The price of a 30 kW solar system: a case study. As electricity prices continue to rise, it is now common for small and medium-sized companies to install a larger solar system up to around 30 kW.
Solaray installed a now world-famous 30 kW solar system for the Stucco Housing Co-op in Newtown Sydney to reduce dependence on the electricity grid during the day, with battery backup to store excess solar power for the night.
Let's take a look at some of the key numbers, including the price of a 30kW solar system and the brands to consider for a system this size.
The price of a 30kW solar system
A good quality 30 kW solar power system starts at just under $ 30,000 and goes up to around $ 50,000 for a top of the line system with highly efficient modules. The 30 kW Solaray system at Stucco has Enphase microinverters with output at panel level (see below) and first-class Trina Honey modules.
It is important to note that when it comes to solar panels, you generally get what you pay for, and most of our customers choose high-efficiency modules from manufacturers like Trina Solar or LG Solar. LG Solar is really leading with a new 365 W module.
It is possible to find cheaper 30kW solar systems for under $ 30,000, but this usually involves purchasing lower to mid-range modules made in China, and often with no after-sales service.
For a 30 kW solar system it is important to maximize reliability, performance and of course longevity. So spending a little more upfront can save you a lot of money over the life of the system. Solaray service full replacement warranties and our systems include full technical support. This gives our customers the peace of mind that they will be looked after if something goes wrong.
As a rough guide, a 30kW system can save up to $ 12,000 a year on your utility bills, depending on the price of electricity. For commercial systems, the utility bill can be a little more complex than a private bill. We therefore recommend speaking to our commercial solar team for more detailed information on the potential benefits of a solar system. Some charges on the bill are still calculated in kWh even though they are not included in your total consumption. In this way we can help you to reduce these charges and your dependence on the network.
Of course, to save $ 3,000 on a quarterly bill, you have to use a lot of electricity during the day – up to 150 kWh during the day in summer. If you are able to get the most out of your 30kW system, you can spend up to $ 40,000 and get a top-of-the-line system in less than 5 years with a payback period depending on how much you're looking for Pay performance.
The power of a 30kW solar system
According to the guidelines of the Clean Energy Council, a 30 kW solar system in Sydney to the north will produce an average of 120 kWh per day and emit more electricity in summer and less in winter.
We have determined that this guideline is a conservative estimate and that by using the top brands you can get more out of our system. For example, our Enphase systems provide our customers with an average of 110% of the expected performance. In summer, a 30 kW system supplies our customers with an average of around 150 kWh of electricity, on a sunny day even more than 200 kWh, as shown in the picture below. Since this can be too much electricity for many households, we often recommend thinking about a battery storage system in order to be able to use the excess solar power in the evening.
A 30 kW solar system – the key figures
| 30kW system | |
|---|---|
| Number of plates | From 82 x 365 W panels to 110 x 275 W panels |
| output | 120 kWh per day on average (see below) |
| Possible savings | $ 2500 – $ 3000 per bill, depending on your electricity bill |
| Average payback time | 4 to 7 years |
| costs | From about $ 35,000 to about $ 50,000 depending on the installation cost and brand |
| Suitable to | Medium-sized companies use an average of around 120 kWh per day during the day (or over 24 hours with battery storage) |
How much can a 30 kW system save me?
The savings potential of a 30kW solar system depends on how much solar power you can use at the time of generation. You usually save between 20 and 30 cents per kWh (depending on how much you pay for your electricity) and, depending on the retailer, you receive around 5-12 cents per kWh for the electricity that you send back into the grid. With a 30 kW solar system, you can save up to $ 2,500 to $ 3,000 per quarterly bill. We recommend contacting the Solaray Commercial Solar Team for more information as commercial utility bills can be a bit more complex than a simple price per kWh.
For more information on how solar power can reduce your electricity bill, click here: How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill Using Solar Power
Number of solar panels for a 30kW system
The larger the system, the more important it is to purchase quality panels to ensure maximum reliability, higher performance in all weather conditions, and the longevity of your system.
The other consideration is the roof area. By installing highly efficient panels, we can use 82 x 365 W panels instead of the standard 110 x 275 W panels, which can significantly increase performance when the roof area is limited.
30kW solar system with split array
Solaray is the largest and most experienced installer of panel-level systems in NSW and our system design team is experts in putting together a professional solar system that will maximize solar output in all conditions.
The solar system at Stucco Housing Coop was designed and installed in 2 different orientations, which helps to distribute the output of the solar energy over the day. A common panel layout is with some panels facing north and the others facing west to spread the power out into the afternoon, making it easier to use more solar power when it is being produced.
The West Panels are also advantageous if you bill on time, where companies usually pay up to around 50 cents per kWh for electricity between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays.