With the rising price of energy bills and a growing awareness of climate change, more and more people are seeking alternative ways to run their homes. Solar energy is a free, green and renewable energy source that is simple and safe to use. The long-standing problem with solar energy has been that it only produces power during daylight hours when the majority of people are out at work. However, with the rise of home battery storage solutions, such as our own, people can now store the energy generated by their solar panels during the day until they need to use it in the evening. Choosing the best set-up for your home is crucial to ensuring that you get a good return on your investment and save money on your household energy bills in the long term. A 4kw solar system is an excellent choice for a standard three-bedroom house giving you enough energy, without the original investment costs being too high. This can produce between 10 to 16 kWh a day, depending on the conditions, such as the day length and temperature.
What is a 4kW Solar Panel System?
A 4kW solar panel system means that your set-up would produce 4,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year in standard test conditions. You won’t automatically achieve this output, as this varies according to factors such as the position of your panels, the roof angle, and the quality of your panels. This will consist of several panels that make up 4kW, such as 10 400w panels. You will also need an inverter which converts the direct current (DC) produced by the panels into alternating current (AC) which is needed to power a home. A good setup will also include a battery so that you can store the power generated during the day until you need it.
How Many Panels in a 4kW System?
A 4kW solar panel system is one of the most popular choices for a residential house. The number of solar panels that you need and how much space they take up will depend on the rating of the panel, for example, if you choose a 430W panel, you will need nine panels, while if you choose a 350W panel you will need 11 panels. Depending on the setup, the space they need will vary, but a 4kW setup will fit on the average home.
How Much Electricity Does a 4kW Solar System Produce?
The amount of energy produced by a 4kW solar panel system will vary according to various factors. The positioning of your roof in relation to the sun, and the angle of your roof make the biggest difference. The weather obviously plays a huge part, and your daily energy produced will vary according to the weather and day length on that day. In a year a 4kW system will make 3,000 – 3,400 kWh of electricity and can make around 9.3kWh of energy daily.
What Can a 4kW Solar Panel System Run?
A 4kW solar panel set-up can run an average 3-bedroom house on a normal day. This will include running a washing machine, powering laptops and game consoles, and powering up lights. As the average household isn’t around during the day, this will rely on being able to store the energy generated during the day to be used in the evening. To do this, you will need to include a home battery as part of your solar energy setup.
How Much Does a 4kW Solar Panel System Cost?
While this will vary according to suppliers, and other factors, the average cost of a full setup is around £11,500. This includes a home battery, which makes your solar setup a practical solution for your home.
Is a 4kW Solar Panel System Worth It?
Yes! You will save money on your energy bills, as well as having the potential to actually earn money by selling any unused energy back to the grid. You can potentially break even on your initial set-up costs within around 8 years, and bear in mind that if energy prices shoot up, you will be protected as you are self-sufficient.
Savings and Incentives
How Much Money Can I Save with a 4kW System?
According to estimates from the Energy Saving Trust you can save around £300 a year by installing a solar panel setup on your home. Added to which you could earn roughly £300 per year by selling your surplus energy back to the grid.
Government Incentives and Schemes
Currently, there is 0% VAT on solar panels and home batteries, which represents a sizable saving. There are also various government schemes, such as the Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) which is aimed at lower-income households.
How to Maximise the Efficiency of Your 4kW Solar Panels
Good positioning of your solar panels is key to increasing their efficiency. For optimum efficiency, you will need a roof pitch of around 30° to 50°. Ensure that there is no shade or minimal shade over your panels, and make sure you choose good quality panels which will last for many years. Some of the cheaper panels could be made with a different material which might have a lower efficiency rating, so always check exactly what type of panel you are installing. Investing in a home battery system is crucial to ensuring that you maximise your investment, by enabling you to store the energy produced during the day for you to use in the evening.
What Size Battery Should You Add to a 4kW System?
Your battery will need to be at least 5 kWh to manage a 4kW system. Our Duracell Energy home battery is rated at 5kWh but can be used in a modular way so that you can expand the battery capacity if needed. If you are out of your home for most of the day, you may need to increase the battery size to save the energy generated.
Practical Considerations for Installing a 4kW System
How Much Space Do You Need for a 4kW Solar System?
You will need around 20m² of roof space to install a 4kW solar system. Well-designed home batteries are sleek and unobtrusive and can be wall-mounted to keep them out of the way.
Planning and Regulations
You don’t normally need planning permission if you live in a standard house, however, if you are in any doubt always check with your local council. Your installer will need to submit a G99 application to your region’s Distribution Network Operator (DNO) if the maximum capacity of your inverter is over 3.68kW on a single-phase system. This wouldn’t normally apply to a 4kW solar system.
Off-Grid Options
You can set up an off-grid 4kW energy system. If you are living off-grid, then you will need a larger battery to ensure that you can store as much energy as possible, and be mindful that you will need to reduce your energy consumption in the winter when the days are shorter.
Choose a Duracell Energy Home Battery
Our home batteries are designed to fit seamlessly into your home and work with your solar panels. Duracell Energy home batteries, EV chargers, and inverters all work together with our impressive app to give you complete control of your entire household energy system. Embrace a greener tomorrow, with Duracell Energy home batteries today. Simply use our online quote calculator to help you choose the best solar battery storage set-up for your home.