I'm living off the grid and have just ordered 16 LiFePO4 cells (3.2V, 150Ah each) along with a BMS and a 4kW inverter. My electricity consumption is around 1.2 kWh during the day and 0.45 kWh at night. I'm trying to determine how many solar panels I would need to fully charge my batteries and meet my daily energy needs. Any advice on the calculations or factors I should consider?
1 Answer
To nail down how many panels you need, first, consider your location! Since you mentioned you live in the Middle East, you’re likely to get plenty of sunshine, which is a big plus. With your daily load around 2 kWh, it seems like you’ve got enough battery capacity to handle a few cloudy days. Just remember, not all inverters are equally efficient, so check your Growatt inverter's specs. Also, since you'd be running all year long, you might want to account for those longer winter nights and adjust for any increased usage during that time. Long story short, do some calculations based on your exact sunlight hours—typically, it's 5 to 7 hours of peak sunlight daily in your area. Doing this will help in estimating the number of solar panels you'll need. If you’re planning on maximizing efficiency, oversize your panel inputs a bit too! Good luck!
Hey there! Just a heads up, don't forget to consider seasonal changes. Those longer winter months will really affect how much energy you can produce, so maybe grab a few extra panels to be safe!