1KW Solar Panel Price a Worthwhile Investment?

Solar energy is an abundant, renewable source of energy. It may be used to light up homes and offices, run appliances and more while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Solar panels can be installed not only on a large scale but also on a small scale on the rooftops of houses and multistoried apartments. Solar panels may be easy to install and maintain but the initial investment in considerable. Thus, many people wonder whether a 1KW solar panel price is justified. Here’s everything you need to know about installing and running these inverters. 

On-grid vs Off-grid vs Hybrid Inverters

On-grid inverters harness solar power and transfer the energy to the main electrical grid. They cannot be used to power a home directly but the energy they produce and transfer to the power grid may act as credit against your future electricity bills. They cannot be used to run electrical appliances in the event of a power outage. These are often the cheapest types of solar inverters. 

Off-grid solar inverters are also known as standalone inverters. These inverters are connected to a battery. All the energy produced by them is stored in these batteries. In the event of a power outage, the inverter may use the energy stored in these batteries to run lights, fans and other appliances. These inverters are usually considerably more expensive as compared to on-grid inverters but offer seamless electricity. 

Hybrid inverters combine the advantages of both on-grid and off-grid solar inverters. Like off-grid inverters they are connected to a battery. The energy produced by these inverters is stored in these batteries and may be used to run lights and fans if the main power grid shuts down. Once the battery has been fully charged, the excess energy produced is transferred to the main power grid. Here it can then be used in the same way as electricity generated by burning fossil fuels. As in the case of on-grid inverters, the energy transferred to the main power grid acts as credit against future electricity bills. The 1KW solar panel price of such inverters is usually the highest. 

How much power can a 1KW solar panel produce?

A 1KW solar panel can generate up to 4 units of electricity per day. In the case of grid-tie solar plants, this entire energy is transferred to the main power grid. An off-grid solar panel can use this energy to power varied appliances for different time spans.

LEDs	Fans	Appliances	Back-up Time
4	4	1 TV	4 hours
4	3	1 refrigerator	4 hours
4	2	1 TV	6 hours

A hybrid solar inverter can also be used to provide electricity for a home if the main grid shuts down. The recommended load and back-up time of a 1KW solar inverter is as follows:

LEDs	Fans	Appliances	Back-up Time
4	4	1 TV	3 hours
4	3	1 refrigerator	3 hours
4	2	1 TV	5 hours

In conclusion, while the initial 1KW solar panel price may be high, it is offset by the reduced electricity costs in the future and the convenience of having uninterrupted electricity.

Related Post:
A Guide to Knowing if you are Paying the Right 1KW Solar Panel Price