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 1007 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: £835, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2013 kWh | 805 kWh | 1208 kWh | £213 | £121 | £334 | £4,069 | 12.2 yrs | £2,612 |
| 3 kW | 3020 kWh | 1208 kWh | 1812 kWh | £320 | £181 | £501 | £6,104 | 12.2 yrs | £3,918 |
| 4 kW | 4027 kWh | 1611 kWh | 2416 kWh | £427 | £242 | £668 | £8,138 | 12.2 yrs | £5,224 |
| 5 kW | 5033 kWh | 2013 kWh | 3020 kWh | £533 | £302 | £835 | £10,173 | 12.2 yrs | £6,530 |
| 6 kW | 6040 kWh | 2416 kWh | 3624 kWh | £640 | £362 | £1,002 | £12,207 | 12.2 yrs | £7,837 |
| 7 kW | 7047 kWh | 2819 kWh | 4228 kWh | £746 | £423 | £1,169 | £14,242 | 12.2 yrs | £9,143 |
| 8 kW | 8054 kWh | 3221 kWh | 4832 kWh | £853 | £483 | £1,336 | £16,276 | 12.2 yrs | £10,449 |
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: £1,001, 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 | 2013 kWh | 1208 kWh | 805 kWh | £320 | £81 | £400 | £6,169 | 15.4 yrs | £1,839 |
| 3 kW | 3020 kWh | 1812 kWh | 1208 kWh | £480 | £121 | £601 | £8,204 | 13.7 yrs | £3,809 |
| 4 kW | 4027 kWh | 2416 kWh | 1611 kWh | £640 | £161 | £801 | £10,238 | 12.8 yrs | £5,779 |
| 5 kW | 5033 kWh | 3020 kWh | 2013 kWh | £800 | £201 | £1,001 | £12,273 | 12.3 yrs | £7,749 |
| 6 kW | 6040 kWh | 3624 kWh | 2416 kWh | £960 | £242 | £1,201 | £14,307 | 11.9 yrs | £9,718 |
| 7 kW | 7047 kWh | 4228 kWh | 2819 kWh | £1,120 | £282 | £1,401 | £16,342 | 11.7 yrs | £11,688 |
| 8 kW | 8054 kWh | 4832 kWh | 3221 kWh | £1,280 | £322 | £1,602 | £18,376 | 11.5 yrs | £13,658 |
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: £1,084, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 12.6 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2013 kWh | 1409 kWh | 604 kWh | £373 | £60 | £434 | £7,569 | 17.5 yrs | £1,103 |
| 3 kW | 3020 kWh | 2114 kWh | 906 kWh | £560 | £91 | £650 | £9,604 | 14.8 yrs | £3,405 |
| 4 kW | 4027 kWh | 2819 kWh | 1208 kWh | £746 | £121 | £867 | £11,638 | 13.4 yrs | £5,706 |
| 5 kW | 5033 kWh | 3523 kWh | 1510 kWh | £933 | £151 | £1,084 | £13,673 | 12.6 yrs | £8,008 |
| 6 kW | 6040 kWh | 4228 kWh | 1812 kWh | £1,120 | £181 | £1,301 | £15,707 | 12.1 yrs | £10,309 |
| 7 kW | 7047 kWh | 4933 kWh | 2114 kWh | £1,306 | £211 | £1,518 | £17,742 | 11.7 yrs | £12,611 |
| 8 kW | 8054 kWh | 5637 kWh | 2416 kWh | £1,493 | £242 | £1,734 | £19,776 | 11.4 yrs | £14,912 |
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: £1,109, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2013 kWh | 1470 kWh | 544 kWh | £389 | £54 | £444 | £9,319 | 21.0 yrs | £-448 |
| 3 kW | 3020 kWh | 2205 kWh | 815 kWh | £584 | £82 | £665 | £11,354 | 17.1 yrs | £1,953 |
| 4 kW | 4027 kWh | 2940 kWh | 1087 kWh | £778 | £109 | £887 | £13,388 | 15.1 yrs | £4,354 |
| 5 kW | 5033 kWh | 3674 kWh | 1359 kWh | £973 | £136 | £1,109 | £15,423 | 13.9 yrs | £6,755 |
| 6 kW | 6040 kWh | 4409 kWh | 1631 kWh | £1,168 | £163 | £1,331 | £17,457 | 13.1 yrs | £9,156 |
| 7 kW | 7047 kWh | 5144 kWh | 1903 kWh | £1,362 | £190 | £1,552 | £19,492 | 12.6 yrs | £11,557 |
| 8 kW | 8054 kWh | 5879 kWh | 2174 kWh | £1,557 | £217 | £1,774 | £21,526 | 12.1 yrs | £13,958 |
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: £1,125, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 15.3 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 2013 kWh | 1510 kWh | 503 kWh | £400 | £50 | £450 | £11,069 | 24.6 yrs | £-2,065 |
| 3 kW | 3020 kWh | 2265 kWh | 755 kWh | £600 | £76 | £675 | £13,104 | 19.4 yrs | £402 |
| 4 kW | 4027 kWh | 3020 kWh | 1007 kWh | £800 | £101 | £900 | £15,138 | 16.8 yrs | £2,870 |
| 5 kW | 5033 kWh | 3775 kWh | 1258 kWh | £1,000 | £126 | £1,125 | £17,173 | 15.3 yrs | £5,337 |
| 6 kW | 6040 kWh | 4530 kWh | 1510 kWh | £1,200 | £151 | £1,351 | £19,207 | 14.2 yrs | £7,804 |
| 7 kW | 7047 kWh | 5285 kWh | 1762 kWh | £1,400 | £176 | £1,576 | £21,242 | 13.5 yrs | £10,272 |
| 8 kW | 8054 kWh | 6040 kWh | 2013 kWh | £1,599 | £201 | £1,801 | £23,276 | 12.9 yrs | £12,739 |
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: £1,142, Upfront: £19,623, 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 | 2013 kWh | 1550 kWh | 463 kWh | £411 | £46 | £457 | £13,519 | 29.6 yrs | £-4,382 |
| 3 kW | 3020 kWh | 2325 kWh | 695 kWh | £616 | £69 | £685 | £15,554 | 22.7 yrs | £-1,849 |
| 4 kW | 4027 kWh | 3101 kWh | 926 kWh | £821 | £93 | £914 | £17,588 | 19.3 yrs | £685 |
| 5 kW | 5033 kWh | 3876 kWh | 1158 kWh | £1,026 | £116 | £1,142 | £19,623 | 17.2 yrs | £3,219 |
| 6 kW | 6040 kWh | 4651 kWh | 1389 kWh | £1,232 | £139 | £1,370 | £21,657 | 15.8 yrs | £5,753 |
| 7 kW | 7047 kWh | 5426 kWh | 1621 kWh | £1,437 | £162 | £1,599 | £23,692 | 14.8 yrs | £8,286 |
| 8 kW | 8054 kWh | 6201 kWh | 1852 kWh | £1,642 | £185 | £1,827 | £25,726 | 14.1 yrs | £10,820 |
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.