8kW Solar Systems: Compare outputs, installers and returns
8kW Solar Systems: Compare outputs, installers and returns
Rooftop solar power has taken Australia by storm, with more than 10% of suitable rooftops now decked out with solar panels across the country. Different sizes of solar PV systems have proliferated depending on which incentives & what prices were available at the time of installation, as well as on the electricity needs of the home or business in question.
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Generally speaking, 15 kilowatts (kW) is the upper limit for residential solar systems in Australia because a system of this size will produce sufficient electricity to meet a homes daytime electricity needs. An 8kW solar systemjust between the 15kW upper limit and extremely popular 6.6kW solar systemswould be ideally suited for a home with slightly higher electricity demand than average.
How many solar panels and roof space do you need for a 8kW solar system?
These days solar panels usually come in rated somewhere between 330 watt (W) to 400W. That means for 8kW solar system (or 8,000 watts) you will require 20-24 solar panels. This number has reduced a lot over the last decade as the efficiency of solar panels has improved.
Each panel generally measures out to 1.7m2. You also need to take into consideration the space required between the panels for maintenance and access, along with exclusion zones near the edges and ridges of the roof. For a typical 8kW system you will require 45 60m2 of roof space.
How much does an 8kW solar system cost?
Fortunately in Australia there is a federal rebate (called the STC rebate) which covers around 30-35% of the upfront costs of installing solar, mean we have some of the cheapest prices for solar anywhere in the world.
Every month Solar Choice publishes solar system prices from across Australia based on raw pricing data from our installer network into the Solar Choice Price Index. Based on this data from March , we can see that on average an 8kW solar system would cost $7,737 in Australia after the STC rebate has been deducted and including GST. The below table breaks down the costs for a 8kW system by state and calculates the cost per watt:
In the below graph you can see that the price of solar has fallen significantly over the last decade but is starting increase with the rising costs of solar panels and the reduction in the STC rebate.
How much energy will a 8kW solar system produce?
As with any solar PV system, actual power output for an 8kW system will depend on a number of variables.
- Location and climate
- Tilt & orientation of the solar panels
- Presence or absence of shading
- How hot the solar panels get (overheating can reduce power output, while cooler conditions are generally more favourable)
- The quality and sizing of the systems inverter(s)
- The performance of these and other components in the system
Perhaps the most basic factor included in the list above is the amount of sunlight that is available in a given region. The metric used by the solar industry to measure solar potential is Peak Sun Hours (PSH). A Peak Sun Hour is the equivalent of one hour of full sunlight. As the sun moves through the sky, the strength of the rays it casts on a particular location varies. Most places experience peak sun around noon or 1pm, while sunshine is weaker in the late afternoon and early morning.
The good news is that we have worked this out for you. See the below table which breaks down the output in all the major cities in Australia:
Assumptions
- kWh figures worked out using PVWatts and historical sunlight data from the Bureau of Meteorology
- The systems efficiency is conservatively estimated to be 75% for the whole system
- For this exercise, we have assumed the panels are north-facing with a tilt of 30 degrees
8kW solar systems: Payback & Returns
Like solar system output, payback periods and returns on investment for a solar system of any size are dependent on a number of factors. The main things that make solar power such an excellent investment in Australia are the relatively low cost of having a system installed and the high cost of electricity.
Meanwhile, state-based solar feed-in tariffs, which were once the primary incentive mechanism for going solar, have been reduced and relegated to a less important reason for going solar. Feed-in tariffs are now either voluntary or minimal in most of Australiameaning that an electricity retailer is not required to pay solar homes and businesses anything for their excess power. Understanding the implications of this is key to getting the most out of a system.
Focus on solar self-consumption of solar power is now the rule
If you own a solar system, you will want to consume as much of the power it produced as possible because this will save you the greatest amount of money on your power bill. The rates for electricity purchased from retailers (anywhere from 18¢-27¢ or more depending on the location, retailer, and tariff in question) are significantly higher than the feed in tariffs offered by the same retailers for excess solar power.
We have put together an overview of some typical scenarios for consumers considering an 8kW solar system. Please take note we have assumed the energy usage is 35 kWh per day on average which is higher than the average in Australia.
Assumptions:
Suggested reading:Comprehensive Guide to Installing Solar Panels on a Roof
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- We have assumed the household average daily energy usage is 35 kWh per day (higher than average energy usage)
- The prices are based on the latest Solar Choice Price Index
- Self-consumption rates of 30% (low) and 60% (very high) have been selected as examples only and as you can see are very important to the financial outcome
Is an 8 kW solar panel system right for you?
With the advancement of technology, more and more electrical appliances are starting to make their way into peoples lives. At the same time, electricity bills continue to grow and some people are tired of the rising electricity bills and decide to power themselves using their own methods. They decided to install solar power systems and the 8kw solar power systems are becoming popular among more and more people. People are installing solar power systems of this size to power themselves.
We all have different geographical locations and energy needs, so is an 8kw solar power system right for us? Read the following to help you out.
Cost of an 8kw solar power system
In fact, the cost price of installing an 8kw solar power system (including solar battery) is between $4,000 and $5,000. If you dont include the solar battery, the cost price is between $2,000 and $3,000. This price does not include shipping and customs. If you add shipping and duties, the price could be several times higher.
This price may be more than you expected, but dont worry, the world is supportive of installing solar power systems, and governments around the world have policies in place to encourage the installation of solar power systems.
In the United States there are incentives such as federal solar tax credits, and there are incentives in other regions as well. With the help of these policies, the cost will drop by about 30%.
Of course if you just cant afford this, you can apply for a solar loan. Due to the interest rates as well as dealer fees, you will have to pay more money for a solar power system through a loan than if you buy it in cash.
How many solar panels do you need for an 8kw solar power system and the footprint?
How many solar panels you need for an 8kw solar power system depends on the power of the solar panels. The common solar panels used nowadays are between 300w and 700w. If a 400w solar panel is used, then 20 pieces will be needed. If 300w solar panels are used, then 28 solar panels will be required
To install a solar power system, its footprint is also an important factor to consider. Solar panels mounted on a sloping roof have a smaller footprint than those mounted on a horizontal roof or on the ground when the total power is comparable.
A solar panel mounted on a tilted roof requires approximately 38 square meters of floor space, while a solar panel mounted on a horizontal roof or on the ground requires approximately 53 square meters of floor space.
Does an 8kw solar power system produce enough electricity to power a home?
An 8kw solar power system can produce between 800 kWh and kWh of electricity per month. The exact number only depends on the amount of light your roof can get each month. And big data shows that a normal household uses around 800 kWh of electricity per month, which means that as long as you dont have any very power-hungry non-domestic appliances in your home, then an 8kw solar power system is more than enough to power your home.
How long does it take to pay back the cost of installing an 8kw solar power system?
Normally, the amount of money you can earn each month from a solar power system depends largely on the amount of electricity you generate each month. Every 1 kWh of electricity you generate means 1 kWh less to pay for, and if you dont use up all the electricity you generate each month, you can also store the excess for the next month or sell it to the grid company.
You can get a good return in the above ways. According to the relevant data, it can be seen that it costs about $0.11 per kilowatt hour of electricity when you dont have a solar power system installed, and only about $0.04 per kilowatt hour of electricity when you have a solar power system installed. It will pay for itself in 5 years. Of course in areas where the weather is sunny, suitable for solar panels to work and where electricity is expensive, you can save even more on your electricity bill every month.
Can you try to install an 8kw solar power system yourself?
If you have learned about electricity on your own and the type of solar power system you are installing is an off-grid system, then you can try to install it on your own. But if you havent learned about electricity, youd better let a professional installer do the job for your safety.
If you are installing a solar power system that is grid-tied, there are some insignificant installations that you can take care of yourself. But if it is the work of integrating the solar power system into the grid, you must let a professional installer do the work, and the work of integrating into the grid needs a special license to be carried out. If you carry out the relevant work on your own, it is illegal.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that an 8kw solar power system is more than enough to power most homes. As long as you dont have a lot of high-power consuming appliances in your home and you live in a place that gets plenty of light, then installing this solar power system basically means that youre off the grid.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of import solar battery charger fan. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.