How to Estimate Daily Energy Consumption?

A typical household in the UK or similar regions uses:

• Without air conditioning: ~8–12 kWh/day
• With air conditioning: 20–40 kWh/day (depending on size, usage, and efficiency)

Example Breakdown (daily use):

Appliance	Estimated Daily Use	Energy (kWh/day)
Refrigerator (24/7)	24 hrs	1.5
Lighting	4–6 hrs	0.5
TV, electronics	4 hrs	0.5
Washing machine	1 load	1.0
Microwave, kitchen use	–	1.0
Air Conditioner (1 unit)	6 hrs (avg)	6.0
Total (approx)		10–30 kWh

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2. Battery Storage Needed

To run the house fully off-grid for 1 day, you need battery capacity for the total estimated daily usage.

• Minimum: 10 kWh battery (low usage, no A/C)
• Typical: 20–30 kWh battery (moderate home with A/C)

Example Battery Setup:

• 2 x 10 kWh lithium batteries = 20 kWh
• Or 3 x 10 kWh batteries for more comfort

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3. Solar Panel Capacity Needed

Assume you get 4–5 peak sun hours per day (varies by location). To recharge your battery for daily use:

• Daily energy need: 20 kWh
• Daily generation target: 20–25 kWh
• Panel efficiency: about 80% overall

Solar system size needed:

• 20 kWh ÷ 4.5 sun hours = ~4.5–5.5 kW of solar panels
• Add ~10–20% buffer = 5.5–6.5 kW solar system

That’s about 15–18 solar panels (each ~370W–450W)

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4. Can You Run Air Conditioners on Solar + Battery?

Yes, but consider:

• A/Cs are high-demand devices
• A 1-ton split A/C uses ~1.5 kW per hour
• Running it 6 hours/day = ~9 kWh
• You need enough solar and battery to support that usage

Tips:

• Use inverter A/Cs (energy-efficient)
• Program usage during peak solar hours
• Ensure your inverter size is at least 5 kW or more

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Summary (Typical Setup for One House with A/C):

Component	Suggested Specification
Daily Energy Need	20–30 kWh
Solar Panel Size	5.5–6.5 kW (15–18 panels)
Battery Storage	20–30 kWh (2–3 lithium batteries)
Inverter	5–6 kW hybrid inverter
A/C Support	Yes, if designed with enough buffer

How to Calculate Your Solar Power Needs

If you’re not sure how much electricity your home uses, the easiest way is to check your electricity bill.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Find “Total Usage” on Your Bill
   • Look for a section that shows kWh used — it may be listed as:
     • “Electricity consumption”
     • “Total usage (kWh)”
     • Or “Energy used this month”
2. Check the Billing Period
   • Most bills cover 30 days. If it’s for a different number of days (e.g. 28 or 35), divide the total usage by the number of days to get daily usage.
3. Calculate Your Daily Average
   • Example:
     • Monthly usage: 600 kWh
     • Divide by 30 days = 20 kWh/day

Note: kWh stands for kilowatt-hour, and it’s a unit of energy — specifically, it measures how much electricity you use over time.

Breakdown:

• kW (kilowatt) = 1,000 watts (a measure of power)
• kWh (kilowatt-hour) = the amount of energy used if a 1 kW device runs for 1 hour

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Example:

A 2 kW air conditioner running for 3 hours = 6 kWh

A 1000W (1 kW) electric heater used for 1 hour = 1 kWh

A 500W fridge running for 2 hours = 0.5 kW × 2 hrs = 1 kWh