Well done! You have taken the right decision to help save the environment by generating your own clean electricity through solar. We understand that if you are installing solar in your home for the very first time, then you may have many questions about it. SolarClap would like to give you the right information about installing solar in India. Below we have curated a list of some most common solar FAQs and their answers.
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What should be the size and configuration of my off-grid solar system?
When you are installing solar in your house you would want to know how big of a solar system do you really need. The answer to that depends on how much energy will your appliances use over a period of time.
The power consumption of appliances is generally given in Watts, e.g. an FL tube light consumes around 40 Watts power (this information can be found on the data sticker that most electrical items have). To calculate the energy you will use over time, just multiply the power consumption by the hours of intended use. The 40W tube light in this example, on for 4 hours, will take 40×4=160 Watthour (Wh), further if you have 2 such lights required to run for 4 and 3 hours respectively, the total energy consumption will be
(40×4 = 160) + (40×3 = 120) = 280Wh
Repeat this for all the appliances you wish to use, and then add the results to establish total energy consumption.
Let’s say that your electricity consumption is of 1500Wh. It is recommended that the size of your solar array should be at least 35% of daily energy consumption, preferably 40%. In this case, you should go for a solar panel of 1500×40%= 600Wp.
If you still don’t get it, Don’t Worry! Check out this article: Number Of Solar Panels, Battery Bank & Inverter Load You Need For Your Home. In this article, we have explained it in detail.
What size of solar inverter/PCU should I choose?
Solar PCU is a standalone unit that serves as an inverter and has an inbuilt solar charge controller. It is recommended that the size of the inverter in the off-grid installation should be at least 40% more than the total power of solar panels. So if you are installing solar panels of 600Wp, then your solar inverter should be 1.5kva.
How to Calculate the Size and Capacity of Battery?
You need batteries to store the extra solar energy you generate which can be used later (in the absence of the Sun). The size of the battery depends on the energy usage during backup time that you would draw from the batteries. Battery capacity should be at least 160% of the energy consumption. Let’s say that your total load is 1500Wh.
So you need a minimum of 1500×160% = 2400 Wh capacity. Means 12V/200Ah or 24V/100Ah battery.
It is advised to select the capacity of the battery approximately 1.25 times the above calculation for reliable operation.
In the above-mentioned example, you can use 2nos. 12V/120Ah batteries.
What if I chose a grid-tie/on-grid solar system?
If you want a grid-tie solar system then the capacity of the grid-tie system shall not be more than your average AC load. So if your average electricity requirement is 2000watts, you would go for a grid-tie inverter of 2000watts. 2kW capacity solar array and solar grid-tie inverter can be used for this application.
How much rooftop space do I need for solar?
Most of the solar panels are installed on the rooftop. However, in some cases, they can also be mounted on the ground. You would need a shadow-free area of approx 12sqmtr to accommodate 1kWp solar panels. Please make sure that the area gets maximum sunlight. Your solar installer will select the best angle for solar panels.
For how long will I be able to run my connected appliance on solar? How much electricity will it generate?
An off-grid 1KWp solar system can provide an average of 4 units (AC energy) of electricity per day. While a grid-tie system can provide an average of 5 units per day.
How do I calculate solar savings?
Most of the time, the number 1 reason for installing solar at home in India is to save money – fair enough. Going solar really helps people who usually get very high electricity bills because they get to make their own electricity for free. Let’s say that you have a 5kW system, then it will generate 20 units of electricity per day – 600 per month – 7200 per year. If 1 unit of electricity costs Rs. 9 then it would cost Rs. 64,800. You would make Rs. 64,800 worth of electricity through solar – this is your savings.
Can I get the subsidy from the Govt if I install solar?
Yes, some states in India do have subsidy schemes and some offer to buy the extra solar electricity that you make (through grid-tie systems). You can check more details about solar subsidy on the official website of MNRE of India. However, in reality, very few people are able to avail of subsidy because it requires too much paperwork and too much time. Our advice would be to forget about subsidies and select a solar system that gives you a good ROI. We have seen that some people recover the cost of installation in just 5 years!
You can check out our article on Solar Panel Subsidy in India.
After I install the solar system do I need to worry about maintenance and service?
Solar panels are quite rough and tough and come with a warranty of 25 years. However, with time the solar power system (panels, inverter and battery) may get some technical problems. So it is very important that you buy your solar system from a reputed brand who offers good service as well. We discourage you from buying cheap Chinese solar products because they are very unreliable. When you are installing solar, think of it as an investment. A good investment will bring great returns. Always go with a reliable brand.
I hope you liked our list of most asked solar FAQs in India. If you have any other questions regarding solar, ask in the comments and we would love to add it to the list with the answer.
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