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 925 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.4p 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: £748, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1849 kWh | 740 kWh | 1110 kWh | £188 | £111 | £299 | £4,069 | 13.6 yrs | £1,912 |
| 3 kW | 2774 kWh | 1110 kWh | 1664 kWh | £282 | £166 | £449 | £6,104 | 13.6 yrs | £2,868 |
| 4 kW | 3698 kWh | 1479 kWh | 2219 kWh | £376 | £222 | £598 | £8,138 | 13.6 yrs | £3,824 |
| 5 kW | 4623 kWh | 1849 kWh | 2774 kWh | £470 | £277 | £748 | £10,173 | 13.6 yrs | £4,780 |
| 6 kW | 5548 kWh | 2219 kWh | 3329 kWh | £564 | £333 | £897 | £12,207 | 13.6 yrs | £5,736 |
| 7 kW | 6472 kWh | 2589 kWh | 3883 kWh | £658 | £388 | £1,047 | £14,242 | 13.6 yrs | £6,693 |
| 8 kW | 7397 kWh | 2959 kWh | 4438 kWh | £752 | £444 | £1,196 | £16,276 | 13.6 yrs | £7,649 |
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: £890, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.8 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1849 kWh | 1110 kWh | 740 kWh | £282 | £74 | £356 | £6,169 | 17.3 yrs | £954 |
| 3 kW | 2774 kWh | 1664 kWh | 1110 kWh | £423 | £111 | £534 | £8,204 | 15.4 yrs | £2,480 |
| 4 kW | 3698 kWh | 2219 kWh | 1479 kWh | £564 | £148 | £712 | £10,238 | 14.4 yrs | £4,007 |
| 5 kW | 4623 kWh | 2774 kWh | 1849 kWh | £705 | £185 | £890 | £12,273 | 13.8 yrs | £5,534 |
| 6 kW | 5548 kWh | 3329 kWh | 2219 kWh | £846 | £222 | £1,068 | £14,307 | 13.4 yrs | £7,061 |
| 7 kW | 6472 kWh | 3883 kWh | 2589 kWh | £988 | £259 | £1,246 | £16,342 | 13.1 yrs | £8,587 |
| 8 kW | 7397 kWh | 4438 kWh | 2959 kWh | £1,129 | £296 | £1,425 | £18,376 | 12.9 yrs | £10,114 |
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: £962, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1849 kWh | 1294 kWh | 555 kWh | £329 | £55 | £385 | £7,569 | 19.7 yrs | £124 |
| 3 kW | 2774 kWh | 1942 kWh | 832 kWh | £494 | £83 | £577 | £9,604 | 16.6 yrs | £1,936 |
| 4 kW | 3698 kWh | 2589 kWh | 1110 kWh | £658 | £111 | £769 | £11,638 | 15.1 yrs | £3,748 |
| 5 kW | 4623 kWh | 3236 kWh | 1387 kWh | £823 | £139 | £962 | £13,673 | 14.2 yrs | £5,560 |
| 6 kW | 5548 kWh | 3883 kWh | 1664 kWh | £988 | £166 | £1,154 | £15,707 | 13.6 yrs | £7,373 |
| 7 kW | 6472 kWh | 4531 kWh | 1942 kWh | £1,152 | £194 | £1,346 | £17,742 | 13.2 yrs | £9,185 |
| 8 kW | 7397 kWh | 5178 kWh | 2219 kWh | £1,317 | £222 | £1,539 | £19,776 | 12.9 yrs | £10,997 |
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: £983, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1849 kWh | 1350 kWh | 499 kWh | £343 | £50 | £393 | £9,319 | 23.7 yrs | £-1,455 |
| 3 kW | 2774 kWh | 2025 kWh | 749 kWh | £515 | £75 | £590 | £11,354 | 19.2 yrs | £443 |
| 4 kW | 3698 kWh | 2700 kWh | 999 kWh | £687 | £100 | £786 | £13,388 | 17.0 yrs | £2,341 |
| 5 kW | 4623 kWh | 3375 kWh | 1248 kWh | £858 | £125 | £983 | £15,423 | 15.7 yrs | £4,238 |
| 6 kW | 5548 kWh | 4050 kWh | 1498 kWh | £1,030 | £150 | £1,180 | £17,457 | 14.8 yrs | £6,136 |
| 7 kW | 6472 kWh | 4725 kWh | 1748 kWh | £1,202 | £175 | £1,376 | £19,492 | 14.2 yrs | £8,034 |
| 8 kW | 7397 kWh | 5400 kWh | 1997 kWh | £1,373 | £200 | £1,573 | £21,526 | 13.7 yrs | £9,932 |
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: £997, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 17.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1849 kWh | 1387 kWh | 462 kWh | £353 | £46 | £399 | £11,069 | 27.7 yrs | £-3,090 |
| 3 kW | 2774 kWh | 2080 kWh | 693 kWh | £529 | £69 | £598 | £13,104 | 21.9 yrs | £-1,136 |
| 4 kW | 3698 kWh | 2774 kWh | 925 kWh | £705 | £92 | £798 | £15,138 | 19.0 yrs | £819 |
| 5 kW | 4623 kWh | 3467 kWh | 1156 kWh | £882 | £116 | £997 | £17,173 | 17.2 yrs | £2,774 |
| 6 kW | 5548 kWh | 4161 kWh | 1387 kWh | £1,058 | £139 | £1,197 | £19,207 | 16.0 yrs | £4,729 |
| 7 kW | 6472 kWh | 4854 kWh | 1618 kWh | £1,234 | £162 | £1,396 | £21,242 | 15.2 yrs | £6,683 |
| 8 kW | 7397 kWh | 5548 kWh | 1849 kWh | £1,411 | £185 | £1,596 | £23,276 | 14.6 yrs | £8,638 |
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: £1,012, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1849 kWh | 1424 kWh | 425 kWh | £362 | £43 | £405 | £13,519 | 33.4 yrs | £-5,426 |
| 3 kW | 2774 kWh | 2136 kWh | 638 kWh | £543 | £64 | £607 | £15,554 | 25.6 yrs | £-3,415 |
| 4 kW | 3698 kWh | 2848 kWh | 851 kWh | £724 | £85 | £809 | £17,588 | 21.7 yrs | £-1,403 |
| 5 kW | 4623 kWh | 3560 kWh | 1063 kWh | £905 | £106 | £1,012 | £19,623 | 19.4 yrs | £609 |
| 6 kW | 5548 kWh | 4272 kWh | 1276 kWh | £1,086 | £128 | £1,214 | £21,657 | 17.8 yrs | £2,621 |
| 7 kW | 6472 kWh | 4984 kWh | 1489 kWh | £1,267 | £149 | £1,416 | £23,692 | 16.7 yrs | £4,633 |
| 8 kW | 7397 kWh | 5696 kWh | 1701 kWh | £1,448 | £170 | £1,619 | £25,726 | 15.9 yrs | £6,645 |
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.