 | £98 | £980 | £17,588 | 17.9 yrs | £2,012 |
| 5 kW | 5337 kWh | 4110 kWh | 1228 kWh | £1,102 | £123 | £1,225 | £19,623 | 16.0 yrs | £4,877 |
| 6 kW | 6405 kWh | 4932 kWh | 1473 kWh | £1,323 | £147 | £1,470 | £21,657 | 14.7 yrs | £7,742 |
| 7 kW | 7472 kWh | 5754 kWh | 1719 kWh | £1,543 | £172 | £1,715 | £23,692 | 13.8 yrs | £10,608 |
| 8 kW | 8540 kWh | 6575 kWh | 1964 kWh | £1,764 | £196 | £1,960 | £25,726 | 13.1 yrs | £13,473 |
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.