A private house offers more opportunities for installing a solar power plant than an apartment. A large roof area, the ability to independently choose the location and angle of panel placement, as well as the absence of the need to coordinate work with neighbors make such a solution attractive not only for energy autonomy but also for saving money, writes Finance.ua.
The most popular solution for private houses is hybrid solar power plants, which combine the capabilities of grid-connected and off-grid systems. Batteries with a capacity of 10–15 kWh can provide a house with electricity at night, and also help get through prolonged outages without using a gasoline or diesel generator.
Depending on the area of the house and the volume of consumption, several configuration options can be considered:
- A compact 5 kW solar power plant. It consists of approximately 10–12 panels with a capacity of 500–550 W each, a 5 kW hybrid inverter, and a LiFePO4 battery with a capacity of 5–10 kWh. The estimated turnkey cost is UAH 180–230 thousand. This option is suitable for small houses with an area of up to 100 sq. m with a basic set of household appliances and gas or solid-fuel heating.
- Standard 10 kW solar power plant. It involves the installation of approximately 18–20 panels, a 10 kW hybrid inverter, and a battery with a capacity of 10–15 kWh. The cost is approximately UAH 380–520 thousand. Such a system is suitable for houses with an area of 100–200 sq. m, where an electric boiler, air conditioners, pumps, and a well are used.
- A powerful 15 kW solar power plant. The package includes about 28–30 panels, a 15 kW inverter, and a battery with a capacity of 15–20 kWh. The cost starts at approximately UAH 420,000 and may exceed UAH 550,000. Such a station is advisable to install in large cottages with heat pumps, electric heating, or an electric vehicle charger.
The cost of equipment depends not only on its power but also on battery capacity, the manufacturer, and the complexity of installation. For example, each additional kWh of LiFePO4 battery capacity can increase the estimate by approximately UAH 8–14 thousand. A grid-tied station without batteries will cost less – roughly UAH 290–375 thousand for a capacity of 10 kW.
How much electricity solar panels generate during a year
In a private house, panels can usually be placed at an optimal angle of 30–35 degrees with a southern orientation. This makes it possible to use solar radiation more efficiently.
In summer, a 10 kW station can produce 45–65 kWh of electricity per day, or approximately 1,300–1,600 kWh per month. Such a volume can significantly exceed the current needs of a household, so the surplus can be stored or fed into the grid.
In winter, output decreases significantly – to 8–18 kWh per day and 200–350 kWh per month. This may be enough to cover part of household needs, however, for electric heating, as a rule, grid electricity will have to be used additionally.
How much can be saved and when a solar power plant will pay for itself
The publication examined the economic feasibility of installing a hybrid solar power plant with a capacity of 10 kW with a 10–15 kWh battery, the average cost of which is approximately UAH 430–450 thousand.
The owner of a private house can obtain economic benefit in two ways: by reducing the costs of purchasing electricity from the grid and by selling surplus from their own generation. The economic result also depends on the volume of electricity consumption by the household itself.
If we consider only the savings on one's own electricity consumption, without income from the sale of surplus, the payback period for the investment may increase to 8–11 years or more.
In addition, own generation makes it possible to reduce costs for alternative power sources during outages. According to the estimates provided, the cost of 1 kWh of electricity from a gasoline generator can be UAH 20–25. Instead, a solar station with batteries allows generating electricity without constant fuel costs.
Earlier UNIAN reported that solar panels can work throughout the year, however in winter their productivity significantly decreases. At the same time, even in the cold season a solar station is capable of providing part of a household's needs if the equipment is correctly selected and batteries are provided for.
It was also reported whether solar panels really need to be installed facing south. Yes, a study showed that under current electricity tariffs, another solution may prove more advantageous.