Solar value

Solar Self-Consumption Value

Measure the financial value of using more solar electricity in the home once the export payment you give up is properly accounted for.

Solar generation considered (kWh/year)Current self-consumption (%)Import price avoided (p/kWh)Export payment (p/kWh)Possible self-consumption after changes (%)

Worked examples: Browse pre-calculated scenarios at solar-self-consumption, then return here to replace the assumptions with your own figures.

How this calculator works

Each extra kWh of self-consumed solar avoids buying a kWh from the grid but may also mean exporting one kWh less.
The net value of increased self-consumption is therefore based on the difference between the import rate and export rate.
The calculator applies that difference to the amount of generation you can realistically shift from export to self-use.

What can change the result

Import tariff
Export tariff
Annual solar generation
The realistic change in self-consumption

How to read the result

A higher self-consumption percentage is not automatically a better financial outcome. The equipment or behaviour used to increase it still needs to cost less than the extra energy value created.

A useful way to stress-test the answer is to change the most uncertain input by 10 to 20% and see whether your decision still looks sensible.

Worked example

If import costs 28p/kWh and export earns 15p/kWh, each extra kWh moved from export to self-use adds roughly 13p of value before equipment costs.

Frequently asked questions

Does higher self-consumption always mean better economics?

No. Expensive equipment can cost more than the extra energy value it creates.

What if export pays well?

A high export rate reduces the benefit of storing or diverting solar.