May 19 2022

Solar panels for home: the cost of the kit and the feasibility of installation

Alternative energy sources are actively capturing the consumer market. Ten years ago, most people did not imagine the possibility of acquiring such engineering developments as a wind farm or a solar-powered plant. Now it becomes possible. Solar panels for the home: the cost of the kit, installation and maintenance costs are a cost–effective solution today.

Solar panels are alternative sources of electricity

General characteristics and the possibility to buy solar panels for a private home

If we talk about solar panels in technical terms, we need to understand that we are talking about photovoltaic power supply systems (FSE). The main purpose of such devices is the conversion of sunlight energy into electrical energy based on the physical law of the photoelectric effect. The process of improving solar installations for electricity generation has been going on for about two hundred years. Currently, engineering has achieved significant results in the development of photovoltaic equipment, especially in terms of efficiency – from 1 to 46% (the share of converted solar energy).

Solar panels convert the energy of sunlight into electrical energy

The modern market of solar power supply systems can be considered sufficiently formed, since it allows you to make a choice of goods from a considerable number of offers, from a very large market segment. To answer the most frequently asked question, how much do solar panels cost for a private house, it is necessary to understand the technological and design features of the FSE. The structuring of the equipment offered by the market assumes three main categories of solar systems, based on their functional, design and technical features.

The first category of FSE includes autonomous systems that are not connected to the main power supply network. Such systems operate in their own network circuit for direct power supply of connected equipment. Maximum work efficiency is achieved by the presence of a storage device (rechargeable batteries) in the kit, which allows the use of accumulated electricity in the event of a drop in the intensity of sunlight (i.e., reduced power output) and in the case of moments when the power consumption exceeds the power generated.

Also, an installed set of solar panels for a home can be considered autonomous, used directly by load sources without battery cells.

The second category includes open FSES. In their configuration, these systems do not have batteries and are connected to the main power supply network through a special inverter. If the power consumption does not exceed the value generated, the main network is disconnected. Otherwise, the FSE is turned off and consumption is made from the main network. Such systems are very reliable, cheaper, but if there is no power supply from the main network, then the solar station does not work.

Autonomous FSE system with battery and photovoltaic inverter

The third category is represented by combined FSE. They are a combined format of the first and second categories. This allows you to have additional quality in its functionality – excess generated or accumulated electricity can be transferred to the main network and have commercial value.

This category is the most expensive, as it uses complex network photovoltaic inverters and chargers in its configuration.

Useful advice! For uninterrupted power supply in cases of simultaneous shutdown of the common network and the impact of negative weather conditions, it is necessary to have a backup power source. Such a source can be a small (2-5 kW) electric generator running on gasoline or diesel fuel.

The price of solar panels for home: the cost of a set

It is necessary to solve the issues of saving electricity costs by installing solar power plants in conditions of full information about the prices for the entire set and the upcoming costs for their installation and operation. The frequent question of how much a solar battery costs for a home does not have a clear answer, since a lot of factors affect pricing.

The cost of a minimum set of solar panels for a house is 120,000 rubles

The established price of the main element of the FSE (solar battery) is on average at a minimum (but also at a minimum in quality) of about 50-60 rubles. per 1W of power generated. Consequently, the price of solar panels for a private house with a capacity of 100 and 200 watts will be in the amount of 6000 and 12000 rubles, respectively.

The composition of the station kit depends on its category and capacity. It may include a charging controller, a battery station, an inverter and connecting equipment. When choosing, for example, a set of the first category and a rated power of about 2 kW (2000 W), the price of a set of solar panels for a house will be from 120 thousand rubles and above.

And it is necessary to compare all the capital expended with the economic effect obtained from the difference in the cost of 1 kW/hour of a centralized network and the cost created by the FSE.

The most “recent” statistics of the solar market show that the ratio of prices per unit of electricity is 8.8 times. This means that the electricity generated by the solar station is 8.8 times cheaper than the electricity provided through the common network, taken in equal equivalent.

An important criterion for choosing the direction of using the FSE is also the factor of the ability to ensure the uninterrupted operation of automation in heating systems, security tracking and fire alarm. The list includes a computer home network and groups of electronic control and measuring sensors.

The kit may include, in addition to solar panels, a charging controller, a battery station, an inverter, and connecting equipment

Application and price of solar panels for home

A large selection of solar panels provides an opportunity to use them in a variety of quality and application, since if you want to buy solar panels for your home, the price today already allows a wide range of the population to do this. Knowing their main characteristics, such as the output voltage standard (12, 24V and higher), as well as the parameters of the generated rated power, you can use them locally without purchasing the entire set. On the market, the average cost of solar panels for a private house ranges from 60 rubles. per 1 kW of electric power generated.

If you need to use a light bulb in a dark room with a voltage of 12V and a power of 25 watts, then it is enough to buy and connect a solar battery of similar parameters directly to it and it will cost no more than 2000 rubles. and you will not have to spend electricity on a light bulb of 60-75 watts in some kind of You can connect a small well pump for daytime watering of any landscape area with a power of 200 watts and a power supply of 24V. At a cost of 11000-12000 rubles. it is possible to have an independent irrigation system throughout the spring-summer period and for more than 10 years.

The necessary set of solar panels for the cottage

If we consider the feasibility of using solar systems for a suburban area, we should take into account the factors of the stability of the electricity supply to the village, the level of its insolation (time spent in direct sunlight), the required electrification power and the risk factor of theft in an empty season from the owners. The best option is a stationary FSE installation of the first category.

The best option for a cottage is a stationary installation of the first category FSE

Given the low power consumption of the cottage, it is possible to organize a 100% replacement of centralized power supply with an autonomous and cheap one. In another case, when the stationary installation of a solar station is not justified by some criteria, you can use a moving kit for quick assembly.

Pay attention! Experts in the field of the use of FSE conducted a calculation and found that solar panels are strategically and economically feasible for use in summer in private homes and country houses with an area of 50 to 300 m2, designed for a family of up to four people.

Using solar energy to generate heat

Along with the use of solar energy for the production of electric current, there are no less common devices for converting the energy of sunlight into thermal energy. Such installations are called solar collectors and serve as heating elements for heating systems and hot water production. Regardless of the installed boilers in heating systems and hot water supply circuits, their combination with highly efficient solar collectors allows you to save up to 36% of heating and hot water preparation costs.

Electricity supply at home using solar panels: 1 — LED lights, 2 – electric fan, 3 — phone charger, 4 — small electric stove, 5 — refrigerator, 6 — external lighting, A — solar photovoltaic panels, B — control panel, C — inverter + charging controller + meters, D — batteries, E — de-energizing panel (disconnections), F — backup generator

Structurally, the solar collector from the category of a marketable product is a rectangular panel with dimensions of approximately 1×2 m and with a thickness of up to 100 mm. The main difference between the collectors of these standard sizes is the heat flow of power, i.e. the amount of heat that can be transferred to any liquid coolant through the contact surface. In another way, this parameter is called the heat loss coefficient and which has a dimension of W / m2 × ° K, i.e. the heat transferred through the area to increase the temperature of the receiving liquid. Modern designs of solar collectors have indicators (one panel) for thermal power from 1.2 to 5 W /m2 × ° K.

Prices of solar collectors for home heating

The main element of the system (heat station) is a solar collector panel. Depending on the required power, it can be purchased on the market at a price of 18-20 thousand rubles per 1 m2 of usable area and an average heat loss coefficient of 2.5-2.7 W/m2 × ° K.

For example, a panel of European quality with dimensions of 1,9×1,8 m (area of 3.5 m2) and with a coefficient of 2.7 will cost about 70 thousand rubles.

Taking into account the competition, the Chinese-made analog may be cheaper by 30-55%, and the domestic prototype by 10-25%.

If we talk about the required kit, which includes: tank, battery, pump and automation, then the average market price of such a station will be 160-170 thousand rubles. A set of domestic production with similar parameters will cost 100-120 thousand rubles.

Installation of solar collectors on the roof of the house

Useful advice! The joint use of solar collectors with solar panels, with the right choice of parameters, allows you to reduce the cost of thermal energy for hot water up to 61%.

Overview of manufacturers. Solar panels for home: the cost of a set and one panel

Solar technologies as alternative energy sources have confidently taken the leading positions in the market. A large number of manufacturers are actively competing, offering more and more new innovations. The leading place in sales volumes of the TOP-15 countries of solar power plants and their components is occupied by China, with more than 50%.

The most popular brands are Exmogk, RENE SOLA, LDK, Helios House, Suntech, JA Solar, etc.

European manufacturers with a market volume of about 25% are represented by companies such as German AXITEC GmbH, Solarworld and Viessmann Group and Norwegian Renewable Energy Corporation, etc.

The cost of a solar panel with a capacity of 200 watts will be from 10 to 25 thousand rubles

Japan, Korea and Taiwan (15%) are represented by Kyocera, Sharp, Sanyo, Hanwha Solar One and Motech.

Domestic products are represented by companies such as Hevel Solar and TSM. The American manufacturer is First Solar.

You can buy solar panels for your home relatively inexpensively. If we take a solar panel with a capacity of 200 watts as a consumer sample, then the price range will be within:

Country of origin	The price of a solar panel is 200 watts, rub.	The price of a 2 kW solar station kit, rub.
China	8000-16000	120000-160000
Europe	15000-17000	190000-250000
Asia	10000-15000	140000-190000
Russia	12000-20000	104000-240000
USA	27000	380000

To see the difference in pricing policy, mainly depending on the power indicator, let’s take for example a 5 kW solar power plant for a house, the price of which in the Chinese version will be:

about 300 thousand rubles (solar battery);
about 420 thousand rubles (the whole set).

A set of solar autonomous system for home lighting

Sales quality and prospects for the development of solar technologies

The modern market and its sales technologies do not leave the buyer with an unambiguous assessment. Especially high-tech equipment and devices. This also applies to the market for the sale of solar power supply systems. Since the production technologies themselves are very energy-intensive, if you want to purchase solar panels or buy a solar power plant for your home, the price in both cases will call for a detailed analysis not only on technical and technological features, but also on economic grounds.

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An important factor when buying FSE is the quality of sales services. If by the price of the goods we will understand only its check denomination, then by the cost we can also understand all kinds of overhead costs, the reliability of the seller and the goods, as well as the time and moral strength.

So, the cost of solar panels for a house or the cost of a set of solar power plants for a house of the same manufacturer may differ significantly from different sellers. The reason may be as follows:

the seller does not carry out a preliminary engineering calculation. So, you need to go to another place. And this is time and transport;
the seller does not carry out design work. You will have to spend money, use extra time and transport;

3D diagram of solar panel installation

some components are missing from the seller. You will again have to look for goods in another store, which may be more expensive and will again require additional time and transport;
the seller simply does not have installation teams to install the equipment. Time costs again;
the seller does not deal with logistics. This means that a situation is possible when everything will be assembled, but one important element will have to wait an unknown number of days. Etc.

Useful advice! Choose a seller with a full package of services, ranging from assistance in the project, high-quality equipment in the provision of professional installers to warranty service.

The future belongs to alternative energy sources

The rapid penetration into our lives of new technologies for the use of alternative sources of electricity and heat directs our choice to increasingly purchase solar power plants, solar collectors (heat stations), domestic wind and hydroelectric power plants, as well as to use heat pumps and a variety of electric generators. So in recent years, considerable experience has been gained in the application of photo electric power supply systems in many areas of management. This applies to the use of solar panels and solar collectors in domestic conditions: in private homes and cottages.

The use of solar energy is the optimal solution for homes and cottages

In conclusion, we can say that the solar technology market currently offers a wide selection of various equipment. And most importantly, given the reasonable cost of sets of solar panels for the home, reviews of their high quality and a long period of reliable operation, it can be concluded that the use of this equipment becomes more appropriate and allows you to participate in large-scale environmental projects and programs.

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