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 963 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.6p 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: £782, Upfront: £10,173, 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 | 1925 kWh | 770 kWh | 1155 kWh | £197 | £116 | £313 | £4,069 | 13.0 yrs | £2,190 |
| 3 kW | 2888 kWh | 1155 kWh | 1733 kWh | £296 | £173 | £469 | £6,104 | 13.0 yrs | £3,285 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 1540 kWh | 2310 kWh | £395 | £231 | £626 | £8,138 | 13.0 yrs | £4,380 |
| 5 kW | 4813 kWh | 1925 kWh | 2888 kWh | £494 | £289 | £782 | £10,173 | 13.0 yrs | £5,475 |
| 6 kW | 5776 kWh | 2310 kWh | 3465 kWh | £592 | £347 | £939 | £12,207 | 13.0 yrs | £6,571 |
| 7 kW | 6738 kWh | 2695 kWh | 4043 kWh | £691 | £404 | £1,095 | £14,242 | 13.0 yrs | £7,666 |
| 8 kW | 7701 kWh | 3080 kWh | 4620 kWh | £790 | £462 | £1,252 | £16,276 | 13.0 yrs | £8,761 |
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: £933, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.2 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1925 kWh | 1155 kWh | 770 kWh | £296 | £77 | £373 | £6,169 | 16.5 yrs | £1,295 |
| 3 kW | 2888 kWh | 1733 kWh | 1155 kWh | £444 | £116 | £560 | £8,204 | 14.7 yrs | £2,992 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2310 kWh | 1540 kWh | £592 | £154 | £746 | £10,238 | 13.7 yrs | £4,689 |
| 5 kW | 4813 kWh | 2888 kWh | 1925 kWh | £740 | £193 | £933 | £12,273 | 13.2 yrs | £6,386 |
| 6 kW | 5776 kWh | 3465 kWh | 2310 kWh | £889 | £231 | £1,120 | £14,307 | 12.8 yrs | £8,084 |
| 7 kW | 6738 kWh | 4043 kWh | 2695 kWh | £1,037 | £270 | £1,306 | £16,342 | 12.5 yrs | £9,781 |
| 8 kW | 7701 kWh | 4620 kWh | 3080 kWh | £1,185 | £308 | £1,493 | £18,376 | 12.3 yrs | £11,478 |
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: £1,008, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1925 kWh | 1348 kWh | 578 kWh | £346 | £58 | £403 | £7,569 | 18.8 yrs | £497 |
| 3 kW | 2888 kWh | 2021 kWh | 866 kWh | £518 | £87 | £605 | £9,604 | 15.9 yrs | £2,495 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2695 kWh | 1155 kWh | £691 | £116 | £807 | £11,638 | 14.4 yrs | £4,494 |
| 5 kW | 4813 kWh | 3369 kWh | 1444 kWh | £864 | £144 | £1,008 | £13,673 | 13.6 yrs | £6,492 |
| 6 kW | 5776 kWh | 4043 kWh | 1733 kWh | £1,037 | £173 | £1,210 | £15,707 | 13.0 yrs | £8,490 |
| 7 kW | 6738 kWh | 4717 kWh | 2021 kWh | £1,209 | £202 | £1,412 | £17,742 | 12.6 yrs | £10,489 |
| 8 kW | 7701 kWh | 5391 kWh | 2310 kWh | £1,382 | £231 | £1,613 | £19,776 | 12.3 yrs | £12,487 |
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: £1,031, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.0 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1925 kWh | 1405 kWh | 520 kWh | £360 | £52 | £412 | £9,319 | 22.6 yrs | £-1,073 |
| 3 kW | 2888 kWh | 2108 kWh | 780 kWh | £541 | £78 | £618 | £11,354 | 18.4 yrs | £1,016 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2811 kWh | 1040 kWh | £721 | £104 | £825 | £13,388 | 16.2 yrs | £3,105 |
| 5 kW | 4813 kWh | 3513 kWh | 1300 kWh | £901 | £130 | £1,031 | £15,423 | 15.0 yrs | £5,194 |
| 6 kW | 5776 kWh | 4216 kWh | 1559 kWh | £1,081 | £156 | £1,237 | £17,457 | 14.1 yrs | £7,282 |
| 7 kW | 6738 kWh | 4919 kWh | 1819 kWh | £1,261 | £182 | £1,443 | £19,492 | 13.5 yrs | £9,371 |
| 8 kW | 7701 kWh | 5622 kWh | 2079 kWh | £1,441 | £208 | £1,649 | £21,526 | 13.1 yrs | £11,460 |
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: £1,046, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1925 kWh | 1444 kWh | 481 kWh | £370 | £48 | £418 | £11,069 | 26.5 yrs | £-2,702 |
| 3 kW | 2888 kWh | 2166 kWh | 722 kWh | £555 | £72 | £628 | £13,104 | 20.9 yrs | £-553 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2888 kWh | 963 kWh | £740 | £96 | £837 | £15,138 | 18.1 yrs | £1,596 |
| 5 kW | 4813 kWh | 3610 kWh | 1203 kWh | £926 | £120 | £1,046 | £17,173 | 16.4 yrs | £3,745 |
| 6 kW | 5776 kWh | 4332 kWh | 1444 kWh | £1,111 | £144 | £1,255 | £19,207 | 15.3 yrs | £5,894 |
| 7 kW | 6738 kWh | 5054 kWh | 1685 kWh | £1,296 | £168 | £1,464 | £21,242 | 14.5 yrs | £8,043 |
| 8 kW | 7701 kWh | 5776 kWh | 1925 kWh | £1,481 | £193 | £1,673 | £23,276 | 13.9 yrs | £10,192 |
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: £1,061, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 18.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1925 kWh | 1482 kWh | 443 kWh | £380 | £44 | £424 | £13,519 | 31.9 yrs | £-5,032 |
| 3 kW | 2888 kWh | 2224 kWh | 664 kWh | £570 | £66 | £637 | £15,554 | 24.4 yrs | £-2,822 |
| 4 kW | 3850 kWh | 2965 kWh | 886 kWh | £760 | £89 | £849 | £17,588 | 20.7 yrs | £-613 |
| 5 kW | 4813 kWh | 3706 kWh | 1107 kWh | £950 | £111 | £1,061 | £19,623 | 18.5 yrs | £1,596 |
| 6 kW | 5776 kWh | 4447 kWh | 1328 kWh | £1,140 | £133 | £1,273 | £21,657 | 17.0 yrs | £3,805 |
| 7 kW | 6738 kWh | 5188 kWh | 1550 kWh | £1,330 | £155 | £1,485 | £23,692 | 16.0 yrs | £6,014 |
| 8 kW | 7701 kWh | 5930 kWh | 1771 kWh | £1,520 | £177 | £1,697 | £25,726 | 15.2 yrs | £8,223 |
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.