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 975 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 25.3p 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: £786, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 12.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1949 kWh | 780 kWh | 1170 kWh | £198 | £117 | £314 | £4,069 | 12.9 yrs | £2,220 |
| 3 kW | 2924 kWh | 1170 kWh | 1754 kWh | £296 | £175 | £472 | £6,104 | 12.9 yrs | £3,331 |
| 4 kW | 3899 kWh | 1560 kWh | 2339 kWh | £395 | £234 | £629 | £8,138 | 12.9 yrs | £4,441 |
| 5 kW | 4873 kWh | 1949 kWh | 2924 kWh | £494 | £292 | £786 | £10,173 | 12.9 yrs | £5,551 |
| 6 kW | 5848 kWh | 2339 kWh | 3509 kWh | £593 | £351 | £943 | £12,207 | 12.9 yrs | £6,661 |
| 7 kW | 6823 kWh | 2729 kWh | 4094 kWh | £691 | £409 | £1,101 | £14,242 | 12.9 yrs | £7,772 |
| 8 kW | 7798 kWh | 3119 kWh | 4679 kWh | £790 | £468 | £1,258 | £16,276 | 12.9 yrs | £8,882 |
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: £936, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.1 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1949 kWh | 1170 kWh | 780 kWh | £296 | £78 | £374 | £6,169 | 16.5 yrs | £1,316 |
| 3 kW | 2924 kWh | 1754 kWh | 1170 kWh | £444 | £117 | £561 | £8,204 | 14.6 yrs | £3,024 |
| 4 kW | 3899 kWh | 2339 kWh | 1560 kWh | £593 | £156 | £748 | £10,238 | 13.7 yrs | £4,732 |
| 5 kW | 4873 kWh | 2924 kWh | 1949 kWh | £741 | £195 | £936 | £12,273 | 13.1 yrs | £6,440 |
| 6 kW | 5848 kWh | 3509 kWh | 2339 kWh | £889 | £234 | £1,123 | £14,307 | 12.7 yrs | £8,147 |
| 7 kW | 6823 kWh | 4094 kWh | 2729 kWh | £1,037 | £273 | £1,310 | £16,342 | 12.5 yrs | £9,855 |
| 8 kW | 7798 kWh | 4679 kWh | 3119 kWh | £1,185 | £312 | £1,497 | £18,376 | 12.3 yrs | £11,563 |
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: £1,010, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1949 kWh | 1365 kWh | 585 kWh | £346 | £58 | £404 | £7,569 | 18.7 yrs | £513 |
| 3 kW | 2924 kWh | 2047 kWh | 877 kWh | £518 | £88 | £606 | £9,604 | 15.8 yrs | £2,520 |
| 4 kW | 3899 kWh | 2729 kWh | 1170 kWh | £691 | £117 | £808 | £11,638 | 14.4 yrs | £4,527 |
| 5 kW | 4873 kWh | 3411 kWh | 1462 kWh | £864 | £146 | £1,010 | £13,673 | 13.5 yrs | £6,534 |
| 6 kW | 5848 kWh | 4094 kWh | 1754 kWh | £1,037 | £175 | £1,212 | £15,707 | 13.0 yrs | £8,540 |
| 7 kW | 6823 kWh | 4776 kWh | 2047 kWh | £1,210 | £205 | £1,414 | £17,742 | 12.5 yrs | £10,547 |
| 8 kW | 7798 kWh | 5458 kWh | 2339 kWh | £1,383 | £234 | £1,617 | £19,776 | 12.2 yrs | £12,554 |
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: £1,033, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 14.9 yrs
| System | Annual output | Self-use | Exported | Bill saving | Export income | Annual benefit | Upfront cost | Break-even | 20-year net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kW | 1949 kWh | 1423 kWh | 526 kWh | £360 | £53 | £413 | £9,319 | 22.6 yrs | £-1,057 |
| 3 kW | 2924 kWh | 2135 kWh | 789 kWh | £541 | £79 | £620 | £11,354 | 18.3 yrs | £1,039 |
| 4 kW | 3899 kWh | 2846 kWh | 1053 kWh | £721 | £105 | £826 | £13,388 | 16.2 yrs | £3,136 |
| 5 kW | 4873 kWh | 3558 kWh | 1316 kWh | £901 | £132 | £1,033 | £15,423 | 14.9 yrs | £5,232 |
| 6 kW | 5848 kWh | 4269 kWh | 1579 kWh | £1,081 | £158 | £1,239 | £17,457 | 14.1 yrs | £7,328 |
| 7 kW | 6823 kWh | 4981 kWh | 1842 kWh | £1,262 | £184 | £1,446 | £19,492 | 13.5 yrs | £9,425 |
| 8 kW | 7798 kWh | 5692 kWh | 2105 kWh | £1,442 | £211 | £1,652 | £21,526 | 13.0 yrs | £11,521 |
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: £1,048, 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 | 1949 kWh | 1462 kWh | 487 kWh | £370 | £49 | £419 | £11,069 | 26.4 yrs | £-2,688 |
| 3 kW | 2924 kWh | 2193 kWh | 731 kWh | £556 | £73 | £629 | £13,104 | 20.8 yrs | £-531 |
| 4 kW | 3899 kWh | 2924 kWh | 975 kWh | £741 | £97 | £838 | £15,138 | 18.1 yrs | £1,625 |
| 5 kW | 4873 kWh | 3655 kWh | 1218 kWh | £926 | £122 | £1,048 | £17,173 | 16.4 yrs | £3,781 |
| 6 kW | 5848 kWh | 4386 kWh | 1462 kWh | £1,111 | £146 | £1,257 | £19,207 | 15.3 yrs | £5,937 |
| 7 kW | 6823 kWh | 5117 kWh | 1706 kWh | £1,296 | £171 | £1,467 | £21,242 | 14.5 yrs | £8,093 |
| 8 kW | 7798 kWh | 5848 kWh | 1949 kWh | £1,481 | £195 | £1,676 | £23,276 | 13.9 yrs | £10,249 |
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: £1,063, 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 | 1949 kWh | 1501 kWh | 448 kWh | £380 | £45 | £425 | £13,519 | 31.8 yrs | £-5,018 |
| 3 kW | 2924 kWh | 2252 kWh | 673 kWh | £570 | £67 | £638 | £15,554 | 24.4 yrs | £-2,802 |
| 4 kW | 3899 kWh | 3002 kWh | 897 kWh | £760 | £90 | £850 | £17,588 | 20.7 yrs | £-586 |
| 5 kW | 4873 kWh | 3753 kWh | 1121 kWh | £951 | £112 | £1,063 | £19,623 | 18.5 yrs | £1,630 |
| 6 kW | 5848 kWh | 4503 kWh | 1345 kWh | £1,141 | £135 | £1,275 | £21,657 | 17.0 yrs | £3,846 |
| 7 kW | 6823 kWh | 5254 kWh | 1569 kWh | £1,331 | £157 | £1,488 | £23,692 | 15.9 yrs | £6,062 |
| 8 kW | 7798 kWh | 6004 kWh | 1793 kWh | £1,521 | £179 | £1,700 | £25,726 | 15.1 yrs | £8,278 |
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.