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

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

General characteristics and the ability to buy solar panels for a private house

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

The modern market for 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 are solar panels for a private house, it is necessary to understand the technological and design features of the FSE. The structuring of equipment offered by the market involves three main categories of solar systems, based on their functional, design and technical features.

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

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

The second category includes open PSEs. 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 of the generated power, 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 either.

The third category is represented by combined PSEs. They are a combined format of the first and second categories. This makes it possible to have additional quality in its functionality - excess generated or accumulated electricity can be transmitted to the main network and have commercial value.

This category is the most expensive, as it uses sophisticated grid-connected PV inverters and chargers in its configuration.

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

Solar panels price for home: kit cost

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

The established price of the main element of the PSE (solar battery) is on average at a minimum (but also at a minimum in quality) of about 50-60 rubles. for the generated 1W of power. Consequently, the price of solar panels for a private house with a capacity of 100 and 200 W will be in the amount of 6,000 and 12,000 rubles. respectively.

The composition of the station set depends on its category and capacity. It may include a charging controller, battery station, inverter and interconnection 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 home will be from 120 thousand rubles. and higher.

And it is necessary to compare the entire spent capital with the economic effect obtained from the difference in the cost of 1 kWh of the centralized network and the cost created by the FSE.

The most recent statistics of the solar panels 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 general grid, taken in equal equivalent.

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

Application and price of solar panels for home

A large selection of solar panels makes it possible to use them in a variety of qualities and applications, since if you want to buy solar panels for your home, the price today already allows you to do this for a wide segment of the population. 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. for generated 1 kW of electrical power.

If you need to use a light bulb in a dark room with a voltage of 12V and a power of 25 W, then it is enough to buy and connect directly to it a solar battery of similar parameters and it will cost no more than 2000 rubles. and you won't have to spend electricity on a 60-75 W light bulb in some closet. You can connect a small well pump for daily irrigation of any landscape area with a power of 200 W and a power supply of 24 V. At a cost of 11,000-12,000 rubles. it is possible to have an independent irrigation system during the entire spring-summer period and for more than 10 years.

The necessary set of solar panels for summer cottages

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

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

Note! Experts in the field of the use of PSE have calculated and found that solar panels are strategically and economically feasible for use in the summer season in private houses 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 equally 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 which boilers are installed in heating systems and hot water circuits, their combination with highly efficient solar collectors can save up to 36% on heating and hot water costs.

In its design, the solar collector from the category of a hot-selling product is a rectangular panel approximately 1x2 m in size and up to 100 mm thick. The main difference between the collectors of the specified standard sizes is the heat flux of power, i.e. the amount of heat that can be transferred to any heat transfer fluid through the contact surface. In another way, this parameter is called the heat loss coefficient and has the dimension W / m2 × ° K, i.e. transferred heat through the area to raise the temperature of the receiving liquid. Modern designs of solar collectors have indicators (one panel) in terms of thermal power from 1.2 to 5 W / m² × ° K.

Prices of solar collectors for home heating

The main element of the system (heating plant) is the solar panel. Depending on the required capacity, 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 1.9x1.8 m (area 3.5 m²) and with a coefficient of 2.7 will cost about 70 thousand rubles.

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

If we talk about the required set, 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.

Useful advice! Combined use of solar collectors with solar panels, with the right choice of parameters, can reduce the consumption of thermal energy for obtaining hot water by up to 61%.

Review 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. China takes the leading place in the sales of TOP-15 countries of solar power plants and their components, with more than 50%.

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

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

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 200 W solar panel as a consumer sample, then the price range will be within:

Manufacturer country	The price of a solar panel 200 W, rub.	The price of a set of a solar station 2 kW, 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, which mainly depends on the power indicator, let's take, for example, a 5 kW solar power plant for a home, the price of which in the Chinese version will be:

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

Sales quality and solar technology development prospects

The modern market and its sales technologies do not leave the buyer an unambiguous assessment. Especially high-tech equipment and devices. This also applies to the market for the sale of solar power supply systems. Since 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 for technical and technological features, but also for economic justifications.

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An important factor when buying an FSE is the quality of sales services. If by the price of the goods we mean only its check denomination, then by the cost we can also agree, within the framework of the article, to understand all types of overhead costs, the reliability of the seller and the goods, as well as the time and moral efforts.

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

• the seller does not perform preliminary engineering calculations. This means that 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;

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

Useful advice! Choose a seller with a full package of services, ranging from project assistance, 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 (heating plants), household wind and hydro power plants, as well as use heat pumps and a variety of electric generators. So in recent years, considerable experience has been gained in the application of photo in many areas of management. electrical power supply systems. This applies to the use of solar panels and solar collectors in domestic conditions: in private houses and in summer cottages.

In conclusion, we can say that the solar technology market currently offers a wide variety of different equipment. And most importantly, given the reasonable cost of solar battery kits for the home, reviews of their high quality and a long period of reliable operation, we can conclude that the use of this equipment is becoming more expedient and allows you to participate in large-scale environmental projects and programs.