CHOOSING THE RIGHT SOLAR POWER CAPACITY: THE KEY TO ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

   Are rising electricity prices and heavy operating costs weighing on your business? Is your monthly electricity bill consuming a significant portion of your household budget? Solar power is emerging as a smart solution, offering the opportunity to significantly reduce production costs while also contributing to environmental protection. Whether you are a business owner seeking sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions, or a household wanting more control over your electricity supply, choosing the right solar power capacity is a crucial step. This article will provide essential information about solar power capacity, helping businesses and households easily determine the optimal size of their solar power system for their usage needs.

The practical benefits of solar power and the power capacity.

   Solar power offers many clear advantages, including harnessing the abundant renewable energy from sunlight, reducing monthly electricity costs, and contributing to national sustainable energy development goals. However, choosing the correct solar power capacity is a key factor in ensuring investment efficiency. A system with insufficient capacity will not meet electricity usage needs, while a system with excess capacity can lead to wasted initial investment costs

Solar power system at Danh Tea & Coffee – Business solar project

Factors to Consider When Choosing Solar Power Capacity

To determine the appropriate solar power system capacity, you need to carefully consider the following factors. These factors also affect the investment cost of your solar power system.

1. Average Monthly Electricity Consumption: This is the first and most important step. Refer to your electricity bills for at least the last six months to calculate your average monthly electricity consumption (in kWh). This will serve as the basis for estimating the required system capacity.

Some electricity price examples for different models:

• Business and factory electricity tariff: see more
• Residential electricity tariff
• Business electricity tariff – specifically for buildings used for business operations
• Regarding residential electricity, if the average monthly electricity bill in a household is 1,278,800 VND with an electricity price of 3,197 VND/kWh, the average electricity consumption is 400 kWh.

Regarding commercial electricity, different electricity prices will apply based on the voltage used and the electricity consumption time slots of the business, as per the mentioned tariff. To calculate the total cost, businesses need to determine the electricity cost incurred in each time slot, then add these amounts together and include an additional 8% value-added tax. The final amount is the electricity bill that the business needs to pay.

The electricity cost incurred during daytime peak hours = (electricity selling price based on voltage level during peak hours * consumption in peak hours).

Similar calculations apply to nighttime peak electricity and daytime/nighttime electricity in other time periods.

Commercial Electricity Price List (SMEs)

The same calculation method is used for nighttime peak electricity and daytime/nighttime electricity during other hours.

Commercial Electricity Price List (SMEs)

2. Available Roof Area: The roof area will limit the number of solar panels that can be installed. Typically, to achieve a peak capacity of 1 kWp (kilowatt peak), about 5-7 square meters of roof area are needed. For example, a roof with a total area of 30 square meters allows for the installation of a system with a maximum capacity of approximately 4 to 6 kWp.

The roof area will affect the number of solar panels installed and the system’s capacity

3. Planned Investment Budget: The cost of installing a solar power system depends on many factors, with capacity being the main one. A system with a larger capacity will require a higher initial investment. Determining an affordable budget is necessary to choose the appropriate system capacity.

4. Future Electricity Demand: Do you plan to expand your electricity usage in the future (for example, buying more electrical appliances)? If so, consider installing a system with a larger capacity than your current needs to ensure adequate supply.

5. Desired Level of Energy Independence: What percentage of your electricity needs do you expect the solar power system to meet? To achieve a higher level of energy independence, a larger capacity system needs to be installed.

6. Other Factors:

• Geographic location: Areas with more sunshine hours will generate more electricity with the same system capacity.
• Roof orientation and tilt: A south-facing roof with the appropriate tilt will absorb the maximum amount of solar radiation.
• Government support policies: Research incentives for solar power installation to optimize investment costs. (Source for further information: Government Newspaper)

Recommended Solar Power Capacity (for reference)

There is no one-size-fits-all formula for the appropriate capacity. However, you can refer to the following suggestions:

• Small households (consuming under 300 kWh/month): A system with a capacity of 3-5 kWp can meet most daily electricity needs.
• Medium households (consuming 300-500 kWh/month): A system with a capacity of 5-8 kWp is a suitable option.
• Large households (consuming over 500 kWh/month): Consider a system with a capacity of 8 kWp or more.
• Small businesses: Depending on electricity consumption, a system from 10 kWp to several tens of kWp can be chosen.
• Large businesses, factories: A detailed survey and calculation are needed to determine the appropriate capacity for production and business operations.

illustrative Example:

Consider a family with an average electricity consumption of 400 kWh/month. With an average effective sunshine hour in Ho Chi Minh City of about 4-5 hours per day, the estimated system capacity is: (400 kWh) / (4 hours/day * 30 days) ≈ 3.33 kWp. However, to ensure operational efficiency and provide a buffer for days with less sunlight, installing a system with a capacity of 4-5 kWp may be an optimal choice.

ONENERGY’s hybrid solar power system combo illustrative

Expert Advice:

To receive the most accurate consultation on the solar power system capacity suitable for specific customer needs, it is recommended to contact professional and reputable units in the field of solar power installation. They will conduct an on-site survey, analyze electricity consumption needs, and provide the most optimal solution, helping you confidently and effectively utilize this clean and economical energy source.

ONENERGY – A reputable solar power system consulting and installation company in Vietnam

ONENERGY provides free consultation and survey services, accompanying customers from the initial understanding phase to the completion of the solar power project. With 10 years of experience in the solar energy field, we are confident in providing optimal solutions, ensuring smooth and safe system operation, and bringing absolute peace of mind. In addition, we also provide green certificates, affirming our commitment to environmental protection for completed projects.

Contact us for immediate consultation here:

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