Free solar calculator

Solar Battery ROI Calculator

Estimate whether storing surplus solar electricity is likely to recover the battery cost through avoided grid imports.

Calculate battery payback

Use the surplus you currently export, not total solar generation.

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✓ Calculation runs entirely in your browser

Battery ROI estimate

Simple payback from avoided imports.

Financial estimate
Estimated payback period
Enter your battery cost, surplus and tariff rates.
Important: this is a simplified payback estimate. Battery degradation, seasonal surplus, capacity limits, time-of-use tariffs, replacement costs and financing can change the real result.

How the battery ROI estimate works

The financial value of a battery comes mainly from replacing expensive imported electricity with solar energy that would otherwise have been exported at a lower rate.

1. Compare import and export rates

A larger gap between what you pay to import and what you earn to export improves the potential battery benefit.

2. Apply surplus and efficiency

Only surplus solar that can actually be stored is counted, after round-trip losses.

3. Divide cost by annual benefit

The upfront battery cost is divided by the estimated yearly value retained in the home.

A simple example

Using 6 kWh of daily surplus, a €0.28 import rate, €0.10 export rate, 90% efficiency and a €4,500 battery:

Daily benefit = 6 × (€0.28 − €0.10) × 0.90 = €0.97
Annual benefit = €0.97 × 365 = €355
Simple payback = €4,500 ÷ €355 ≈ 12.7 years

Solar battery ROI FAQs

Is a solar battery worth the money?

It depends on the battery cost, the amount of solar surplus available, the difference between import and export rates, and how often the stored energy can be used.

How is solar battery ROI calculated?

This calculator estimates the value of using stored solar instead of exporting it, then divides the battery cost by that annual benefit.

Does a battery stop all solar exports?

Usually not. A battery has limited capacity and charging power, so surplus beyond what it can store may still be exported.