How much does a 10kw solar system produce?
With the right weather and enough sunlight, at a given moment, a 10kW solar system is capable of producing 10 kilowatts, which is a substantial amount of power. However, what you pay for at the end of the month, and what really matters, is not Power (kW), but your energy consumption/production (kWh).
While the power rating of a solar system (10kW in this case) describes the rate at which the solar system can potentially generate energy, what matters most is how much energy does this system produce at the end of the day.
Therefore, the question that should be asked is not “how much power does a 10kW solar system produce?”, but rather “how much energy does a 10kW solar system produce?”.
The answer to this question is not universal and depends on many factors, but generally, it depends on your location.
In this article, I will show you how to determine the amount of energy that a 10kW solar system is expected to produce in your location. After that, I will answer a couple of questions related to the topic.
How much energy does a 10kW solar system produce?
The amount of energy that a solar system produces, does not only depend on its power rating (kW) but on the amount of sunlight that it receives.
However, as a rule of thumb, a 10kW solar system would – on average – generate 40 to 55 kWh (kiloWatt-hours) of energy per day. This translates to between 1200 and 1700 kWh of monthly energy production.
This daily (and monthly) energy production will fluctuate depending on things like weather conditions and seasons. However, the average daily and monthly energy production of a 10 kW solar system can be determined, and will mainly depend on your location.
To best and easiest way to get an estimate, is to use the PVWatts Calculator by The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The calculator is free to use, and all you need is an address:
This tool uses data from geostationary satellites (provided by NSRDB) to quantify sunlight, and therefore predict the amount of energy that a solar system is expected to produce based on a few variables that describe the solar system.
- DC System Size (kW): This describes the power rating of your solar system (10kW in this case)
- Tilt (deg): This describes the tilt angle of the roof section you are (or will be) using for solar. Or the tilt angle which you’ve chosen for your solar panels in case it’s a ground-mounted system (open rack).
- Azimuth: This describes the direction that your solar panels are facing. For example, if the solar panels are facing south, the Azimuth is 180 degrees.
Once you’ve submitted your address, go to the System Info section of the calculator, and make sure to submit the correct details:
In the DC System Size (kW) field, make sure to submit 10.
In the Tilt (deg) field, submit the tilt angle of the solar panels. If it’s a roof mount and you know the roof pitch of the roof section used for the solar panels, you can click the information “i” icon to see the equivalent of the roof pitch in degrees. For example, a 5/12 roof pitch is equivalent to a 22.6 tilt angle.
If it’s an open rack system or you just don’t know the roof pitch, you can use a smartphone app such as Measure for iOS or Bubble Level for Android to determine the tilt angle.
Next to the Azimuth (deg) field, click on the “i” icon to see the equivalent of the heading in degrees. For example, if the solar panels are facing South-West, the Azimuth is 225 degrees. If you don’t know the direction that the roof section is facing, you can use a compass app such as Commander Compass Go for iOS or Azimuth Compass for Android.
Once you’ve submitted the correct details you can go to the Results section of the calculator to see the results.
- Address: an address in Phoenix, Arizona.
- DC System Size: 10kW.
- Tilt: I’ll assume the system is roof-mounted with a 6/12 roof pitch, which is equivalent to a tilt angle of 26.6 degrees.
- Azimuth: I’ll assume that the only unshaded roof section available is facing South-West, this equates to an Azimuth of 225 degrees.
In the Results tab, the calculator provided the following table:
According to the PVWatts calculator, a system of this size, description, and in this location, would produce 16220 kWh of energy per year. This amount of energy equates to about 45 kWh/day or 1350 kWh/month.
It’s also important to note that these results are based on the assumption that the overall system losses add up to 14% (86% system efficiency).
How many solar panels do you need for a 10kW solar system?
A 10kW solar system would consist of anywhere between 25 and 40 residential solar panels. The exact number of solar panels needed for a 10kW solar system will depend on the power rating (wattage) of each solar panel, which can be from 250 to 400 watts.
For example, a 10kW solar system that’s made up of 330W solar panels would consist of 30 of these solar panels.
Important statistics and working of a 10 kW solar system for home
Before jumping over the specifications and other details such as the 10 kW solar plant cost, you must equip yourself with the knowledge of how a 10kW solar system works. And to put it out simply, it works very much the same way that other solar systems do.
- – Solar panels receive sunlight.
- – The photovoltaic cells embedded in these panels trap the solar energy.
- – It stimulates and moves electrons through an electric field produced within the solar cell.
- – It causes the electrons to flow which leads to the generation of electric power.
Analysing statistically, a 10kW solar system generates around:
- – 40 units of electricity each day
- – 2200 units of electricity each month
- – 14,400 units of electricity every year
Comparing this with your daily power requirements, you can determine whether or not this system is suitable for your home.
Price List of 10kW Solar Panels in India
There are a multitude of factors that affect the 10 kW solar plant cost. The pricing varies with the key factors associated, such as brand, model, type of cells, availability, location, etc.
Notably, in India, the 10kW solar system price range is between INR 4,50,000 to INR 7,00,000
Some major specifications affecting the price aspect are:
- – Types of solar cells: If you opt to buy solar panels composed of monocrystalline cells, the 10 kilowatt solar panel price will be higher, as these have higher efficiency of about 19 to 20%. Comparatively, polycrystalline solar panels have a lesser efficiency of around 16-17%, so they are cheaper.
- – Solar panel manufacturers: A 10 kW solar plant cost also varies according to the brands. Some notable brands in the market include luminous solar, Tata solar, Waree, and more.
Other factors influencing the 10 kW solar plant cost include the installation company selected, the add-on services, mounting structures, etc.
Types of a 10kW Solar System
After gaining insights on 10 kW solar plant cost, let us move ahead and discuss the types of 10kW solar systems. There are three types, namely on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid.
#1. 10 kW On-Grid Solar System
The 10 kW on grid solar system, also called a grid-tied system, is a system connected to the power grid.
It facilitates the functioning of all your electric devices by meeting your load requirements and passes the surplus power it generates to the grid.
#2. 10kW Off Grid Solar System
The 10kW off grid solar system is specifically an independent solar system that works with batteries. The batteries store surplus electricity that the panels produce during the daytime. And the power from the batteries is used at night.
#3. 10kW Hybrid Solar System
The 10kW hybrid solar system is a modern solar system that offers the functionality of both on-grid and off-grid solar systems. These work with batteries and are also tied to the power grid.
Remarkably, these solar systems embrace three sources to meet your load requirements: power supply via the system, solar battery, and government power grid.
How Much Will a 10kW Solar System Save You?
Over their 25-year lifespan, 10kW solar systems can save you over 100,000 when taking inflation into account. This saving is a combination of exporting electricity to the grid and using the power in the home. On a yearly basis, a 10kW solar system will save you 3,220.33 when first installed.
As the demand for solar panels increases, their cost pricing becomes more competitive. In January 2018, the mean solar cost was 3 per watt. Since then, it’s decreased to around
What is the Payback Period for a 10kW Solar System?
Most Australians can expect to make a complete return on 1 kW solar systems in 3.35 years if they consume 50% of the energy they produce.
The payback time is how long it takes to equalise total investment for the system’s installment and electricity bill savings.
In some major cities, 10kW solar systems can deliver around 35 – 44kWh of electricity. This makes 10kW solar systems ideal for people who have electricity bills higher than 450,000 per quarter. This can save you more than 4,000 per annum. Homeowners stand to save up to 22 to 30 cents perkWh.
Below is a table that shows the average payback time for homeowners in each major city to break even on their solar installation cost:
You can expect 10kW solar systems to last 25 – 30 years if installed correctly. After that, the efficiency of the solar battery starts lowering.
The power degradation rate of a 10kW solar system with battery storage is approximately 0.8% per year.
Do solar panels degrade over time? The panels become inefficient at producing electricity over time, and their solar system output also decreases.
The degradation process can take up to 30 years to take effect on any high-quality solar system.
Known as LetID (Light Elevated Temperature Degradation), this phenomenon is caused by sunlight.
For premium quality panels, the degradation rate is 0.3% per year. Solar system durability can be enhanced by taking care of individual components.
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How Much Power Does a 10kW Solar System Produce?
With a 10kW system, you can expect to produce around 35 – 44kWh of electricity every day.
A 10kW solar system can generate 11,000kW to 15,000kW of electricity yearly.
This production capacity varies with different regions, seasons, and climates. For example, a 10kW system will produce less power in winter compared to the summer. Knowing your seasonal usage can help you understand whether a 10kW system would work for you in colder months.
Below, you can find the 10kW energy production in major cities in Australia:
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Will a 10kW Solar System Power Your Home?
A 10kW system can meet the present and future needs of any household with a power bill of around 450,000 per quarter. This is usually sufficient to power a four-person family home that is 185 m 2 in area.
A 10kW while larger than most systems, is actually better suited for the modern family. You may later switch to an electric car or convert to an all-electric house as the government creates more initiatives to hit climate objectives in the near future.
It makes practical sense for homeowners wanting to replace gas-powered appliances with electric counterparts.
Can I Install a Battery with a 10kW Solar System?
Absolutely! You can most certainly add a battery to your 10kW system. Battery storage allows you to use electricity you have stored in low iridescence conditions.
This means you can utilise your system even at night. As a result, you can be independent of grid-supplied power at nighttime.
Solar systems with battery storage also earn their keep during calamities. Having a sustainable source of power production and storage is invaluable during natural disasters like hurricanes, where grid power can take days to recover from.
Contact certified installers right now to have your 10kW solar battery installed! They’ll inform you about the legalities of owning a 10kW solar system with battery storage, including:
Within 10 days of installation, a team of State electrical authorities inspects the energy usage. Before that, the installer must send a certificate to the State Authority.
For meter upgrades, the accredited solar installer will notify the electricity retailer. The retailer will send a distributor to upgrade the electric meter. The entire process takes around three weeks.
After the whole process is complete, the solar system will start working. That’s when your real saving begins!
Should I Consider a Larger or Smaller System?
This depends on your long-term plan for converting to solar.
Larger systems can help power your entire household and car and even export surplus electricity to the grid. However, they are more expensive and thus require a greater initial investment.
A smaller system may not be able to meet your self-consumption needs, but they are usually more affordable and don’t require substantial start-up capital.
However, larger systems have become more popular with users in recent years. This is due to:
- The cost of the larger systems dropped significantly on a yearly basis.
- Energy production is superior to smaller systems.
If your house has a reverse cycle air conditioning system, home automation, and a quarterly electricity bill of 800, a 10kW solar system is an excellent choice.
What other systems are there?
There are a number of system sizes to choose from including:
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Get Started!
Interested in getting solar for your home? By clicking below you can use our Smart solar calculator to find out just how much you could save with solar, what incentives you’re eligible for, and the positive impact you can have on the environment.
Don’t wait until next quarter’s bloated bill, and get started today!
Join over 20,000 homeowners who have made the switch with Instyle Solar, or the 1000 positive reviewers who have been more than happy with their solar install.
Otherwise, you can always contact us on 1300 133 556, or email us at sales@instylesolar.com.au.
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These numbers are based on figures reported when this table was created. Average costs may have changed. SolarVic offers up to 1500 off the cost of solar.
Talk to a solar installer and get a free quote on the price; they offer excellent services to all potential clients.
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Owning a solar battery can help you even further by allowing you prominent daytime usage and excess electricity for when the sun goes down.
Backup Power Calculation
As we mentioned, calculating your battery needs can be tricky. Here’s another simple formula you might find helpful:
Total solar power generation / the voltage of the battery = the battery amps you require.
Let’s put that into practice. If your solar power system generates 40 kW of electricity in a day, that’s 40,000 Watts. Divide this by the voltage of the battery you have on hand, or the brand you’d like to buy.
The most practical battery for solar power systems is a 48V battery, so we’ll use that as an example. Here’s how to calculate the battery capacity for your solar system.
The calculation looks like this:
You’d then need a 48V battery with 833.3 amps, or a combination of batteries that make up that voltage. For example, if your 48V battery is only 300 amps, you’d need three of those. If your battery is only 200 amps, you’d need four of those.
Battery Capacity and Discharge Rate
It’s important to understand that batteries weren’t made to be continuously depleted. This affects their lifespan. Adding batteries to your existing solar power system is a great investment, but it’s important to understand how batteries work before doing so.
Battery discharge refers to the process of your battery losing—discharging—energy over time. Most people don’t know that batteries are discharging voltage whenever they are not being charged; not only when you’re using them to power various items.
If you use all the energy in your batteries, you’ll fully discharge them. They should never be fully discharged. in fact, the only batteries that can be fully discharged are lithium-ion batteries. This is the type of battery that powers your smartphone.
As a general rule, you should never use your batteries beyond half of their capacity. This affects how well they can store power, and if you continuously allow it to get to this point, you’ll eventually need to double your battery capacity to be able to store the power generated by your solar system.
If you consistently consume less than what your solar system generates, it’s possible to use the system without batteries at all. It’s best to only buy the batteries when you need them.
How Much Power Does a 10 KW Solar System Produce?
The amount of power produced by your solar system depends entirely on how much sun it gets during the day. If we work on the assumption that it gets around 5 hours of sunlight per day, it should produce 30 to 40 kW of power per day. This equates to around 1,000 kW per month.
Is My 10 kW Solar System Enough to Power My House?
The typical American home has a usage of around 900 kW per month. A 10 kW system should be enough then, considering it creates around 1,000 kW of electricity per month.
In some states, your solar system might not generate as much electricity simply because that state doesn’t get as much sunshine.
There are some points you can consider before investing in a 10 kW solar power system. Here they are:
- Check your monthly energy consumption on your monthly bill, and average it out over a 12-month period.
- Check how many hours of sun you can realistically expect in your area.
- Compare a few 10 kW solar power kits. you can browse our high-quality, well-priced kits on our website.
- Calculate the number of batteries you’ll need to store the energy generated by your kit. Many people forget this last step, and can’t store energy for rainy days.
If you feel you have very specific needs that a generic solar power kit can’t meet, you’re welcome to contact us for a custom solar kit. Our goal is always to equip you at best as possible so that you can access sustainable and affordable power.
One of our top tips is that the size of your house has no bearing on how much power you consume. What matters is the number of appliances you need to run.
So a small house with a lot of appliances will likely have the same energy usage as a large house with only a few appliances in it. This is why we suggest taking a look at your average power consumption over a 12-month period before deciding how much solar to invest in.
How Much Does a 10 kW Solar System Cost?
10 kW Solar system kits can cost anything up to 35,000. but don’t worry, ours cost around 20,000.
We have convenient kits available for you. These take into account everything you need so that you can make one purchase. The bonus here is that you don’t have to go through the labor of sourcing and comparing for each item in the kit, and you can rest assured that ours are priced competitively.
Solar power kits contain the following:
- A number of solar panels
- Hardware for racking and mountain your panels
- A system monitor, that you can monitor the energy produced by your system
- An inverter.
Batteries aren’t generally part of stock-standard kits, because there are so many options for you to choose from. We can include batteries in a custom kit for you, or you can choose one of our deep cycle solar batteries.
What Is a Deep Cycle Solar Battery?
Deep cycle solar batteries are one of the most important purchases you’re going to make when going off-grid.
We’re not going to go into too much technical detail; we know you don’t have all day here. Our goal is to make the transition to solar less painful for you.
Basically, deep cycle batteries allow you to store clean energy more effectively. You can run them a little lower more often, so you don’t spend too much time worrying about depleting your batteries and having to replace them.
They make your solar system accessible after the sun’s gone down, as they allow you to store this power. This is why you should get a battery for your solar system.
These batteries are slightly pricier, but we think this cost to add backup power to your solar system is worth it. After all, you won’t be sitting around waiting for your batteries to suddenly stop working, and having to replace them.
Some of the best deep cycle batteries come with a 3,500 battery cycle guarantee, meaning you can deplete the battery that many times. There are also numerous plug-and-play batteries, and we love these.
They take the complexity out of solar systems and make them accessible to everyone. A great example of this is the Lion Energy Safari UT 1300 battery, which you can access on our store. This is one of the best deep cycle batteries for your solar system.
How long will a 10kW PV system last?
A 10kW solar system typically has a lifespan of up to 30 years. With proper maintenance, solar panels, inverters, and other system components can outlast their warranty periods.
To ensure the longevity of your solar PV system, it is recommended to conduct comprehensive maintenance checks at least twice a year. Regular tasks such as cleaning the solar panels, inspecting AC and DC cables, and monitoring the inverter should be performed to help extend the system’s lifespan.
How long is the payback period for a 10kW solar system?
The payback period for a 10kW solar system typically ranges from 5 to 8 years. However, this duration is contingent upon factors such as the initial cost of the system and the kilowatt-hour (kWh) rate provided by the electric utility.
Other considerations that may impact the payback period include net metering, feed-in tariff arrangements with the local utility, and the level of system maintenance. Once the payback period is reached, the energy generated by the system becomes essentially free, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy without additional costs.
Conclusion
In this article, we have presented an example of a 10kW-peak solar PV system, providing actual data on its kilowatt-hour yield in a year.
Using this information, you can calculate the potential savings on your electricity bills based on the kWh tariff set by your utility. We have also provided a breakdown of the system cost, serving as a guide for the materials required to build the system.
Now that you have an understanding of the cost of a solar PV system, particularly for a 10kW capacity, the decision to invest in solar energy is in your hands. Consider your budget and make an informed choice on whether to pursue solar energy now or at a later time.