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 934 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: £759, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.4 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1868 kWh | 747 kWh | 1121 kWh | £192 | £112 | £304 | £4,069 | 13.4 yrs | £2,004 |
| 3 kW | 2802 kWh | 1121 kWh | 1681 kWh | £287 | £168 | £455 | £6,104 | 13.4 yrs | £3,006 |
| 4 kW | 3736 kWh | 1494 kWh | 2241 kWh | £383 | £224 | £607 | £8,138 | 13.4 yrs | £4,008 |
| 5 kW | 4670 kWh | 1868 kWh | 2802 kWh | £479 | £280 | £759 | £10,173 | 13.4 yrs | £5,010 |
| 6 kW | 5604 kWh | 2241 kWh | 3362 kWh | £575 | £336 | £911 | £12,207 | 13.4 yrs | £6,011 |
| 7 kW | 6538 kWh | 2615 kWh | 3923 kWh | £670 | £392 | £1,063 | £14,242 | 13.4 yrs | £7,013 |
| 8 kW | 7472 kWh | 2989 kWh | 4483 kWh | £766 | £448 | £1,215 | £16,276 | 13.4 yrs | £8,015 |
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: £905, Upfront: £12,273, 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 | 1868 kWh | 1121 kWh | 747 kWh | £287 | £75 | £362 | £6,169 | 17.0 yrs | £1,072 |
| 3 kW | 2802 kWh | 1681 kWh | 1121 kWh | £431 | £112 | £543 | £8,204 | 15.1 yrs | £2,659 |
| 4 kW | 3736 kWh | 2241 kWh | 1494 kWh | £575 | £149 | £724 | £10,238 | 14.1 yrs | £4,245 |
| 5 kW | 4670 kWh | 2802 kWh | 1868 kWh | £718 | £187 | £905 | £12,273 | 13.6 yrs | £5,831 |
| 6 kW | 5604 kWh | 3362 kWh | 2241 kWh | £862 | £224 | £1,086 | £14,307 | 13.2 yrs | £7,417 |
| 7 kW | 6538 kWh | 3923 kWh | 2615 kWh | £1,006 | £262 | £1,267 | £16,342 | 12.9 yrs | £9,003 |
| 8 kW | 7472 kWh | 4483 kWh | 2989 kWh | £1,149 | £299 | £1,448 | £18,376 | 12.7 yrs | £10,590 |
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: £978, Upfront: £13,673, 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 | 1868 kWh | 1308 kWh | 560 kWh | £335 | £56 | £391 | £7,569 | 19.3 yrs | £257 |
| 3 kW | 2802 kWh | 1961 kWh | 841 kWh | £503 | £84 | £587 | £9,604 | 16.4 yrs | £2,135 |
| 4 kW | 3736 kWh | 2615 kWh | 1121 kWh | £670 | £112 | £783 | £11,638 | 14.9 yrs | £4,013 |
| 5 kW | 4670 kWh | 3269 kWh | 1401 kWh | £838 | £140 | £978 | £13,673 | 14.0 yrs | £5,892 |
| 6 kW | 5604 kWh | 3923 kWh | 1681 kWh | £1,006 | £168 | £1,174 | £15,707 | 13.4 yrs | £7,770 |
| 7 kW | 6538 kWh | 4576 kWh | 1961 kWh | £1,173 | £196 | £1,369 | £17,742 | 13.0 yrs | £9,648 |
| 8 kW | 7472 kWh | 5230 kWh | 2241 kWh | £1,341 | £224 | £1,565 | £19,776 | 12.6 yrs | £11,527 |
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: £1,000, Upfront: £15,423, 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 | 1868 kWh | 1364 kWh | 504 kWh | £350 | £50 | £400 | £9,319 | 23.3 yrs | £-1,318 |
| 3 kW | 2802 kWh | 2045 kWh | 756 kWh | £524 | £76 | £600 | £11,354 | 18.9 yrs | £648 |
| 4 kW | 3736 kWh | 2727 kWh | 1009 kWh | £699 | £101 | £800 | £13,388 | 16.7 yrs | £2,614 |
| 5 kW | 4670 kWh | 3409 kWh | 1261 kWh | £874 | £126 | £1,000 | £15,423 | 15.4 yrs | £4,580 |
| 6 kW | 5604 kWh | 4091 kWh | 1513 kWh | £1,049 | £151 | £1,200 | £17,457 | 14.5 yrs | £6,546 |
| 7 kW | 6538 kWh | 4772 kWh | 1765 kWh | £1,224 | £177 | £1,400 | £19,492 | 13.9 yrs | £8,512 |
| 8 kW | 7472 kWh | 5454 kWh | 2017 kWh | £1,398 | £202 | £1,600 | £21,526 | 13.5 yrs | £10,478 |
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: £1,015, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1868 kWh | 1401 kWh | 467 kWh | £359 | £47 | £406 | £11,069 | 27.3 yrs | £-2,951 |
| 3 kW | 2802 kWh | 2101 kWh | 700 kWh | £539 | £70 | £609 | £13,104 | 21.5 yrs | £-927 |
| 4 kW | 3736 kWh | 2802 kWh | 934 kWh | £718 | £93 | £812 | £15,138 | 18.6 yrs | £1,098 |
| 5 kW | 4670 kWh | 3502 kWh | 1167 kWh | £898 | £117 | £1,015 | £17,173 | 16.9 yrs | £3,122 |
| 6 kW | 5604 kWh | 4203 kWh | 1401 kWh | £1,078 | £140 | £1,218 | £19,207 | 15.8 yrs | £5,146 |
| 7 kW | 6538 kWh | 4903 kWh | 1634 kWh | £1,257 | £163 | £1,421 | £21,242 | 15.0 yrs | £7,171 |
| 8 kW | 7472 kWh | 5604 kWh | 1868 kWh | £1,437 | £187 | £1,624 | £23,276 | 14.3 yrs | £9,195 |
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: £1,029, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1868 kWh | 1438 kWh | 430 kWh | £369 | £43 | £412 | £13,519 | 32.8 yrs | £-5,284 |
| 3 kW | 2802 kWh | 2157 kWh | 644 kWh | £553 | £64 | £618 | £15,554 | 25.2 yrs | £-3,202 |
| 4 kW | 3736 kWh | 2877 kWh | 859 kWh | £738 | £86 | £823 | £17,588 | 21.4 yrs | £-1,119 |
| 5 kW | 4670 kWh | 3596 kWh | 1074 kWh | £922 | £107 | £1,029 | £19,623 | 19.1 yrs | £964 |
| 6 kW | 5604 kWh | 4315 kWh | 1289 kWh | £1,106 | £129 | £1,235 | £21,657 | 17.5 yrs | £3,047 |
| 7 kW | 6538 kWh | 5034 kWh | 1504 kWh | £1,291 | £150 | £1,441 | £23,692 | 16.4 yrs | £5,130 |
| 8 kW | 7472 kWh | 5753 kWh | 1718 kWh | £1,475 | £172 | £1,647 | £25,726 | 15.6 yrs | £7,213 |
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.