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 1001 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.5p 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: £830, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2001 kWh | 800 kWh | 1201 kWh | £212 | £120 | £332 | £4,069 | 12.3 yrs | £2,572 |
| 3 kW | 3002 kWh | 1201 kWh | 1801 kWh | £318 | £180 | £498 | £6,104 | 12.3 yrs | £3,858 |
| 4 kW | 4002 kWh | 1601 kWh | 2401 kWh | £424 | £240 | £664 | £8,138 | 12.3 yrs | £5,144 |
| 5 kW | 5003 kWh | 2001 kWh | 3002 kWh | £530 | £300 | £830 | £10,173 | 12.3 yrs | £6,430 |
| 6 kW | 6004 kWh | 2401 kWh | 3602 kWh | £636 | £360 | £996 | £12,207 | 12.3 yrs | £7,715 |
| 7 kW | 7004 kWh | 2802 kWh | 4203 kWh | £742 | £420 | £1,162 | £14,242 | 12.3 yrs | £9,001 |
| 8 kW | 8005 kWh | 3202 kWh | 4803 kWh | £848 | £480 | £1,328 | £16,276 | 12.3 yrs | £10,287 |
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: £995, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 12.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2001 kWh | 1201 kWh | 800 kWh | £318 | £80 | £398 | £6,169 | 15.5 yrs | £1,791 |
| 3 kW | 3002 kWh | 1801 kWh | 1201 kWh | £477 | £120 | £597 | £8,204 | 13.7 yrs | £3,737 |
| 4 kW | 4002 kWh | 2401 kWh | 1601 kWh | £636 | £160 | £796 | £10,238 | 12.9 yrs | £5,682 |
| 5 kW | 5003 kWh | 3002 kWh | 2001 kWh | £795 | £200 | £995 | £12,273 | 12.3 yrs | £7,628 |
| 6 kW | 6004 kWh | 3602 kWh | 2401 kWh | £954 | £240 | £1,194 | £14,307 | 12.0 yrs | £9,573 |
| 7 kW | 7004 kWh | 4203 kWh | 2802 kWh | £1,113 | £280 | £1,393 | £16,342 | 11.7 yrs | £11,519 |
| 8 kW | 8005 kWh | 4803 kWh | 3202 kWh | £1,272 | £320 | £1,592 | £18,376 | 11.5 yrs | £13,464 |
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: £1,077, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.7 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2001 kWh | 1401 kWh | 600 kWh | £371 | £60 | £431 | £7,569 | 17.6 yrs | £1,051 |
| 3 kW | 3002 kWh | 2101 kWh | 901 kWh | £556 | £90 | £646 | £9,604 | 14.9 yrs | £3,326 |
| 4 kW | 4002 kWh | 2802 kWh | 1201 kWh | £742 | £120 | £862 | £11,638 | 13.5 yrs | £5,601 |
| 5 kW | 5003 kWh | 3502 kWh | 1501 kWh | £927 | £150 | £1,077 | £13,673 | 12.7 yrs | £7,877 |
| 6 kW | 6004 kWh | 4203 kWh | 1801 kWh | £1,113 | £180 | £1,293 | £15,707 | 12.1 yrs | £10,152 |
| 7 kW | 7004 kWh | 4903 kWh | 2101 kWh | £1,298 | £210 | £1,508 | £17,742 | 11.8 yrs | £12,427 |
| 8 kW | 8005 kWh | 5603 kWh | 2401 kWh | £1,484 | £240 | £1,724 | £19,776 | 11.5 yrs | £14,703 |
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: £1,102, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2001 kWh | 1461 kWh | 540 kWh | £387 | £54 | £441 | £9,319 | 21.1 yrs | £-501 |
| 3 kW | 3002 kWh | 2191 kWh | 810 kWh | £580 | £81 | £661 | £11,354 | 17.2 yrs | £1,873 |
| 4 kW | 4002 kWh | 2922 kWh | 1081 kWh | £774 | £108 | £882 | £13,388 | 15.2 yrs | £4,247 |
| 5 kW | 5003 kWh | 3652 kWh | 1351 kWh | £967 | £135 | £1,102 | £15,423 | 14.0 yrs | £6,621 |
| 6 kW | 6004 kWh | 4383 kWh | 1621 kWh | £1,161 | £162 | £1,323 | £17,457 | 13.2 yrs | £8,996 |
| 7 kW | 7004 kWh | 5113 kWh | 1891 kWh | £1,354 | £189 | £1,543 | £19,492 | 12.6 yrs | £11,370 |
| 8 kW | 8005 kWh | 5844 kWh | 2161 kWh | £1,547 | £216 | £1,764 | £21,526 | 12.2 yrs | £13,744 |
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: £1,119, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2001 kWh | 1501 kWh | 500 kWh | £397 | £50 | £447 | £11,069 | 24.7 yrs | £-2,120 |
| 3 kW | 3002 kWh | 2251 kWh | 750 kWh | £596 | £75 | £671 | £13,104 | 19.5 yrs | £321 |
| 4 kW | 4002 kWh | 3002 kWh | 1001 kWh | £795 | £100 | £895 | £15,138 | 16.9 yrs | £2,761 |
| 5 kW | 5003 kWh | 3752 kWh | 1251 kWh | £994 | £125 | £1,119 | £17,173 | 15.4 yrs | £5,201 |
| 6 kW | 6004 kWh | 4503 kWh | 1501 kWh | £1,192 | £150 | £1,342 | £19,207 | 14.3 yrs | £7,641 |
| 7 kW | 7004 kWh | 5253 kWh | 1751 kWh | £1,391 | £175 | £1,566 | £21,242 | 13.6 yrs | £10,082 |
| 8 kW | 8005 kWh | 6004 kWh | 2001 kWh | £1,590 | £200 | £1,790 | £23,276 | 13.0 yrs | £12,522 |
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: £1,135, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 17.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2001 kWh | 1541 kWh | 460 kWh | £408 | £46 | £454 | £13,519 | 29.8 yrs | £-4,438 |
| 3 kW | 3002 kWh | 2311 kWh | 690 kWh | £612 | £69 | £681 | £15,554 | 22.8 yrs | £-1,931 |
| 4 kW | 4002 kWh | 3082 kWh | 921 kWh | £816 | £92 | £908 | £17,588 | 19.4 yrs | £575 |
| 5 kW | 5003 kWh | 3852 kWh | 1151 kWh | £1,020 | £115 | £1,135 | £19,623 | 17.3 yrs | £3,081 |
| 6 kW | 6004 kWh | 4623 kWh | 1381 kWh | £1,224 | £138 | £1,362 | £21,657 | 15.9 yrs | £5,587 |
| 7 kW | 7004 kWh | 5393 kWh | 1611 kWh | £1,428 | £161 | £1,589 | £23,692 | 14.9 yrs | £8,093 |
| 8 kW | 8005 kWh | 6164 kWh | 1841 kWh | £1,632 | £184 | £1,816 | £25,726 | 14.2 yrs | £10,599 |
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.