Solar Sizing & Battery Storage FAQ

A 5kW (5,000 Watt) solar system typically requires 9 to 10 monocrystalline solar panels using standard Tier-1 550W modules (550W × 9 = 4.95 kWp, or 550W × 10 = 5.5 kWp). This setup needs approximately 20 to 24 square meters (215 to 258 square feet) of unshaded roof space and generates roughly 600 to 750 kWh of clean electricity per month.

Yes! A modern 1.0 HP to 2.0 HP inverter air conditioner draws between 800W and 1,800W while operating. A 5kW system generates up to 5,000W of daytime power, which can easily power 2 to 3 inverter air conditioners simultaneously alongside typical household loads. If paired with a 10 kWh LiFePO4 battery bank, it can also run an air conditioner overnight for 8 to 10 hours during utility outages.

LiFePO4 represents the modern standard for residential and commercial stationary energy storage. It offers superior thermal stability with zero risk of thermal runaway, allows a deep 90% Depth of Discharge (DoD) without rapid degradation, provides over 6,000 charge cycles (lasting 10 to 15+ years), and maintains high round-trip efficiency (~92%) compared to traditional lead-acid batteries.

A Grid-Tied system connects to the utility grid with no battery, giving you the fastest financial payback; however, it shuts off during grid blackouts. A Hybrid system pairs with a battery bank (such as LiFePO4) to supply uninterruptible power during blackouts while still staying connected to the grid. An Off-Grid system is completely disconnected from the utility company, requiring an appropriately sized battery bank and generator backup for total self-sufficiency.

Net metering enables grid-tied and hybrid solar owners to export surplus daytime solar electricity back to the utility grid (such as Meralco in the Philippines or local power utilities). You receive kilowatt-hour credits on your monthly electric bill that offset power drawn at night, drastically lowering your bill and reducing your financial breakeven payback period to just 3 to 5 years.

ProjectSolar models your cash flow across a full 25-year lifecycle. It accounts for conservative solar module degradation (0.5% per year), utility tariff escalation (averaging 3.5% per year), maintenance reserves, and a scheduled inverter replacement around Year 12. The simple payback period occurs when cumulative utility bill savings exceed your initial net turnkey system investment.

Yes! Inside the calculator, click "Export Proposal (PDF / Print)". ProjectSolar formats the output into a clean, executive proposal document featuring complete hardware bill of materials, roof space requirements, battery specifications, 25-year financial tables, and environmental CO2 offset metrics.